Matthew 26:26
New International Version
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”

New Living Translation
As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take this and eat it, for this is my body.”

English Standard Version
Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.”

Berean Standard Bible
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is My body.”

Berean Literal Bible
Now as they were eating, Jesus, having taken bread and having blessed it, broke it, and having given it to the disciples, He said, "Take, eat; this is My body."

King James Bible
And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

New King James Version
And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”

New American Standard Bible
Now while they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”

NASB 1995
While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”

NASB 1977
And while they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Now while they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it. And giving it to the disciples, He said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”

Amplified Bible
Now as they were eating Jesus took bread, and after blessing it, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”

Christian Standard Bible
As they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take and eat it; this is my body.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
As they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take and eat it; this is My body.”

American Standard Version
And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it; and he gave to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

Contemporary English Version
During the meal Jesus took some bread in his hands. He blessed the bread and broke it. Then he gave it to his disciples and said, "Take this and eat it. This is my body."

English Revised Version
And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it; and he gave to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
While they were eating, Jesus took bread and blessed it. He broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said, "Take this, and eat it. This is my body."

Good News Translation
While they were eating, Jesus took a piece of bread, gave a prayer of thanks, broke it, and gave it to his disciples. "Take and eat it," he said; "this is my body."

International Standard Version
While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and handed it to the disciples, saying, "Take this and eat it. This is my body."

Majority Standard Bible
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, ?Take and eat; this is My body.?

NET Bible
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after giving thanks he broke it, gave it to his disciples, and said, "Take, eat, this is my body."

New Heart English Bible
As they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks for it, and broke it. He gave to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is my body."

Webster's Bible Translation
And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

Weymouth New Testament
During the meal Jesus took a Passover biscuit, blessed it and broke it. He then gave it to the disciples, saying, "Take this and eat it: it is my body."

World English Bible
As they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks for it, and broke it. He gave to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And while they were eating, Jesus having taken the bread, and having blessed, broke, and was giving [it] to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat, this is My body”;

Berean Literal Bible
Now as they were eating, Jesus, having taken bread and having blessed it, broke it, and having given it to the disciples, He said, "Take, eat; this is My body."

Young's Literal Translation
And while they were eating, Jesus having taken the bread, and having blessed, did brake, and was giving to the disciples, and said, 'Take, eat, this is my body;'

Smith's Literal Translation
And they eating, Jesus, having taken the bread and praised, brake and gave to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And whilst they were at supper, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke: and gave to his disciples, and said: Take ye, and eat. This is my body.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Now while they were eating the meal, Jesus took bread, and he blessed and broke and gave it to his disciples, and he said: “Take and eat. This is my body.”

New American Bible
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, “Take and eat; this is my body.”

New Revised Standard Version
While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
While they were eating, Jesus took bread and blessed it, and he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and he said, Take, eat; this is my body.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But as they ate, Yeshua took bread and blessed and broke and he gave to his disciples, and he said, “Take eat; this is my body.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and gave it to the disciples, and said: Take, eat; this is my body.

Godbey New Testament
And they eating, Jesus taking the bread, and blessing it, broke, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

Haweis New Testament
Then as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessing, brake, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.

Mace New Testament
While they were yet eating, Jesus took bread, and having given thanks, he brake it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, take, eat; this represents my body.

Weymouth New Testament
During the meal Jesus took a Passover biscuit, blessed it and broke it. He then gave it to the disciples, saying, "Take this and eat it: it is my body."

Worrell New Testament
And, as they were eating, Jesus, taking a loaf and blessing it, broke it, and giving to his disciples, said, "Take, eat, this is My body."

Worsley New Testament
Now as they were at table, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Last Supper
25Then Judas, who would betray Him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “You have said it yourself.” 26While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is My body.” 27Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.…

Cross References
1 Corinthians 11:23-25
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, / and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” / In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

Mark 14:22-24
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take it; this is My body.” / Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. / He said to them, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.

Luke 22:19-20
And He took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body, given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” / In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.

John 6:53-58
So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of Man, you have no life in you. / Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. / For My flesh is real food, and My blood is real drink. ...

Exodus 12:8-11
They are to eat the meat that night, roasted over the fire, along with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. / Do not eat any of the meat raw or cooked in boiling water, but only roasted over the fire—its head and legs and inner parts. / Do not leave any of it until morning; before the morning you must burn up any part that is left over. ...

1 Corinthians 10:16-17
Is not the cup of blessing that we bless a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? / Because there is one loaf, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf.

John 6:35
Jesus answered, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever believes in Me will never thirst.

Hebrews 9:11-14
But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made by hands and is not a part of this creation. / He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption. / For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that their bodies are clean, ...

