Matthew 26:59

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were seeking false testimony against Jesus so that they might put Him to death.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Οἱ δὲ ἀρχιερεῖς, καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι, καὶ τὸ συνέδριον, ὅλον ἐζήτουν ψευδομαρτυρίαν κατὰ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ, ὅπως αὐτὸν θανατώσωσιν·

Transliteration

The de archiereis, and the presbyteroi, and the synedrion, holon ezētoun pseudomartyrian kata the Iēsou, hopōs him thanatōsōsin;

Grammar Details

• *de*: postpositive conjunction - but/and
• *archiereis*: nominative masculine plural - chief priests
• *presbyteroi*: nominative masculine plural - elders
• *synedrion*: nominative neuter singular - council/Sanhedrin
• *holon*: nominative neuter singular - whole/entire
• *ezētoun*: imperfect active indicative, 3rd person plural - were seeking
• *pseudomartyrian*: accusative feminine singular - false testimony
• *kata*: preposition + genitive - against
• *Iēsou*: genitive masculine singular - of Jesus
• *hopōs*: subordinating conjunction - so that/in order that
• *thanatōsōsin*: aorist active subjunctive, 3rd person plural - they might put to death

Word Meanings

• *archiereis*: chief priests/high priests
• *synedrion*: Sanhedrin/council (Jewish ruling body)
• *ezētoun*: were seeking/were looking for (continuous action)
• *pseudomartyrian*: false testimony/false witness
• *thanatōsōsin*: might put to death/might execute

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false testimony against Jesus, to put him to death;

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  Now{G1161} the chief priests{G749} and{G2532} the whole{G3650} council{G4892} sought{G2212} false witness{G5577} against{G2596} Jesus,{G2424} that{G3704} they might put{G2289} him{G846} to death;{G2289}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Now{G1161} the chief priests{G749}, and{G2532} elders{G4245}, and{G2532} all{G3650} the council{G4892}, sought{G2212}{(G5707)} false witness{G5577} against{G2596} Jesus{G2424}, to{G3704} put{G2289} him{G846} to death{G2289}{(G5661)};

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  The chefe prestes and the elders and all the counsell sought false witnes agenste Iesus for to put him to deeth

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  But the hye prestes and the elders, and the whole councell sought false wytnesse ageynst Iesus, that they might put him to death,

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Nowe the chiefe Priestes and the Elders, and all the whole councill sought false witnesse against Iesus, to put him to death.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  The chiefe priestes, and elders, and all the councell, sought false witnesse agaynst Iesus, for to put hym to death,

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  Now the chief priests, the elders, and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus, that they might put him to death;

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And the chief priests, and the elders, and all the council, were seeking false witness against Jesus, that they might put him to death,

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Now the chief priests and the whole council sought false witness against Jesus, that they might put him to death;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Now the chief priests and the whole council sought false witness against Jesus, that they might put him to death;

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  Now the chief priests and all the Sanhedrin were looking for false witness against Jesus, so that they might put him to death;

• World English Bible (2000)

  Now the chief priests, the elders, and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus, that they might put him to death;

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were trying to find false testimony against Jesus so that they could put him to death.

Referenced Verses

• Deut 19:16-21 : 16 If a malicious witness testifies against someone, accusing him of wrongdoing, 17 both parties to the dispute must stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges who are in office at that time. 18 The judges must investigate thoroughly, and if the witness proves to be a liar who has falsely accused his brother, 19 you must do to him as he intended to do to his brother. You must purge the evil from among you. 20 Then the rest of the people will hear of this and be afraid, and they will never again commit such an evil thing among you. 21 You must show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
• 1 Kgs 21:8-9 : 8 So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, sealed them with his seal, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth’s city. 9 In those letters she wrote, 'Proclaim a fast and seat Naboth in a prominent place among the people.' 10 Then seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them accuse him, saying, 'You have cursed God and the king.' Then take him out and stone him to death. 11 So the elders and nobles of this city, who lived there, carried out Jezebel’s instructions, just as she had written in the letters she sent them. 12 They proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth in a prominent place among the people. 13 Two worthless men came and sat opposite Naboth. They testified against him before the people, saying, 'Naboth has cursed God and the king.' So they took him outside the city, stoned him to death, and he died.
• Ps 27:12 : 12 Do not hand me over to the desire of my adversaries, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence.
• Ps 35:11-12 : 11 False witnesses rise up; they question me about things I do not know. 12 They repay me evil for good, leaving my soul in grief.
• Ps 94:20-21 : 20 Can a corrupt throne be allied with you—one that brings about trouble under the guise of law? 21 They band together against the life of the righteous and condemn innocent blood.
• Prov 25:18 : 18 Like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow is a person who gives false testimony against his neighbor.
• Matt 5:22 : 22 But I say to you, everyone who is angry with their brother without cause will be subject to judgment. Whoever says to their brother, ‘Raka!’ will be answerable to the council, and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
• Mark 14:55-56 : 55 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. 56 Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.
• Acts 6:11-13 : 11 Then they secretly instigated men to say, 'We have heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and against God.' 12 They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes. They came upon him, seized him, and brought him to the council. 13 They presented false witnesses who said, 'This man never stops speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the law.'
• Acts 24:1-9 : 1 After five days, the high priest Ananias went down with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they presented their case against Paul to the governor. 2 When Paul was summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, 'Because of you, we have enjoyed much peace and reforms have been carried out for this nation through your foresight.' 3 In every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, we accept this with all gratitude. 4 But so as not to take more of your time, I beg you to listen to us briefly in your kindness. 5 We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 6 He even tried to desecrate the temple, so we arrested him and wanted to judge him according to our law. 7 But Lysias, the commander, came and intervened with great force, taking him out of our hands. 8 By examining him yourself, you will be able to learn the truth about all the charges we are bringing against him. 9 The Jews joined in the accusation, asserting that these things were true. 10 When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied, 'Knowing that you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I make my defense cheerfully.' 11 You can easily verify that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12 My accusers did not find me disputing with anyone in the temple, or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues, or anywhere in the city. 13 Nor can they prove to you the charges they are now bringing against me.