Matthew 27:8

KJV

Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.

KJV (with Strong's)

Wherefore {G1352} that {G1565} field {G68} was called {G2564}, The field {G68} of blood {G129}, unto {G2193} this day {G4594}.

Complete Jewish Bible

This is how it came to be called the Field of Blood, a name it still bears.

Berean Standard Bible

That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day.

American Standard Version

Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 27:8 concisely records the lasting name given to the field purchased by the chief priests with the thirty pieces of silver returned by Judas Iscariot: "The field of blood." This designation, which persisted "unto this day" (referring to the time of Matthew's writing), serves as a stark and enduring memorial to the betrayal of Jesus, the shedding of innocent blood, and the ironic fulfillment of prophecy through the actions of those who rejected Christ. It marks a place of death and despair, purchased with the price of ultimate treachery.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Matthew 27:8 is a parenthetical remark within the broader narrative of Jesus's crucifixion, specifically following Judas Iscariot's remorse and suicide. The preceding verses ([Matthew 27:3-5](/matthew/27-3-5 "Matthew 27:3-5 - Judas's Remorse and Suicide")) detail Judas's desperate return of the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, acknowledging Jesus's innocence. The religious leaders, in turn, grapple with the ethical dilemma of what to do with "blood money" that cannot be placed in the temple treasury ([Matthew 27:6-7](/matthew/27-6-7 "Matthew 27:6-7 - The Priests' Dilemma")). Their decision to purchase a potter's field as a burial place for strangers directly leads to the naming recorded in verse 8. This verse also sets the stage for Matthew's subsequent theological reflection in [Matthew 27:9-10](/matthew/27-9-10 "Matthew 27:9-10 - Fulfillment of Prophecy"), where he explicitly connects these events to the prophecy of Jeremiah (though it is a conflation of Zechariah and Jeremiah). Thus, verse 8 functions as a pivotal descriptive detail, bridging the immediate actions of the religious leaders with their prophetic implications.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Jewish religious leaders' refusal to put the thirty pieces of silver into the temple treasury stemmed from a strict interpretation of Mosaic Law regarding money tainted by sin or violence, often referred to as "blood money." Such funds were considered ritually impure (cf. [Deuteronomy 23:18](/deuteronomy/23-18 "Deuteronomy 23:18 - Unclean Offerings")). Their solution, to purchase a "potter's field," was pragmatic. These fields were typically depleted, infertile plots of land, often used for extracting clay for pottery, and thus cheap to acquire. They were suitable for burying the poor, strangers, or those without family, ensuring proper burial practices were observed even for the marginalized. The naming of the field, "The field of blood" (or Aramaic "Akeldama" as recorded in [Acts 1:19](/acts/1-19 "Acts 1:19 - Akeldama, The Field of Blood")), served as a public, permanent marker. This practice of naming places after significant events was common in ancient cultures, ensuring the memory of the event endured "unto this day," a phrase that indicates the name's currency at the time Matthew wrote his Gospel.

