Barabbas
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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
BARABBAS

ba-rab'-as (Barabbas): For Aramaic Bar-abba = literally, "son of the father," i.e. of the master or teacher. Abba in the time of Jesus was perhaps a title of honor (Matthew 23:9), but became later a proper name. The variant Barrabban found in the 19-Harclean Syriac would mean "son of the rabbi or teacher." Origen knew and does not absolutely condemn a reading of Matthew 27:16, 17, which gave the name "Jesus Barabbas," but although it is also found in a few cursives and in the Aramaic and the Jerusalem Syriac versions in this place only, it is probably due to a scribe's error in transcription (Westcott-Hort, App., 20). If the name was simply Barabbas or Barrabban, it may still have meant that the man was a rabbi's son, or it may have been a purely conventional proper name, signifying nothing. He was the criminal chosen by the Jerusalem mob, at the instigation of the priests, in preference to Jesus Christ, for Pilate to release on the feast of Passover (Mark 15:15 Matthew 27:20, 21 Luke 23:18 John 18:40). Matthew calls him "a notable (i.e. notorious) prisoner" (Matthew 27:16). Mark says that he was "bound with them that had made insurrection, men who in the insurrection had committed murder" (Matthew 15:7). Luke states that he was cast into prison "for a certain insurrection made in the city, and for murder" (Luke 23:19; compare Acts 3:14). John calls him a "robber" or "brigand" (John 18:40). Nothing further is known of him, nor of the insurrection in which he took part. Luke's statement that he was a murderer is probably a deduction from Mark's more circumstantial statement, that he was only one of a gang, who in a rising had committed murder. Whether robbery was the motive of his crime, as John suggests, or whether he was "a man who had raised a revolt against the Roman power" (Gould) cannot be decided. But it seems equally improbable that the priests (the pro-Roman party) would urge the release of a political prisoner and that Pilate would grant it, especially when the former were urging, and the latter could not resist, the execution of Jesus on a political charge (Luke 23:2). The insurrection may have been a notorious case of brigandage. To say that the Jews would not be interested in the release of such a prisoner, is to forget the history of mobs. The custom referred to of releasing a prisoner on the Passover is otherwise unknown. "What Matthew (and John) represents as brought about by Pilate, Mark makes to appear as if it were suggested by the people themselves. An unessential variation" (Meyer). For a view of the incident as semi-legendary growth, see Schmiedel in Encyclopedia Biblica. See also Allen, Matthew, and Gould, Mark, at the place, and article "Barabbas" by Plummer in Hastings, Dictionary of the Bible (five volumes).

T. Rees

Greek
912. Barabbas -- "son of Abba," Barabbas, the Isr. robber released ...
... 911, 912. Barabbas. 913 . "son of Abba," Barabbas, the Isr. robber
released instead of Christ. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/912.htm - 6k
Library

Barabbas
... BARABBAS. BY REV. JG GREENHOUGH, MA. "And they cried out all at once, saying, Away
with this man, and release unto us Barabbas.""ST Luke 23:18. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/milligan/men of the bible some lesser-known/barabbas.htm

March the Twenty-Eighth the Choice of Barabbas
... MARCH The Twenty-eighth THE CHOICE OF BARABBAS. LUKE xxiii.13-24. Barabbas rather
than Christ! The destroyer of life rather than the Giver of life! ...
/.../march the twenty-eighth the choice.htm

"Jesus or Barabbas. "
... CHAPTER VIII. "JESUS OR BARABBAS.". See! ... For Barabbas, the murderer, Pardon asking,
and liberty. Oh, how otherwise once 'fore the Egyptian folk Joseph! ...
/.../stead/king of the jews/chapter viii jesus or barabbas.htm

Other Incidents of the Passion Minutely Compared with Prophecy ...
... Chapter XLII."Other Incidents of the Passion Minutely Compared with Prophecy Pilate
and Herod. Barabbas Preferred to Jesus. Details of the Crucifixion. ...
/.../the five books against marcion/chapter xlii other incidents of the.htm

