Matthew 27:9 Jeremiah or Zechariah 11:12-13

[gilgal]

Matthew 27

1When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:

2And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.

3Then 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,

4Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.

5And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

6And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.

7And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in.

8Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.

9Then 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;

10And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me.

Why doesn't Matthew say that it was Zechariah 11?

Zechariah 11
12And 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.

13And 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.

[gilgal]

http://www.angelfire.com/nv/TheOliveBranch/append161.html:
Possibilities:

II. THE FULFILLMENT OF THE PROPHECY.
(Matt 27:9,10)

Many solutions have been proposed to meet the two difficulties connected with Matt 27:9, 10.

i. As to the first difficulty, the words quoted from Jeremiah are not found in his written prophecy : and it has been suggested

1. That "Matthew quoted from memory" (Augustine and others).

2. That the passage was originally in Jeremiah, but the Jews cut it out (Eusebius and others); though no evidence for this is produced.

3. That it was contained in another writing by Jeremiah, which is now lost (Origen and others).

4. That Jeremiah is put for the whole body of the prophets (Bishop Lightfoot and others), though no such words can be found in the other prophets.

5. That it was "a slip of the pen" on the part of Matthew (Dean Alford).

6. That the mistake was allowed by the Holy Spirit on purpose that we may not trouble ourselves as to who the writers were, but receive all prophecy as direct from God, Who spake by them (Bishop Wordsworth).

7. That some annotator wrote "Jeremiah" in the margin and it "crept" into the text (Smith's Bible Dictionary).

These suggestions only create difficulties much more grave than the one which they attempt to remove. But all of them are met and answered by the simple fact that Matthew does not say it was written by Jeremiah, but that it was "spoken" by him.

This makes all the difference : for some prophecies were spoken (and not written), some were written (and not spoken), while others were both spoken and written.

Of course, by the Fig. Metonymy (of cause, Ap. 6), one may be said to "say" what he has written; but we need not go out of our way to use this figure, if by so doing we create the very difficulty we are seeking to solve. There is all the difference in the world between to rhethen ( = that which was spoken), and ho gegraptai ( = that which stands written).


ii. As to the second difficulty : that the prophecy attributed to Jeremiah is really written in Zechariah 11:10-13, it is created by the suggestion contained in the margin of the Authorized Version.

That this cannot be the solution may be shown from the following reasons : --

1. Zech. 11:10-13 contains no reference either to a "field" or to its purchase. Indeed, the word "field" (shadah) does not occur in the whole of Zechariah except in 10:1, which has nothing to do with the subject at all.

2. As to the "thirty pieces of silver", Zechariah speaks of them with approval, while in Matthew they are not so spoken of. "A goodly price" ('eder hayekar) denotes amplitude, sufficiency, while the Verb yakar means to be priced, prized, precious and there is not the slightest evidence that Zechariah spoke of the amount as being paltry, or that the offer of it was, in any sense and insult. But this latter is the sense in Matt. 27:9, 10.

3. The givers were "the poor of the flock". This enhanced the value. "The worth of the price" was accepted as "goodly" on that account, as in Mark 12:43, 44. 2Cor. 8:12.

4. The waiting of "the poor of the flock" was not hostile, but friendly, as in Prov. 27:18. Out of above 450 occurrences of the Heb. shamar, less than fourteen are in a hostile sense.

5. In the disposal of the silver, the sense of the Verb "cast" is to be determined by the context (not by the Verb itself). In Zech. 11, the context shows it to be in a good sense, as in Ex. 15:25. 1Kings 19:19. 2Kings 2:21; 4:41; 6:6. 2Chron. 24:10, 11.

6. The "potter" is the fashioner and his work was not necessarily confined to fashioning "clay", but it extended to metals. Cp. Gen. 2:7, 8. Ps. 33:15; 94:9. Isa. 43:1, 6, 10, 21; 44:2, 9-12, 21, 24; 45:6, 7; 54:16, 17. Out of the sixty-two occurrences of the Verb (yazar), more than three-fouths have nothing whatever to do with the work of a "potter"

7. A "potter" in connection with the Temple, or its service, is unknown to fact, or to Scriptures.

8. The material, "silver", would be useless to a "potter" but necessary to a fashioner of metallic vessels, or for the payment of artizans who wrought them (2Kings 12:11-16; 22:4-7. 2Chron. 24:11-13). One might as well cast clay to a silversmith as silver to a potter.

