Matthew 27:6 (KJV)

What does Matthew 27:6 mean?

Matthew 27:6 describes how the chief priests, after receiving the silver coins Judas returned, refused to put the money into the temple treasury because it was considered tainted as "the price of blood." The priests recognized that the coins were connected to the betrayal and death of Jesus, making them unsuitable for sacred use.

In this scene, the religious leaders are speaking among themselves after Judas, feeling remorse, returns the thirty silver coins he was paid to betray Jesus. The chief priests acknowledge that the money is now associated with bloodshed, so they decide it cannot be added to the temple funds. This moment highlights their concern for ritual purity, even as they are involved in a grave moral issue.

The Greek behind Matthew 27:6

• "Treasury" (κορβανᾶς, korbanas): This word refers to the special offering box or fund in the temple where gifts and donations were kept. The priests' refusal to put the money here shows their awareness of religious rules about what could be accepted for God's service.
• "Price" (τιμή, timē): This word means value or payment, and in this context, it is specifically "the price of blood"—money paid for causing someone's death. The phrase underlines the seriousness of what the money represents.
• "Blood" (αἷμα, haima): In Jewish thought, blood is closely tied to life and guilt. Calling the coins "the price of blood" makes clear that the money is stained by its connection to an innocent person's death.

Why Matthew 27:6 matters

• Matthew 27:6 shows the irony of the religious leaders' actions: they are careful about temple rules but ignore the greater moral problem of condemning an innocent man.
• The verse connects back to Old Testament ideas about blood guilt and the use of temple funds, helping readers see the depth of the priests' dilemma.
• This detail sets up what happens next, when the priests use the money to buy the potter's field, fulfilling prophecy and further highlighting the consequences of their decisions.