And Pilate Said unto the Chief Priests and the Multitude...
... him whom they would. [3488] And there was in their prison a well-known
prisoner, [22, 23] called Barabbas. [3489] And when they ...
/.../hogg/the diatessaron of tatian/section l and pilate said.htm

The Sentence which Condemned the Judges
... And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.17. ... Barabbas, or Jesus which
is called Christ? 18. For he knew that for envy they had delivered Him.19. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/the sentence which condemned the.htm

Jesus and Pilate
... And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us
Barabbas: 19. ... The choice of Barabbas reveals the national ideal. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/jesus and pilate.htm

I am Told, Further, that You Touch with Some Critical Sharpness ...
... rising on your forehead and your eyebrows knitted, make sport of me with a wit worthy
of Plautus, for having said that I had a Jew named Barabbas for my teacher ...
/.../13 i am told further.htm

A Savage Duel.
... Pilate brings forward a man named Barabbas, who was a robber and murderer and charged
with leading an insurrection against Roman rule. ... Give us Barabbas! ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks about jesus/a savage duel.htm

The Trial Before Pilate Resumed.
... And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas, lying bound with them that
had made insurrection, men who in the insurrection had committed murder. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barton/his life/the trial before pilate resumed.htm

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Barabbas

son of shame, confusion

Smith's Bible Dictionary
Barabbas

(son of Abba), a robber, (John 18:40) who had committed murder in an insurrection, (Mark 15:7; Luke 28:18) in Jerusalem and was lying in prison the time of the trial of Jesus before Pilate.p

ATS Bible Dictionary
Barabbas

A noted robber in Christ's time, who was imprisoned and awaiting death for the crimes of sedition and murder. It was a custom of the Roman government, for the sake of conciliating the Jews, to release one Jewish prisoner, whom they might choose, at the yearly Passover. Pilate desired thus to release Jesus, but the Jews demanded Barabbas, Matthew 27:16-26.

Easton's Bible Dictionary
I.e., son of Abba or of a father, a notorious robber whom Pilate proposed to condemn to death instead of Jesus, whom he wished to release, in accordance with the Roman custom (John 18:40; Mark 15:7; Luke 23:19). But the Jews were so bent on the death of Jesus that they demanded that Barabbas should be pardoned (Matthew 27:16-26; Acts 3:14). This Pilate did.
Thesaurus
Barabbas (10 Occurrences)
... But the Jews were so bent on the death of Jesus that they demanded that Barabbas
should be pardoned (Matthew 27:16-26; Acts 3:14). This Pilate did. ...BARABBAS. ...
/b/barabbas.htm - 13k

Barabbas's (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Barabbas's (1 Occurrence). Mark 15:11 But the High Priests
urged on the crowd to obtain Barabbas's release in preference; (WEY). ...
/b/barabbas's.htm - 6k

Barab'bas (10 Occurrences)
Barab'bas. Barabbas, Barab'bas. Barabbas's . ... Barab'bas (10 Occurrences). Matthew
27:16 and they had then a noted prisoner, called Barabbas, (See RSV). ...
/b/barab'bas.htm - 8k

Release (61 Occurrences)
... release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus, who is called Christ?" (WEB KJV WEY ASV
DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Matthew 27:21 But the governor ...
/r/release.htm - 26k

Voices (76 Occurrences)
... witnessed. (WEY BBE NIV). Luke 23:18 But with loud voices they said all together,
Put this man to death, and make Barabbas free. (BBE). ...
/v/voices.htm - 29k

Free (454 Occurrences)
... And they said, Barabbas. (BBE). Matthew 27:26 Then he let Barabbas go free: but
after having Jesus whipped, he gave him up to be put to death on the cross. ...
/f/free.htm - 38k

Named (428 Occurrences)
... day. (BBE). Matthew 27:16 And they had then a notable prisoner, named Barabbas.
(DBY). ... have? Barabbas, or Jesus, who is named Christ? (BBE). ...
/n/named.htm - 33k

Cried (255 Occurrences)
... Matthew 27:21 So when the Governor a second time asked them, "Which of the
two shall I release to you?" --they cried, "Barabbas!" (WEY). ...
/c/cried.htm - 35k

