Matthew 26:24
The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.
Original Language Analysis
ὁ
G3588
ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
1 of 31
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
μὲν
G3303
μὲν
Strong's:
G3303
Word #:
2 of 31
properly, indicative of affirmation or concession (in fact); usually followed by a contrasted clause with g1161 (this one, the former, etc.)
υἱὸς
The Son
G5207
υἱὸς
The Son
Strong's:
G5207
Word #:
3 of 31
a "son" (sometimes of animals), used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
4 of 31
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ὑπάγει
goeth
G5217
ὑπάγει
goeth
Strong's:
G5217
Word #:
6 of 31
to lead (oneself) under, i.e., withdraw or retire (as if sinking out of sight), literally or figuratively
γέγραπται
it is written
G1125
γέγραπται
it is written
Strong's:
G1125
Word #:
8 of 31
to "grave", especially to write; figuratively, to describe
περὶ
of
G4012
περὶ
of
Strong's:
G4012
Word #:
9 of 31
properly, through (all over), i.e., around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time (with the genitive cas
αὐτῷ
him
G846
αὐτῷ
him
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
10 of 31
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
τῷ
G3588
τῷ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
13 of 31
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἐκεῖνος
for that
G1565
ἐκεῖνος
for that
Strong's:
G1565
Word #:
15 of 31
that one (or (neuter) thing); often intensified by the article prefixed
δι'
by
G1223
δι'
by
Strong's:
G1223
Word #:
16 of 31
through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional)
οὗ
whom
G3739
οὗ
whom
Strong's:
G3739
Word #:
17 of 31
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
ὁ
G3588
ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
18 of 31
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
υἱὸς
The Son
G5207
υἱὸς
The Son
Strong's:
G5207
Word #:
19 of 31
a "son" (sometimes of animals), used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
20 of 31
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
παραδίδοται·
is betrayed
G3860
παραδίδοται·
is betrayed
Strong's:
G3860
Word #:
22 of 31
to surrender, i.e yield up, entrust, transmit
καλὸν
good
G2570
καλὸν
good
Strong's:
G2570
Word #:
23 of 31
properly, beautiful, but chiefly (figuratively) good (literally or morally), i.e., valuable or virtuous (for appearance or use, and thus distinguished
αὐτῷ
him
G846
αὐτῷ
him
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
25 of 31
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
ἐγεννήθη
been born
G1080
ἐγεννήθη
been born
Strong's:
G1080
Word #:
28 of 31
to procreate (properly, of the father, but by extension of the mother); figuratively, to regenerate
Cross References
Luke 24:46And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:Matthew 18:7Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!Mark 14:21The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born.1 Corinthians 15:3For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;Matthew 26:54But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?John 17:12While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.Luke 22:22And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!Daniel 9:26And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.Mark 9:12And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought.Matthew 26:56But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.
Historical Context
Jesus's statement reflects the Jewish theological tension between divine determinism and human free will. The Passover Haggadah itself rehearsed God's sovereign deliverance while calling for human response. First-century Judaism understood that God's foreknowledge didn't eliminate human responsibility—both truths stand.
Questions for Reflection
- How can God's sovereign plan for Christ's death coexist with Judas's genuine moral guilt for betrayal?
- What does this 'woe' statement teach about the eternal consequences of rejecting Christ?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
The Son of man goeth as it is written of him (ὁ μὲν υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ὑπάγει καθὼς γέγραπται περὶ αὐτοῦ, ho men hyios tou anthrōpou hypagei kathōs gegraptai peri autou)—Divine sovereignty and human responsibility coexist: Jesus's death fulfills Scripture (Isaiah 53, Psalm 22, Zechariah 13:7), yet Judas bears full moral culpability. Woe (οὐαί, ouai) pronounces covenant curse.
Good for that man if he had not been born—This terrifying statement reveals the eternal weight of betraying the Son of God. Judas's temporal gain (30 pieces of silver) cost him eternal loss. The hypothetical non-existence would be preferable to the conscious torment awaiting covenant betrayers (Hebrews 10:29).