* **Key Themes:** Matthew 27:8 contributes significantly to several overarching themes in Matthew's Gospel. Firstly, it underscores **the profound stain and lasting consequences of sin and betrayal**. The "field of blood" vividly symbolizes the moral defilement associated with Judas's treachery and the religious leaders' complicity in condemning an innocent man. It serves as a grim monument to human wickedness. Secondly, the verse highlights **divine sovereignty and the fulfillment of prophecy** even amidst human evil. Despite the corrupt intentions behind the purchase, God's overarching plan was being intricately woven, leading to a specific outcome that aligned with ancient prophecies concerning the price of the shepherd, as further elaborated in [Matthew 27:9-10](/matthew/27-9-10 "Matthew 27:9-10 - Prophecy Fulfilled"). Lastly, the field's purpose as a burial ground for strangers, coupled with its name, evokes themes of **despair, death, and rejection**, reflecting the ultimate consequences of rejecting the Messiah and foreshadowing the broader spiritual death that results from sin.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **field (Greek, _agrós'_):** (G68) Derived from a word meaning "to drive," referring to a field as a place for driving cattle. More broadly, it denotes a piece of ground, land, or the country. In this context, it specifically refers to a plot of land purchased for a particular purpose, emphasizing its physical reality and function as a burial ground.
* **called (Greek, _kaléō'_):** (G2564) To "call" aloud, but used broadly for naming or summoning. Here, it signifies the act of bestowing a name upon the field, indicating a public and recognized designation that became its identity. The passive voice ("was called") suggests that this naming was a communal or widely accepted act.
* **blood (Greek, _haîma'_):** (G129) Of uncertain derivation, referring literally to the vital fluid of humans or animals. Figuratively, it can denote bloodshed, violence, or kinship. In this context, "blood" carries immense symbolic weight, referring to the innocent blood of Jesus, the price of which Judas received, and the defilement associated with that act. It signifies the violent and unjust death for which the money was exchanged.
* **this day (Greek, _sḗmeron'_):** (G4594) Literally "on the day" or "this day." As an adverb, it means "now" or "at present." This phrase indicates that the name "The field of blood" was still current and recognized at the time Matthew was writing his Gospel, lending historical veracity and enduring significance to the event for his original audience.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Wherefore that field was called":** This opening phrase, introduced by "Wherefore" (G1352, _dió_), signals a consequence or conclusion drawn from the preceding narrative. It indicates that the naming of the field was a direct result of the events surrounding Judas's betrayal and the chief priests' decision regarding the "blood money." The passive voice "was called" suggests that this name became widely known and accepted, not merely a private designation.
* **"The field of blood":** This is the crucial descriptive phrase, giving the field its infamous name. "Blood" here is not merely a literal reference to a substance but carries profound symbolic weight. It refers to the innocent blood of Jesus, for which Judas was paid, and thus signifies the guilt, betrayal, and violence associated with the transaction. The name serves as a permanent, public reminder of the heinous act and its moral contamination.
* **"unto this day":** This concluding temporal marker highlights the enduring nature of the name and, by extension, the memory of the events. It assures Matthew's readers that the "Field of Blood" was still known by this name in their time, validating the historical account and emphasizing the lasting consequences of the betrayal. It underscores the historical reality and the indelible mark left by the events of Jesus's passion.

#### Literary Devices
Matthew 27:8 makes powerful use of **Eponymous Naming**, where a place is named after a significant event or characteristic. "The field of blood" directly reflects the "blood money" used to purchase it, which in turn points to the innocent blood of Jesus. This naming is not merely descriptive but deeply symbolic, transforming a physical location into a perpetual monument. The verse also employs **Symbolism**, as the "blood" in the field's name symbolizes not just the literal price of betrayal but also the guilt, defilement, and ultimate consequence of rejecting the innocent Son of God. Furthermore, there is a subtle **Irony** in the religious leaders' actions: in their attempt to ritually cleanse themselves by disposing of the "blood money," they inadvertently create a lasting memorial to their own complicity in shedding innocent blood, a place forever marked by the very impurity they sought to avoid.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The naming of the field as "The field of blood" serves as a profound theological statement on the nature of sin, its lasting consequences, and God's sovereign ability to weave even human wickedness into His redemptive plan. The "blood money" used to purchase the field symbolizes the ultimate price of betrayal and the defilement of innocent blood. This act, meant to cleanse the temple treasury, paradoxically creates a permanent public monument to the guilt of those who condemned Jesus. It underscores the truth that sin, especially the betrayal of righteousness, leaves an indelible stain, and its effects reverberate through history, serving as a perpetual reminder of moral corruption and its tragic outcomes. Yet, in God's providence, this very field, a place of death for strangers, would inadvertently point forward to the ultimate sacrifice of the one who died for all strangers, fulfilling prophecy and setting the stage for the redemption wrought by the shedding of truly precious blood.

* [Acts 1:18-19](/acts/1-18-19 "Acts 1:18-19 - Judas's Death and Akeldama")
* [Zechariah 11:12-13](/zechariah/11-12-13 "Zechariah 11:12-13 - The Price of the Shepherd")
* [Hebrews 9:22](/hebrews/9-22 "Hebrews 9:22 - Without Shedding of Blood")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Matthew 27:8, though brief, offers a sobering reflection on the enduring consequences of our choices, particularly those made in the shadow of sin and betrayal. The "Field of Blood" stands as a perpetual monument, not just to Judas's treachery, but to the collective human capacity for rejecting truth and justice. It reminds us that actions driven by greed, fear, or self-preservation can leave an indelible mark, not only on our own lives but on the fabric of history and the lives of others. The irony that a place meant for the burial of strangers, purchased with the price of innocent blood, became a lasting memorial, challenges us to consider what our own "purchases" and decisions truly represent. Are our resources being used to perpetuate injustice, or to bring life and healing? The verse subtly invites us to examine the "blood money" in our own lives—any gain acquired through unrighteous means, compromise, or the exploitation of others. It calls us to recognize the sanctity of life and the profound spiritual cost of betrayal, urging us towards integrity, repentance, and a deep reverence for the innocent.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "fields of blood" might exist in our own lives or communities, serving as reminders of past betrayals, injustices, or unrighteous gains?**
* **How does the lasting name of the field challenge us to consider the long-term impact of our decisions, especially those made under pressure or compromise?**
* **In what ways might we, like the chief priests, attempt to "cleanse" ourselves of guilt through superficial acts, rather than genuine repentance and transformation?**
* **How does the concept of "blood money" apply to modern ethical dilemmas concerning wealth, justice, and the value of human life?**

