The Thirty Pieces of Silver
The PassionMeaning: “Price of a slave”
The price of a slave, set on the Saviour — prophecy fulfilled.
The price Judas was paid to betray Jesus — and the fulfilment of an ancient prophecy.
What It Was
Judas bargained with the chief priests: “What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver” (Matthew 26:15). Seized with remorse, he flung the money into the temple, and it was used to buy the potter’s field (Matthew 27:3–10).
Biblical Significance & Symbolism
Thirty pieces of silver was the price of a gored slave (Exodus 21:32) — the worth placed on the Son of God. Zechariah had foretold this “goodly price” cast to the potter (Zechariah 11:12–13), fulfilled to the letter in the field of blood.
Timeline
Judas is paid to betray Jesus
The silver buys the potter’s field
Scripture References
5 versesZechariah2 verses
Zechariah 11:12
And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. If ye: Heb. If it be good in your eyes
Zechariah 11:13
And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD.
Matthew3 verses
Matthew 26:15
And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.
Matthew 27:3
Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
Matthew 27:9
Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; whom: or, whom they bought of the children of Israel
Topics & Symbolism
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Frequently asked about The Thirty Pieces of Silver
What was The Thirty Pieces of Silver in the Bible?
The price Judas was paid to betray Jesus — and the fulfilment of an ancient prophecy.
What does The Thirty Pieces of Silver symbolize?
The price of a slave, set on the Saviour — prophecy fulfilled.
What does the name The Thirty Pieces of Silver mean?
The name The Thirty Pieces of Silver means “Price of a slave”.
What was The Thirty Pieces of Silver made of?
The Thirty Pieces of Silver was made of silver coins.
Where is The Thirty Pieces of Silver first mentioned in the Bible?
The Thirty Pieces of Silver is first mentioned in Zechariah 11:12.
How often is The Thirty Pieces of Silver mentioned in the Bible?
The Thirty Pieces of Silver is mentioned in 5 verses across 2 books: Zechariah, Matthew.
Why thirty pieces of silver?
It was the legal price of a slave (Exodus 21:32) and fulfilled Zechariah 11:12–13 — the “goodly price” valued and cast to the potter.
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