Luke 22:5 (KJV)

What does Luke 22:5 mean?

Luke 22:5 describes how the religious leaders were pleased with Judas Iscariot’s offer to betray Jesus and agreed to pay him money for his help. This verse shows the leaders making a deal with Judas, setting in motion the events that would lead to Jesus’ arrest.

In this scene, the chief priests and officers are meeting with Judas, one of Jesus’ own disciples. Judas has approached them with a plan to hand Jesus over to them quietly. The leaders are glad about this unexpected opportunity and formally agree to give Judas a payment, highlighting how both sides are willingly entering into this arrangement.

The Greek behind Luke 22:5

• χαίρω (chairō, “glad”): This word means to rejoice or be very pleased. The Greek here shows that the leaders weren’t just agreeing—they were genuinely happy about Judas’s offer, which emphasizes their eagerness to get rid of Jesus.
• συνέθεντο (synethento, “covenanted”): This word means to make an agreement or contract. It suggests a formal, deliberate arrangement, not just a casual promise, showing both sides are making a binding deal.
• ἀργύριον (argyrion, “money”): This word refers specifically to silver coins. The use of this term points to the kind of payment Judas would receive, which later is described as thirty pieces of silver.

Why Luke 22:5 matters

• Luke 22:5 clarifies that Judas’s betrayal was not forced or accidental; it was a planned agreement between him and the religious leaders, with money as a clear motive.
• The verse highlights the eagerness of the leaders to arrest Jesus, showing their willingness to use underhanded means to achieve their goal.
• This moment is a turning point in the narrative, directly leading to the events of Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion, and it shows how betrayal and conspiracy played a role in the story.