Exposition of John 6:71 and Judas Betrayal
John 6:71 states, "Now he spoke of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, for it was he who would betray him, being one of the twelve" (ESV) [1]. This verse serves as a crucial parenthetical clarification by the evangelist, identifying the specific disciple Jesus had in mind when he previously declared that one of his chosen twelve was a "devil" (John 6:70).
The immediate literary context of John 6 involves Jesus's discourse on the Bread of Life, following the miraculous feeding of the five thousand [11]. Many of Jesus's followers found his teaching difficult, leading many to turn away (John 6:60, 66). In response to this defection, Jesus asked the twelve if they also wished to leave (John 6:67) [3]. Peter affirmed their loyalty, stating they believed Jesus had the "words of eternal life" (John 6:68-69). It is in this exchange that Jesus makes the startling declaration in John 6:70: "Did I not choose you, the twelve? Yet one of you is a devil" [2]. John 6:71 then explicitly names Judas Iscariot as the betrayer, clarifying Jesus's earlier statement [1].
The name "Iscariot" is understood to mean "man from Kerioth," indicating Judas's family's village of origin [4]. This detail distinguishes him from other individuals named Judas in the New Testament. The Gospel of John frequently highlights Jesus's supernatural knowledge, and his awareness of Judas's future betrayal is another instance of this foresight (cf. John 1:47-49; 4:16-19) [4]. Jesus chose Judas, giving him every opportunity to believe, but Judas ultimately embraced "darkness rather than the light" [7].
The betrayal by Judas is a recurring theme in the Gospels, and John introduces it here for the first time, though it will be revisited later in the narrative (John 12:4; 13:2, 11) [4, 7]. Patristic writers like Augustine connect this prophecy to Old Testament passages, particularly Psalm 109, which speaks of a betrayer whose office another will take [8, 9, 12]. Tertullian notes that even Celsus, a critic of Christianity, acknowledged that Jesus was betrayed by one of his disciples, Judas [5]. The act of betrayal itself is seen as a profound violation, especially given that Judas shared meals with Jesus, a cultural symbol of fellowship [7]. Augustine further emphasizes the gravity of Judas's actions, comparing his betrayal to partaking of the Lord's Supper unworthily, but with the added condemnation of coming as an enemy in the guise of a friend [6]. Even after his betrayal, Judas's subsequent actions, such as hanging himself, demonstrate the powerful effect of Jesus's teaching on him, suggesting his apostasy was not entirely complete in his own conscience [10].
Sources
- John “Now he spoke of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, for it was he who would betray him, being one of the twelve. -- John 6:71”
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “John 6:70 cross-references: Matthew 10:1, Luke 6:13, John 6:64, John 8:44, John 13:2, John 13:18, John 13:21, John 13:27, John 15:16, John 15:19, John 17:12, Acts 1:17, Acts 13:10, 1 Timothy 3:11, Titus 2:3, 1 John 3:8, Revelation 3:9”
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “John 6:67 cross-references: Joshua 24:15, Ruth 1:11, 2 Samuel 15:19, Matthew 10:2, Luke 14:25, John 6:70”
- John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on John 6:70: 6:70-71 Once again Jesus demonstrated supernatural knowledge (see 1:47-49; 4:16-19). Judas would work for evil and betray Jesus to the authorities (12:4; 13:2; Matt 26:14-16). • Iscariot means “man from Kerioth,” the home village of Judas’s family.”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 4: Tertullian IV, Minucius Felix, Commodian, Origen — CHAP. XI. (part 1): In the next place, that He was betrayed by those whom He called His disciples, is a circumstance which the Jew of Celsus learned from the Gospels; calling the one Judas, however, "many disciples," that he might seem to add force to the accusation. Nor did he trouble himself to take note of all that is related concerning Judas; how this Judas, having come to entertain opposite and conflicting opinions regarding his Master neither opposed Him with his whole soul, nor yet with his whole soul preserved the respect du”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 7: Augustine — Homilies on John — CHAPTER XIII. 26-31. (part 2): eat the bread or drink the cup of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord." (1) And when the apostle said this, he was dealing with those who were taking the body of the Lord, like any other food, in an undiscerning and careless spirit. If, then, he is thus taken to task who does not discern, that is, does not distinguish from the other kinds of food, the body of the Lord, what condemnation must be his, who in the guise of a friend comes as an enemy to His table! If negligence in the guest”
- John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on John 13:18: 13:18 I am not saying these things to all of you: The subject of Judas’s betrayal enters the story for the third time (13:2, 11). The matter weighed heavily on Jesus (13:21). • I know the ones I have chosen: The statement does not imply that Jesus chose only the eleven and that Judas was an outcast. Jesus chose Judas and gave him every opportunity to believe. He realized that Judas had embraced the darkness rather than the light (6:70). • The one who eats my food has turned against me (literally has lifted his heel against me): Eating together was a cultural symbol”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 4: Augustine — Anti-Manichaean, Anti-Donatist — CHAP. 8.--17. PETILIANUS said: "We must consider, I say, and declare how far the treacherous traditor is to be accounted dead while yet in life. Judas was an apostle when he betrayed Christ; and the s (part 1): 533 had passed this sentence on him who was to betray Christ to the unbelievers: 'Let another take his office. Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.'(1) See how mighty is the spirit of the prophets, that it was able to see all future things as though they were present, so that a traitor who was to be born hereafte”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 8: Augustine — Exposition on Psalms — PSALM CIX. (21) (part 1): 1. Every one who faithfully readeth the Acts of the Apostles, acknowledgeth that this Psalm containeth a prophecy of Christ; for it evidently appeareth that what is here written, "let his days be few, and let another take his office," is prophesied of Judas, the betrayer of Christ. ... For as some things are said which seem peculiarly to apply to the Apostle Peter, and yet are not clear in their meaning, unless when referred to the Church, whom he is acknowledged to have figuratively represented, on account of the primac”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 4: Tertullian IV, Minucius Felix, Commodian, Origen — CHAP. XI. (part 2): in the temple, he withdrew, and went away and hanged himself: for he passed sentence upon himself, showing what a power the teaching of Jesus had over this sinner Judas, this thief and traitor, who could not always treat with contempt what he had learned from Jesus. Will Celsus and his friends now say that those proofs which show that the apostasy of Judas was not a complete apostasy, even after his attempts against his Master, are inventions, and that this alone is true, viz., that one of His disciples betrayed ”
- John (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on John 6 (introduction): In this chapter we have, I. The miracle of the loaves (Joh 6:1-14). II. Christ's walking upon the water (Joh 6:15-21). III. The people's flocking after him to Capernaum (Joh 6:22-25). IV. His conference with them, occasioned by the miracle of the loaves, in which he reproves them for seeking carnal food, and directs them to spiritual food (Joh 6:26, Joh 6:27), showing them how they must labour for spiritual food (Joh 6:28, Joh 6:29), and what that spiritual food is (v. 30-59). V. Their discontent at what he said, and the reproof he gave them for it (Joh ”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 8: Augustine — Exposition on Psalms — PSALM CIX. (21) (part 4): from love of justice, which is good for evil. ... 8. "Set thou an ungodly man to be ruler over him; and let Satan stand at his right hand" (ver. 5). Though the complaint had been before concerning many, the Psalm is now speaking of one. ... Since therefore he is here speaking of the traitor Judas, who, according to the Scripture in the Acts of the Apostles, was to be punished with the penalty due to him,(1) what meaneth, "set thou an ungodly man over him," save him whom in the next verse he mentioneth by name, when he sa”