Matthew Chapter 26 verse 48 Holy Bible
Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that is he: take him.
read chapter 26 in ASV
Now the false one had given them a sign saying, The one to whom I give a kiss, that is he: take him.
read chapter 26 in BBE
Now he that delivered him up had given them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, he it is: seize him.
read chapter 26 in DARBY
Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.
read chapter 26 in KJV
read chapter 26 in WBT
Now he who betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, "Whoever I kiss, he is the one. Seize him."
read chapter 26 in WEB
And he who did deliver him up did give them a sign, saying, `Whomsoever I will kiss, it is he: lay hold on him;'
read chapter 26 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 48 - A sign. As they approached, Judas gave them a sign which would point out the person whom they were to seize. Probably these did not know Jesus by sight; at any rate, amid the crowd he might easily escape detection; it was also night, and even the Paschal moon might not enable the guards to distinguish faces under the shade of the dark olive grove. Whomsoever I shall kiss. In the East such salutation was common among friends, masters, and pupils; and it would awaken no surprise to see Judas thus salute his Teacher. Perhaps he desired to save appearances in the eyes of his fellow disciples. We marvel at the audacity and obduracy of one who could employ this mark of affection and respect to signal an act of the blackest treachery. That same is he whom you have to arrest. Hold him fast. As if he feared an attempt at rescue, or that Jesus might, as before (Luke 4:30; John 8:59), use his miraculous power to effect his escape.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(48) Whomsoever I shall kiss.--It is probable, from the known customs (1) of the Jews and (2) of the early Christians (Romans 16:16; 1Thessalonians 5:26) that this was the usual salutation of the disciples to their Master. St. John, it may be noted, makes no mention of the sign; probably because here, as elsewhere, he seeks to give touches that others had passed over, rather than to repeat what the oral or written teaching of the Church had already made familiar.
