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Mark 14:18

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And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me.

And {G2532} as they {G846} sat {G345} and {G2532} did eat {G2068}, Jesus {G2424} said {G2036}, Verily {G281} I say {G3004} unto you {G5213},{G3754} One {G1520} of {G1537} you {G5216} which {G3588} eateth {G2068} with {G3326} me {G1700} shall betray {G3860} me {G3165}.

As they were reclining and eating, Yeshua said, "Yes! I tell you that one of you is going to betray me."

And while they were reclining and eating, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, one of you who is eating with Me will betray Me.”

And as they sat and were eating, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you shall betray me, even he that eateth with me.

Commentary

Context

This verse is set during the Last Supper, specifically the Passover meal, which Jesus shared with His twelve disciples in an upper room in Jerusalem. This sacred meal commemorated Israel's deliverance from slavery in Egypt. The atmosphere, though solemn and traditional, is about to be shattered by a profound revelation. Jesus’ statement comes after He had prepared for the Passover, a time of intimate fellowship. This moment precedes the institution of the Lord's Supper, where He would break bread and share wine as symbols of His body and blood.

Key Themes

  • Divine Foreknowledge and Sovereignty: Jesus knew precisely what was about to transpire. His declaration is not a guess but a statement of divine certainty. This highlights His omniscience and that even this heinous act of betrayal was within God's sovereign plan for redemption (Acts 2:23).
  • The Shock of Betrayal: The disciples, hearing this, were deeply distressed. The idea that one of their own, sharing a meal, would commit such an act was unfathomable. This underscores the pain and treachery involved in a betrayal by someone close.
  • Intimacy and Treachery: The phrase "which eateth with me" emphasizes the deep bond of fellowship that was being violated. In ancient Near Eastern culture, sharing a meal signified trust and covenant. This makes the betrayal even more heinous, echoing the lament found in Psalm 41:9, "Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me."

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "Verily I say unto you" translates the Greek Amen lego soi (or Amen amen lego soi in John's Gospel), meaning "Truly I say to you" or "I solemnly assure you." This often precedes a statement of profound importance or truth, signaling that what follows is to be taken with utmost seriousness and divine authority. The word "betray" comes from the Greek paradidomi, which means "to hand over," "to deliver up," or "to surrender." While it can be used innocently, in this context, it carries the sinister meaning of handing over to an enemy for judgment or death, specifically referring to Judas Iscariot's treacherous act of delivering Jesus to the authorities (Mark 14:43).

Practical Application

This verse serves as a powerful reminder of several truths. Firstly, even in the closest circles, betrayal can occur, and it is a painful reality. Secondly, it highlights Jesus' full humanity, experiencing the pain of being wronged, yet also His divine nature in foretelling it. For believers, it encourages vigilance and discernment, as not everyone who appears to be a follower is truly committed (1 John 2:19). Ultimately, despite human treachery, God's plan of salvation through Christ's sacrifice was not thwarted but fulfilled, demonstrating His ultimate control and redemptive purpose for all humanity.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Psalms 41:9 (7 votes)

    Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up [his] heel against me.

  • John 6:70 (3 votes)

    Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?

  • John 6:47 (3 votes)

    Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

  • Mark 14:25 (2 votes)

    Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.

  • John 13:21 (2 votes)

    When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.

  • John 6:32 (2 votes)

    Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.

  • John 5:19 (2 votes)

    Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.