Isaiah 53:4-5
Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows; yet we considered Him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. / But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

John 1:29
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

Leviticus 7:11-15
Now this is the law of the peace offering that one may present to the LORD: / If he offers it in thanksgiving, then along with the sacrifice of thanksgiving he shall offer unleavened cakes mixed with olive oil, unleavened wafers coated with oil, and well-kneaded cakes of fine flour mixed with oil. / Along with his peace offering of thanksgiving he is to present an offering with cakes of leavened bread. ...

John 6:51
I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And this bread, which I will give for the life of the world, is My flesh.”

Hebrews 10:19-22
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, / by the new and living way opened for us through the curtain of His body, / and since we have a great priest over the house of God, ...

Zechariah 9:11
As for you, because of the blood of My covenant, I will release your prisoners from the waterless pit.

Acts 2:42
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.


Treasury of Scripture

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

as.

Mark 14:22
And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.

Luke 22:19
And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

Jesus.

Luke 24:30
And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.

1 Corinthians 11:23-25
For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: …

blessed it.

Mark 6:41
And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.

and brake.

Acts 2:46
And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

Acts 20:7
And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

1 Corinthians 10:16,17
The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? …

Take.

John 6:33-35,47-58
For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world…

1 Corinthians 11:26-29
For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come…

this.

Ezekiel 5:4,5
Then take of them again, and cast them into the midst of the fire, and burn them in the fire; for thereof shall a fire come forth into all the house of Israel…

Luke 22:20
Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

1 Corinthians 10:4,16
And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ…

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Biscuit Blessed Blessing Body Brake Bread Broke Broken Disciples Eat Eating Food Jesus Meal Passover Thanks
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Matthew 26
1. Jesus foretells his own death.
3. The rulers conspire against him.
6. The woman anoints his feet.
14. Judas bargains to betray him.
17. Jesus eats the Passover;
26. institutes his holy supper;
30. foretells the desertion of his disciples, and Peter's denial;
36. prays in the garden;
47. and being betrayed by a kiss,
57. is carried to Caiaphas,
69. and denied by Peter.














While they were eating
This phrase sets the scene during the Last Supper, a pivotal moment in Christian history. The Greek word for "eating" (ἐσθίω) indicates a communal meal, which in Jewish tradition, especially during Passover, is rich with symbolism and fellowship. The Passover meal commemorates the Israelites' deliverance from Egypt, and here, Jesus is about to redefine its meaning. Historically, this meal was a time of remembrance and anticipation, and Jesus uses it to introduce a new covenant.

Jesus took bread
The act of taking bread is deeply symbolic. In Jewish tradition, bread is a staple of life, representing sustenance and God's provision. The Greek word for "took" (λαβών) implies a deliberate action. Jesus, the Bread of Life, is about to offer Himself as spiritual sustenance. This moment foreshadows His sacrifice, where He becomes the true Passover Lamb.

spoke a blessing
The Greek word for "blessing" (εὐλογήσας) means to give thanks or to consecrate. In Jewish custom, blessings are spoken to acknowledge God's provision and sovereignty. Jesus' blessing over the bread signifies His acknowledgment of God's plan and His role in it. This act of blessing transforms the ordinary into the sacred, setting the stage for the institution of the Eucharist.

and broke it
Breaking the bread is a significant act. The Greek word (ἔκλασεν) suggests a physical breaking, symbolizing Jesus' impending suffering and the breaking of His body on the cross. This act is a visual prophecy of His sacrifice, emphasizing the personal cost of redemption. Historically, broken bread also signifies sharing and community, pointing to the unity of believers in Christ.

and gave it to the disciples
The giving of the bread to the disciples (ἔδωκεν) is an act of sharing and impartation. Jesus is not only sharing a meal but is imparting His life and mission to His followers. This act signifies the beginning of the disciples' role in the new covenant. It is a call to participate in His suffering and mission, a theme that resonates throughout the New Testament.

saying, Take and eat
The command to "take and eat" (λάβετε φάγετε) is an invitation to partake in the life and sacrifice of Jesus. It is a call to active participation in the new covenant. Eating the bread symbolizes accepting Jesus' sacrifice and internalizing His teachings. This phrase echoes the invitation to eternal life found throughout the Gospels.

this is My body
The declaration "this is My body" (τοῦτό ἐστιν τὸ σῶμά μου) is profound and foundational for Christian theology. The Greek word for "body" (σῶμα) signifies the whole person. Jesus is offering Himself entirely for the redemption of humanity. This statement is the basis for the doctrine of the Eucharist, where believers partake in the body of Christ, symbolizing unity with Him and with each other. Historically, this moment marks the transition from the old covenant to the new, where Jesus Himself becomes the sacrificial Lamb.

