And he that betrayed him had given them a token,…. A common sign, in which they agreed; and so this same Greek word is used by the Jews c:

“said R. Phinehas in the name of R. Reuben, did you ever see one man go out of the north, and another from the south, and meet each other, except they made, , “a common sign”, between them.”

Such an one the traitor gave his company;

saying, whomsoever I shall kiss, the same is he; Jesus of Nazareth; who was to be delivered to them:

take him, and lead him away safely; with care and caution, lest he should get out of their hands, and make his escape, as he had sometimes done: the word “safely”, is omitted in the Arabic, Persic, and Ethiopic versions. The Vulgate Latin renders it “cautiously”, and so does the Syriac version, which joins it to the words, “take him”; [See comments on Mt 26:48].

c Midras Samuel, sect. 9. apud Buxtorf. Lex. Rab. p. 1519.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

Token (). A common word in the ancient Greek for a concerted signal according to agreement. It is here only in the New Testament. Mt 26:48 has , sign. The signal was the kiss by Judas, a contemptible desecration of a friendly salutation.

And lead him away safely ( ). Only in Mark. Judas wished no slip to occur. Mark and Matthew do not tell of the falling back upon the ground when Jesus challenged the crowd with Judas. It is given by John alone (Joh 18:4-9).

Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament

Token [] . A later Greek compound used only by Mark in this passage. Compare shmeion, Mt 26:48. The sun, with, gives the force of mutual token : a concerted signal.

Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament

1) “And he that betrayed Him,” (de ho paradidous auto)”Now the one who was engaged in betraying Him (Judas Iscariot),” Joh 18:2; Joh 18:5.

2) “Had given them a token, saying,” (dedokei sussemon autois legon) “Had given to them (the motley trio-band of lawbreaking sinners, chief priests, scribe and elders), together with the servants of Caiphas t High Priest and the Roman soldier band, a signal, saying a sign by which they would know Jesus, Luk 22:50; Luk 22:52; Mat 26:48.

3) “Whomsoever I shall kiss,” (hon an philes “Whoever I may kiss,” according to our agreement, Mat 26:48.

4) “That same is He;” (autos estin) “He is the one,” the one to seize and charge, and put away, the one I have so to you for the silver, as afore prophesied, Zec 11:12; Mat 26:14-15.

5) “Take Him, and lead Him away safely.” (kratesa auton kai apagete asphalos) “Seize (or grab) Him and led Him away from there securely,” as if He were a vicio desperado, a capitol criminal. To this time the thirty piece of silver, the love of money, was the most desired thing Judas’ covetous heart, Mat 26:14-15; and now he wanted Jesus “put away,” killed, that he might go and spend his “traitor wealth,” his ill-gotten silver, 1Ti 6:10-11.

Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary

(44) Take him.Better, seize.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

‘Now he who betrayed him had given them an agreed signal saying, “Whoever I will kiss, that is he. Take him and lead him away safely.” ’

What sympathy can we have for Judas when he planned it all so cynically? He did not want to be seen as denouncing Jesus and so he would do it by a kiss of friendship. So psychologically do treacherous people behave when they cannot face the reality of what they are doing. He was the betrayer and yet he wanted to feel as if he had had no real part in it.

The need for some sign possibly demonstrates that the arresting party were concerned lest in the confusion and the darkness they should arrest the wrong man and lose the opportunity. They would flinch at the thought of what would have happened if they did and the news got out to the Passover crowds from Galilee. It certainly demonstrated that Judas wanted to make sure there was no mistake. They had probably expected to find the disciples in a group in the moonlit darkness, with Jesus among them, in a place where there were other groups around. (There would be many groups around that night). The sign suggests that they were hoping to carry out the arrest before any outsider realised what was happening. Judas’ approach would not appear belligerent and there would hopefully be uncertainty and therefore no resistance until too late.