Loud (222 Occurrences)
... Luke 23:18 But with loud voices they said all together, Put this man to death,
and make Barabbas free. (BBE). ... Now Barabbas was an outlaw. (BBE). ...
/l/loud.htm - 37k

Urged (44 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Matthew 27:20 The High Priests, however, and the Elders urged the crowd
to ask for Barabbas and to demand the death of Jesus. (WEY). ...
/u/urged.htm - 19k

Bible Concordance
Barabbas (10 Occurrences)

Matthew 27:16 They had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Matthew 27:17 When therefore they were gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus, who is called Christ?"
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Matthew 27:20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes to ask for Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Matthew 27:21 But the governor answered them, "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" They said, "Barabbas!"
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Matthew 27:26 Then he released to them Barabbas, but Jesus he flogged and delivered to be crucified.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Mark 15:7 There was one called Barabbas, bound with those who had made insurrection, men who in the insurrection had committed murder.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Mark 15:11 But the chief priests stirred up the multitude, that he should release Barabbas to them instead.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Mark 15:15 Pilate, wishing to please the multitude, released Barabbas to them, and handed over Jesus, when he had flogged him, to be crucified.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Luke 23:18 But they all cried out together, saying, "Away with this man! Release to us Barabbas!"-
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

John 18:40 Then they all shouted again, saying, "Not this man, but Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a robber.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Subtopics

Barabbas

Barabbas: A Prisoner Released by Pilate

Related Terms

Barabbas's (1 Occurrence)

Barab'bas (10 Occurrences)

Release (61 Occurrences)

Voices (76 Occurrences)

Free (454 Occurrences)

Named (428 Occurrences)

Cried (255 Occurrences)

Loud (222 Occurrences)

Urged (44 Occurrences)

Outlaw (6 Occurrences)

Whipped (10 Occurrences)

Flogged (12 Occurrences)

Released (52 Occurrences)

Rebellion (51 Occurrences)

Robber (14 Occurrences)

Roar (53 Occurrences)

Crucified (42 Occurrences)

Scourged (13 Occurrences)

Shouted (65 Occurrences)

Crowd (166 Occurrences)

Pontius (4 Occurrences)

Delivered (427 Occurrences)

Bar (27 Occurrences)

Multitude (352 Occurrences)

Pilate (60 Occurrences)

Cry (431 Occurrences)

Handed (101 Occurrences)

Notable (7 Occurrences)

Noted (10 Occurrences)

Notorious (16 Occurrences)

Uprising (4 Occurrences)

Ordered (264 Occurrences)

Obtain (63 Occurrences)

Gathered (384 Occurrences)

Willing (152 Occurrences)

Wishing (25 Occurrences)

Whether (239 Occurrences)

Insurrection (8 Occurrences)

Imprisoned (19 Occurrences)

Insurgents (1 Occurrence)

Instead (139 Occurrences)

Insurrectionists (1 Occurrence)

Important (39 Occurrences)

Fight (265 Occurrences)

Themselves (911 Occurrences)

Twain (16 Occurrences)

Thieves (25 Occurrences)

Trial (45 Occurrences)

Thief (41 Occurrences)

Request (248 Occurrences)

Rebels (20 Occurrences)

Executed (39 Occurrences)

Elders (203 Occurrences)

Destroy (379 Occurrences)

Demand (34 Occurrences)

Desirous (31 Occurrences)

Desiring (108 Occurrences)

Mob (8 Occurrences)

Mass (65 Occurrences)

Moved (316 Occurrences)

Move (113 Occurrences)

Persons (156 Occurrences)

Please (324 Occurrences)

Persuade (20 Occurrences)

Preference (3 Occurrences)

Persuaded (40 Occurrences)

Pleasing (185 Occurrences)

Burst (33 Occurrences)

Barachel (2 Occurrences)

Content (30 Occurrences)

Committed (201 Occurrences)

Crucifixion (4 Occurrences)

Contenting (1 Occurrence)

Assembled (186 Occurrences)

Appealed (19 Occurrences)

Arrest (22 Occurrences)

Satisfy (32 Occurrences)

Scourging (5 Occurrences)

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