Lexical Summary Barabbas: Barabbas Original Word: Βαραββᾶς Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Barabbas. Of Chaldee origin (dikaiosis and Abba); son of Abba; Bar-abbas, an Israelite -- Barabbas. see HEBREW ga'own see HEBREW 'Abagtha' NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof Aramaic origin bar and Abba Definition "son of Abba," Barabbas, the Isr. robber released instead of Christ NASB Translation Barabbas (11). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 912: ΒαραββᾶςΒαραββᾶς, Βαραββα, ὁ (from בַּר son, and אַבָּא father, hence, son of a father i. e. of a master (cf. Matthew 23:9)), a captive robber whom the Jews begged Pilate to release instead of Christ: Matthew 27:16f (where manuscripts mentioned by Origen, and some other authorities, place Ἰησοῦν before Βαραββᾶν, approved by Fritzsche, DeWette, Meyer, Bleek, others; (cf. WH Appendix and Tdf.s note at the passage; also Treg. Printed Text, etc., p. 194f)), Matthew 27:20f, 26; Mark 15:7, 11, 15; Luke 23:18; John 18:40. Topical Lexicon Biblical Portrait All four Gospels place Barabbas at the decisive moment of Jesus’ trial before Pontius Pilate. Eleven explicit uses of the name occur (Matthew 27; Mark 15; Luke 23; John 18). The combined testimony presents Barabbas as a notorious prisoner (Matthew 27:16), an insurrectionist and murderer (Mark 15:7; John 18:40), whose release was demanded by a crowd persuaded by the chief priests (Matthew 27:20; Mark 15:11). Pilate, eager to placate the people, set him free (Matthew 27:26; Mark 15:15; Luke 23:18). Thus Barabbas became the one man in history who walked away physically free because Jesus took his place on the cross. Historical Setting Jerusalem sat uneasily under Roman occupation. Jewish zeal for national liberation bred sporadic uprisings; Barabbas had joined one such revolt, committing murder in the process (Mark 15:7). Roman governors sometimes granted amnesty during festivals to reinforce goodwill. The Passover custom of releasing a prisoner, though not attested outside the Gospels, accords with Roman pragmatism in volatile provinces. Barabbas’ case therefore illustrates the clash between Rome’s civil authority, Jewish messianic expectation, and God’s redemptive timetable. Legal Contrast: The Innocent for the Guilty Pilate publicly judged Jesus to be without fault (Luke 23:14; John 18:38) yet condemned Him while acquitting a proven criminal. This inverse verdict underscores Scripture’s consistent witness that Christ “the Righteous” suffered for the unrighteous (1 Peter 3:18). The narrative dramatizes substitutionary atonement: the guilty man is released, the spotless Lamb is bound. Selected quotations: Typological and Theological Significance 1. Passover Fulfillment: At Passover Israel celebrated deliverance by the blood of a substitute. Barabbas’ liberation on that very day foreshadows the greater deliverance secured by Christ’s blood. Pastoral and Homiletical Application • Identification with Barabbas: Every sinner stands condemned under divine law, yet may walk free because Christ took the penalty (Romans 5:8). Harmonizing the Gospel Accounts Matthew emphasizes Barabbas’ notoriety and Pilate’s dilemma; Mark stresses the political insurrection; Luke highlights collective guilt; John adds the descriptor “insurrectionist,” aligning him with revolutionary zealots. Together they paint a consistent picture that complements rather than contradicts, demonstrating the multifaceted reliability of Scripture. Later Tradition and Reception Early Christian writers (for example, Origen, Chrysostom) interpreted Barabbas allegorically, contrasting the “son of the father” who embodies worldly expectations with the true Son of the Father. Artistic depictions, from medieval passion plays to modern films, continue to exploit the powerful narrative contrast between Barabbas’ undeserved freedom and Christ’s willing sacrifice. Summary Barabbas stands as a historical person and a living parable of substitutionary grace. Freed by Roman governor, urged by religious leaders, and demanded by a misled populace, he exits the biblical stage silently. His release, however, speaks loudly: the innocent Jesus condemned in the place of the guilty fulfills prophetic Scripture, secures redemptive purpose, and confronts every reader with the choice Pilate presented—“What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?” Forms and Transliterations Βαραββαν Βαραββᾶν Βαραββας Βαραββᾶς βάραθρον Barabban Barabbân Barabbas BarabbâsLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 27:16 N-AMSGRK: λεγόμενον Ἰησοῦν Βαραββᾶν NAS: prisoner, called Barabbas. KJV: prisoner, called Barabbas. INT: called Barabbas Matthew 27:17 N-AMS Matthew 27:20 N-AMS Matthew 27:21 N-AMS Matthew 27:26 N-AMS Mark 15:7 N-NMS Mark 15:11 N-AMS Mark 15:15 N-AMS Luke 23:18 N-AMS John 18:40 N-AMS John 18:40 N-NMS Strong's Greek 912 |
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