They were not to know that Jesus would actually come to meet them, rendering it unnecessary. Even Judas did not know or expect that.

Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett

Mar 14:44. A token, A signal. Take him,seize him, or lay fast hold of him: . See Heylin and Mat 26:48.

Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke

44 And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely.

Ver. 44. Had given them a token ] . Signum consignans, vel commune signum de composito datum; a watchword, or as soldiers call it, the word.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

44. ] On the pluperfect without the augment, see Winer, 12. 9.

is a word belonging to later Greek. We have in Diod. Sic. xx. 42, , . See other examples in Kypke.

] It does not quite appear whether is to be subjectively taken, ‘ with confidence; ’ or objectively, ‘ safely .’ Some suppose that it has an ironical meaning q. d. ‘He will know how to rescue himself take care that you keep Him safe.’ This of course depends upon the view taken of the whole character and purpose of Judas, on which see notes at Mat 26:14 ; Mat 27:3 .

Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament

Mar 14:44 . : the pluperfect, but without augment, vide Winer, xii. 9. (neuter of adjective : , ): a sign previously agreed on ( in Mt.), a late word severely condemned by Phrynichus, p. 418, here only in N. T. In Sept [136] for an “ensign” (Is. Mar 5:26 ). may mean either: lead Him away with an easy mind (He will not attempt escape), or: lead, etc., cautiously, carefully He may slip out of your hands as He has done before (Luk 4:30 ). Judas was just the kind of man to have a superstitious dread of Christ’s preternatural power.

[136]Septuagint.

Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson

that betrayed Him = that was delivering Him up.

token = a concerted sign. Greek. sussemon, a compound of the Greek sun (in conjunction with. App-104) and semeion = a sign.

take = seize,

safely = secured assuredly. Occurs only here, Act 2:36; Act 16:23.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

44.] On the pluperfect without the augment, see Winer, 12. 9.

is a word belonging to later Greek. We have in Diod. Sic. xx. 42, , . See other examples in Kypke.

] It does not quite appear whether is to be subjectively taken, with confidence; or objectively, safely. Some suppose that it has an ironical meaning-q. d. He will know how to rescue himself-take care that you keep Him safe. This of course depends upon the view taken of the whole character and purpose of Judas, on which see notes at Mat 26:14; Mat 27:3.

Fuente: The Greek Testament

Mar 14:44. , with due precaution [safety]) The traitor was afraid, lest Jesus should slip from their hands [Therefore the wretched man was now no longer anxious merely about gaining the thirty pieces of silver, but was hurried along by a deadly hatred against Jesus.-V. g.]

Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament

a token: Exo 12:13, Jos 2:12, Phi 1:28, 2Th 3:17

Whomsoever: 2Sa 20:9, 2Sa 20:10, Psa 55:20, Psa 55:21, Pro 27:6, Mat 26:48-50

and lead: 1Sa 23:22, 1Sa 23:23, Act 16:23

Reciprocal: 1Ki 13:4 – Lay hold Psa 55:13 – mine acquaintance Psa 109:5 – hatred Luk 22:48 – betrayest Joh 18:3 – Judas Joh 19:11 – he

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

4

The sign agreed upon was a kiss and they were to watch for that demonstration. Lead him away safely. (See the comments at Mat 26:48.)

Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary

Mar 14:44. Had given them a token. This is brought out more distinctly here than in Matthew. The word token confirms the view that the Roman soldiers had been instructed to obey this sign.

Lead him away safely. Either in such a way as to prevent any attempt at rescue, or confidently, without being afraid of Him. The former is more probable.

Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament

14:44 And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead [him] away {i} safely.

(i) So diligently that he cannot escape out of your hand.

Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes

The disciples of rabbis customarily greeted their teachers with a kiss on the hand. [Note: Bishop, p. 246.] This prearranged signal allowed Judas to identify Jesus to the soldiers without arousing the suspicion and opposition of the other disciples.

Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)