The Meaning of Matthew 27:15 Explained

Matthew 27:15

KJV: Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.

YLT: And at the feast the governor had been accustomed to release one to the multitude, a prisoner, whom they willed,

Darby: Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release one prisoner to the crowd, whom they would.

ASV: Now at the feast the governor was wont to release unto the multitude one prisoner, whom they would.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Now  at  [that] feast  the governor  was wont  to release  unto the people  a  prisoner,  whom  they would. 

What does Matthew 27:15 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Evidently it had become traditional for Pilate to release one Jewish prisoner, that he had taken, as a favor to the Jews each Passover. He probably did this to improve relations with his subjects on a politically important occasion.

Context Summary

Matthew 27:11-21 - Barabbas Or Christ?
The vacillation of Pilate made him a criminal. Weakness becomes sin. At first he evidently meant to release Jesus, but instead of saying so outright, he strove to bring about His release by indirect means and without committing himself.
First, he sent Him to Herod, Luke 23:17, thinking that a Jew would view favorably the position of a fellow-Jew. Then he sought to touch the springs of pity by the anguish of scourging. Finally, he gave the people the choice between Barabbas and Christ, feeling sure that they must choose the liberation of a lover of men rather than that of an outlaw.
None of these expedients succeeded, and he drifted into the very act which his conscience had condemned from the first. He is a specimen of those weak men who want the right thing to be done, but will not adventure their own interests to get it done. There is no chance of such men coming out right. The one hope for us all is to declare ourselves for the right and true, at once and from the start. [source]

Chapter Summary: Matthew 27

1  Jesus is delivered bound to Pilate
3  Judas hangs himself
19  Pilate, admonished of his wife,
20  and being urged by the multitude, washes his hands, and releases Barabbas
27  Jesus is mocked and crowned with thorns;
33  crucified;
39  reviled;
50  dies, and is buried;
62  his tomb is sealed and watched

What do the individual words in Matthew 27:15 mean?

At now [the] feast was accustomed the governor to release one to the multitude prisoner whom they were wishing
Κατὰ δὲ ἑορτὴν εἰώθει ἡγεμὼν ἀπολύειν ἕνα τῷ ὄχλῳ δέσμιον ὃν ἤθελον

Κατὰ  At 
Parse: Preposition
Root: κατά 
Sense: down from, through out.
δὲ  now 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
ἑορτὴν  [the]  feast 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ἑορτή  
Sense: a feast day, festival.
εἰώθει  was  accustomed 
Parse: Verb, Pluperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἔθω 
Sense: to be accustomed, used, wont.
ἡγεμὼν  governor 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἡγεμών  
Sense: a leader of any kind, a guide, ruler, prefect, president, chief, general, commander, sovereign.
ἀπολύειν  to  release 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active
Root: ἀπολύω  
Sense: to set free.
ἕνα  one 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: εἷς  
Sense: one.
τῷ  to  the 
Parse: Article, Dative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ὄχλῳ  multitude 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: ὄχλος  
Sense: a crowd.
δέσμιον  prisoner 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: δέσμιος  
Sense: bound, in bonds, a captive, a prisoner.
ὃν  whom 
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: ὅς 
Sense: who, which, what, that.
ἤθελον  they  were  wishing 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: θέλω  
Sense: to will, have in mind, intend.