And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.

LUKE 6:16KJV
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Luke 6:16 (KJV)

What does Luke 6:16 mean?

Luke 6:16 ends the list of twelve men Jesus chose as apostles, his appointed representatives. It names two men called Judas and identifies Judas Iscariot as the one who would betray Jesus. The verse therefore distinguishes between two people who share the same name.

Luke tells the story in his own voice. His description of Iscariot looks ahead to a later event: Judas would help those seeking to arrest Jesus find him (Luke 22:47–48).

The Greek behind Luke 6:16

  • “was” — γίνομαι (ginomai): The Greek word can carry the sense of “became.” Here it points to Judas Iscariot’s later action, though the KJV describes him as one who “was” the traitor.
  • “traitor” — προδότης (prodotēs): The word means someone who betrays or hands another person over. In this verse, it identifies Judas Iscariot by what he would later do.

Why Luke 6:16 matters

  • The two men named Judas should not be confused. The KJV calls the first “Judas the brother of James” and the second “Judas Iscariot.”
  • The betrayal came from within the group Jesus selected. Luke 6:13 says Jesus chose twelve and named them apostles; Judas Iscariot is included in that list.

Where else these words appear

“traitor” Greek G4273 · used in 3 verses

  • Acts 7:52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:
  • 2 Timothy 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

“Iscariot” Greek G2469 · used in 11 verses

  • Matthew 10:4 Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
  • Mark 14:10 And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them.
  • John 12:4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,

“James” Greek G2385 · used in 38 verses

  • Matthew 4:21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.
  • Mark 9:2 And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.
  • Luke 9:54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?

“Judas” Greek G2455 · used in 41 verses

  • Matthew 1:2 Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;
  • Luke 3:30 Which was the son of Simeon, which was the son of Juda, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Jonan, which was the son of Eliakim,
  • John 18:5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.