### FAQ

**What is "The field of blood" and why was it called that?**

Answer: "The field of blood" (in Aramaic, "Akeldama," as noted in [Acts 1:19](/acts/1-19 "Acts 1:19 - Akeldama")) was a potter's field purchased by the Jewish chief priests with the thirty pieces of silver that Judas Iscariot returned after betraying Jesus. It was called "The field of blood" because the money used to buy it was considered "blood money"—the price of innocent blood—and therefore ritually impure for the temple treasury. The name served as a lasting public memorial to Judas's betrayal and the shedding of innocent blood.

**Where was "The field of blood" located?**

Answer: While Matthew 27:8 doesn't specify the exact location, tradition and archaeological evidence place "The field of blood" (Akeldama) in the Hinnom Valley, south of Jerusalem. This valley, often associated with judgment and defilement (e.g., [Jeremiah 7:31-32](/jeremiah/7-31-32 "Jeremiah 7:31-32 - Valley of Slaughter")), would have been a fitting place for a burial ground for strangers and a symbol of the tragic events.

**Does Matthew 27:8 contradict Acts 1:18 regarding Judas's death and the field?**

Answer: No, the accounts in Matthew 27:8 and [Acts 1:18-19](/acts/1-18-19 "Acts 1:18-19 - Judas's Death and Akeldama") are complementary rather than contradictory. Matthew focuses on the chief priests' purchase of the field with the blood money and the name it received. Acts, written by Luke, emphasizes Judas's personal fate, stating he "bought a field with the reward of his wickedness" and died there. It's plausible that Judas, in his despair, may have initiated the purchase or that the field was acquired on his behalf, or that the phrase "bought a field" is a figure of speech implying he was the cause of its acquisition. Both accounts agree on the field's name ("Field of Blood" / Akeldama) and its association with Judas's betrayal and death, providing a fuller picture when read together.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The "Field of Blood," purchased with the price of betrayal and innocent life, stands as a grim foreshadowing that ultimately points to the infinitely more significant "blood" shed by Jesus Christ. While the field was bought with the price of a man's betrayal, it was Christ's own precious blood, not silver, that purchased humanity's redemption. The field became a burial place for strangers, symbolizing rejection and death; yet, Christ's death on the cross, though a place of ultimate rejection, became the means by which all "strangers" (those alienated from God by sin) could be reconciled and brought into God's family ([Ephesians 2:13-19](/ephesians/2-13-19 "Ephesians 2:13-19 - Reconciliation Through Christ's Blood")). The "blood" of the field signifies guilt and defilement, but the "blood" of Christ cleanses from all sin ([1 John 1:7](/1_john/1-7 "1 John 1:7 - Cleansed by His Blood")) and ratifies a new covenant ([Hebrews 9:12-14](/hebrews/9-12-14 "Hebrews 9:12-14 - The Blood of Christ and the New Covenant")). Thus, the ignominious "Field of Blood" serves as a dark backdrop against which the radiant, life-giving power of the true Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), is magnified, demonstrating that even human wickedness and its monuments are ultimately subsumed by God's sovereign plan for salvation through His Son.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Acts 1:19

And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.

Matthew 28:15

So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

Joshua 4:9

And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there unto this day.

Deuteronomy 34:6

And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.

Judges 1:26

And the man went into the land of the Hittites, and built a city, and called the name thereof Luz: which [is] the name thereof unto this day.

2 Chronicles 5:9

And they drew out the staves [of the ark], that the ends of the staves were seen from the ark before the oracle; but they were not seen without. And there it is unto this day.