Matthew 27:24
 
Matthew 27:24
(KJV) When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.
(1611 KJV) When Pilate saw that he could preuaile nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, hee tooke water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this iust person: see yee to it.
(1568 Bishop’s Bible) When Pilate sawe that he coulde preuayle nothyng, but that more busynesse was made, he toke water, and washed his handes before the people, saying: I am innocent of the blood of this iust person, see ye to it.
(1526 Tyndale) When Pilate sawe that he prevayled nothinge but that moare busines was made he toke water and wasshed his hondes before ye people sayinge: I am innocent of the bloud of this iuste person and that ye shall se.
 
Counterfeit Versions
(CSB) When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that a riot was starting instead, he took some water, washed his hands in front of the crowd, and said, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. See to it yourselves! ”
(NIV) When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. "I am innocent of this man's blood," he said. "It is your responsibility!"
(NASV) When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this Man's blood; see to that yourselves."
(THE MESSAGE) When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere and that a riot was imminent, he took a basin of water and washed his hands in full sight of the crowd, saying, "I'm washing my hands of responsibility for this man's death. From now on, it's in your hands. You're judge and jury."
(AMP) So when Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but rather that a riot was about to break out, he took water and washed his hands in the presence of the crowd, saying, I am not guilty of nor responsible for this righteous Man's blood; see to it yourselves.
(NLT) Pilate saw that he wasn’t getting anywhere and that a riot was developing. So he sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. The responsibility is yours!”
(ESV) So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves."
(CEV) Pilate saw that there was nothing he could do and that the people were starting to riot. So he took some water and washed his hands in front of them and said, "I won't have anything to do with killing this man. You are the ones doing it!"
(NCV) When Pilate saw that he could do nothing about this and that a riot was starting, he took some water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. Then he said, "I am not guilty of this man's death. You are the ones who are causing it!"
(HCSB) When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that a riot was starting instead, he took some water, washed his hands in front of the crowd, and said, "I am innocent of this man's blood. See to it yourselves!"
(RSV) So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves."
(NAB-Roman Catholic) When Pilate saw that he was not succeeding at all, but that a riot was breaking out instead, he took water and washed his hands in the sight of the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood. Look to it yourselves."
(NWT-Jehovah’s Witnesses) Seeing that it did no good but, rather, an uproar was arising, Pilate took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying: “I am innocent of the blood of this [man]. YOU yourselves must see to it.”
 
Textus Receptus - Traditional Text
idwn de o pilatoV oti ouden wjelei alla mallon qoruboV ginetai labwn udwr apeniyato taV ceiraV apenanti tou oclou legwn aqwoV eimi apo tou aimatoV tou dikaiou toutou umeiV oyesqe
 
Hort-Westcott - Critical Text
idwn de o pilatoV oti ouden wjelei alla mallon qoruboV ginetai labwn udwr apeniyato taV ceiraV katenanti tou oclou legwn aqwoV eimi apo tou aimatoV toutou umeiV oyesqe
 
Corrupted Manuscripts
This verse is corrupted in the following manuscripts:
B 03 - Vaticanus - Fourth century
D 05 - Bezae Cantabrigiensis - Fifth century
038 - (Majuscule) Ninth century
 
Manuscripts which agree with the Textus Receptus for this verse
Byzantine Text (450-1450 A.D.)
Aleph 01 - Sinaiticus - Nineteenth Century Counterfeit
L 019 - Seventh century
1 (Minuscule) - Seventh century
13 (Minuscule) - Eighth century
 
Published Critical Greek Texts with Corruptions
Omit “just person” after “blood of this”
Lachmann, Karl - 1842 (in brackets or margin)
Tischendorf, Constantine - 1869
Tregelles, Samuel - 1857 (in brackets or margin)
Alford, Henry - 1849 revised in 1871
Westcott and Hort - 1881 (in brackets or margin)
Nestle - 1927 as revised in seventeenth edition in 1941
Nestle-Aland - 1979 - Twenty Sixth Edition
Nestle-Aland - 1993 - Twenty Seventh Edition
United Bible Societies - 1983 - Fourth Edition
 
Affected Teaching
At the trial of the Lord Jesus Christ, Pilate had done everything he could to release Jesus because he knew that Jesus had done nothing wrong to warrant execution. So finally after some time, Pilate finally acquiesces to the crowd and then washes his hands of the situation. However, Pilate made the statement that Jesus was a Just or Righteous person. The modern versions have omitted this revelation by Pilate. Even Pilate knew that Jesus was a Just man and not deserving of the treatment he received by the people. It seems even Pilate had more insight than the modern version editors and translators.

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