(26) As they were eating.--Again we must represent to ourselves an interval of silence, broken by the act or words that followed. The usual "grace" or blessing had been spoken at the beginning of the feast. Now, taking one of the cakes of unleavened bread, He again utters a solemn formula of blessing, and gives it to them with the words, "Take, eat, this is my body;" or, as in St. Luke's fuller report (Luke 22:19; comp. also 1Corinthians 11:24), "This is My body that is given for you" (literally, that is in the act of being given); "do this in remembrance of Me" (better, as a memorial of Me). It would be an endless and profitless task to enter into the labyrinth of subtle speculations to which these words have given rise. Did the bread which He thus gave them contain at that moment the substance of His body, taking the place of its own substance or united with it? In what way is He present when those words are repeated and the faithful receive the "sacrament of the body and blood of Christ?" Questions such as these, theories of Transubstantiation, Consubstantiation, and the like, are, we may venture to say, alien to the mind of Christ, and outside the range of any true interpretation. As pointing to the true path through that labyrinth, it will be enough to remember (1) that our Lord's later teaching had accustomed the disciples to language of like figurative boldness. He was "the door of the sheep-fold" (John 10:7). What they would understand at the time and afterwards was, that He spoke of His body as being as truly given for them as that bread which He had broken was given to them. (2) That the words could scarcely fail to recall what had once seemed a "hard saying which they could not hear" (John 6:60). They had been told that they could only enter into eternal life by eating His flesh and drinking His blood--i.e., by sharing His life, and the spirit of sacrifice which led Him to offer it up for the life of the world. Now they were taught that what had appeared impossible was to become possible, through the outward symbol of the bread thus broken. They were to "do this" as a memorial of Him, and so to keep fresh in their remembrance that sacrifice which He had offered. To see in these words, as some have seen, the command, "Offer this as a sacrifice," is to do violence to their natural meaning by reading into them the after-thoughts of theology. (See Notes on Luke 22:19.) But, on the other hand, the word rendered "remembrance" or "memorial" was one not without a sacrificial aspect of its own. Every "sacrifice" was a "remembrance" of man's sins (Hebrews 10:3). Every Paschal Feast was a "memorial" of the first great Passover (Exodus 12:9; Numbers 10:10). So every act such as He now commanded would be a "memorial" at once of the sins which made a sacrifice necessary, and of the one great sacrifice which He had offered. (3) It seems something like a descent to a lower region of thought, but it ought to be noted that the time at which the memorial was thus instituted, "while they were eating," is not without its significance in the controversies which have been raised as to fasting or non-fasting communion. Rules on such a subject, so far as any Church adopts them, or any individual Christian finds them expedient, may have their authority and their value, but the facts of the original institution witness that they rest on no divine authority, and that the Church acts wisely when it leaves the question to every individual Christian to decide as he is "fully persuaded in his own mind" (Romans 14:5). . . . Verses 26-29. - The institution of the Lord's Supper. (Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:15-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-25.) The endless controversies which have gathered round the Holy Eucharist, for opposite views of the meaning and purpose of which men have fearlessly met death, render it a difficult matter to expound the text succinctly and yet with due regard to clearness and precision. If I do not expatiate upon the diverse opinions which have been held on this momentous subject, it is not because I have neglected to weigh and examine them, but because it is more conducive to edification to have a plain statement of what appears to the writer to be the truth, than to confuse a reader with a multitude of interpretations which in the end have virtually to be surrendered. The points to be specially remembered before trying to expound the section are these:

1. He who institutes the ordinance is Almighty God made man, who is able to set aside one observance and to substitute another in its place.

2. The new ordinance had an analogy with that which it superseded.

3. It was intended to be the one great service and means of grace for all Christians. . . .

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
While
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

they
αὐτῶν (autōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

were eating,
Ἐσθιόντων (Esthiontōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 2068: Strengthened for a primary edo; used only in certain tenses, the rest being supplied by phago; to eat.

Jesus
Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2424: Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.

took
λαβὼν (labōn)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2983: (a) I receive, get, (b) I take, lay hold of.

bread,
ἄρτον (arton)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 740: Bread, a loaf, food. From airo; bread or a loaf.

spoke a blessing
εὐλογήσας (eulogēsas)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2127: (lit: I speak well of) I bless; pass: I am blessed. From a compound of eu and logos; to speak well of, i.e. to bless.

[and] broke [it],
ἔκλασεν (eklasen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2806: To break (in pieces), break bread. A primary verb; to break.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

gave [it]
δοὺς (dous)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1325: To offer, give; I put, place. A prolonged form of a primary verb; to give.

to the
τοῖς (tois)
Article - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

disciples,
μαθηταῖς (mathētais)
Noun - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3101: A learner, disciple, pupil. From manthano; a learner, i.e. Pupil.

saying,
εἶπεν (eipen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

“Take
Λάβετε (Labete)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 2983: (a) I receive, get, (b) I take, lay hold of.

[and] eat;
φάγετε (phagete)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 5315: A primary verb; to eat.

this
τοῦτό (touto)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it.

is
ἐστιν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

My
μου (mou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

body.”
σῶμά (sōma)
Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4983: Body, flesh; the body of the Church. From sozo; the body, used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively.


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NT Gospels: Matthew 26:26 As they were eating Jesus took bread (Matt. Mat Mt)
Matthew 26:25
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