9. The prophecy of Zechariah is rich in reference to metals; and only the books of Numbers (31:22) and Ezekiel name as many. In Zechariah we find six named: Gold, six times (4:2, 12; 6:11; 13:9; 14:14). Fine gold, once (9:3). Silver, six times, (6:11; 9:3; 11:12, 13; 13:9; 14:14). Brass, once (6:1, marg.). Lead, twice (5:7, 8). Tin, once (4:10, marg.). Seventeen references in all.

10. Zechariah is full of refs to what the prophet saw and said but there are only two refs. to what he did; and both of these have references to "silver" (6:11; 11:13).

11. The Septuagint, and its revision by Symmachus, read "cast them (i.e. the thirty pieces of silver) into the furnace (Gr. eis to choneuterion), showing that, before Matthew was written, yotzer was interpreted as referring not to a "potter" but to a fashioner of metals.

12. The persons are also different. In Matthew we have "they took", "they gave", "the price of him"; in Zechariah we read "I took", "I cast", "I was valued".

13. In Matthew the money was given "for the field", and in Zechariah it was cast "unto the fashioner"

14. Matthew names three parties as being concerned in the transaction; Zechariah names only one.

15. Matthew not only quotes Jeremiah's spoken words, but names him as the speaker. This is in keeping with Matt. 2:17, 18. Jeremiah is likewise named in Matt. 16:14; but nowhere else in all the New Test.

iii. The conclusion. From all this we gather that the passage in Matthew (27:9, 10) cannot have any reference to Zech. 11:10-13.

1. If Jeremiah's spoken words have anything to do with what is recorded in Jer. 32:6-9, 43, 44, then in the reference to them other words are interjected by way of parenthetical explanation. These are not to be confused with the quoted words. They may be combined thus: --

"Then was fulfilled that which was SPOKEN by Jeremiah the prophet saying; 'And they took the thirty pieces of silver [the price of him who was priced, whom they of the sons of Israel did price], and they gave them for the potter's field, as the LORD appointed me.'"

Thus Matthew quotes that which was "SPOKEN" by Jeremiah the prophet and combines with the actual quotation a parenthetical reference to the price at which the prophet Zechariah had been priced.

2. Had the sum of money been twenty pieces of silver instead of thirty, a similar remark might well have been interjected thus: --

"Then was fulfilled that which was SPOKEN by Jeremiah the prophet saying; 'And they took the twenty pieces of silver [the price of him whom his brethren sold into Egypt], and they gave them for the potter's field'", &c.

3. Or, had the reference been to the compensation for an injury done to another man's servant, as in Ex. 21:32, a similar parenthetical remark might have been introduced thus: --

"Then was fulfilled that which was SPOKEN by Jeremiah the prophet, saying : 'And they took the thirty pieces of silver [the price given in Israel to the master whose servant had been injured by an ox], and they gave them for the potter's field'" , &c.

A designed parenthetical insertion by the inspired Evangelist of a reference to Zechariah, in a direct quotation from the prophet Jeremiah, is very different from a "mistake" or "a slip of the pen", "a lapse of memory" or a "corruption of the text", which need an apology.

The quotation itself, as well as the parenthetical reference are both similarly exact.

[gilgal]

Here's what I came up with so far.


Matthew 27

3Then 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,

4Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.

5And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

6And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.

7And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in.

8Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.

9Then 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;

10And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me.

When you read Zechariah Matthew's quote is missing. Let's see Zechariah


Zechariah 11

12And 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.

13And 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.

But Matthew quotes:


Matthew 27

9Then 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;

10And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me.

My research is not conclusive yet but the potter's FIELD isn't in Zechariah. This may be joining 2 prophecies together. I wonder if this has any connection to Jeremiah 18-19.

[Victor]

Yes, that's it: Matthew knows his Old Testament extremely well, as it is obvious to anyone who has studied the First Gospel. He most likely wouldn't be making such a major blunder such as confusing the names of the two prophets. He seems to combine two prophecies (Zechariah and Jeremiah) and mentions the name of only one of them. See the following apologetic article: Where was the Judas quote from, actually? (http://www.christian-thinktank.com/judas30where.html)

And there is something brilliant going on that quote, like a beautiful divine wink revealed in the structure of the Bible. :winking0071: By mentioning Jeremiah instead of Zechariah, Matthew was unwittingly establishing a link between Matthew 27 Verse 9 and Book 27 Chapter 9. In both passages we find a biblical allusion to a prophecy of Jeremiah the prophet!

Daniel 9:2 In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.

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;
Of course it is not everywhere in Scripture that we find an allusion to a prophecy in the book of Jeremiah! It is a top level link.

It can also be said that the two verses are connected by means of atbash (Daniel <> Hey - Tsaddi <> Matthew).

[gilgal]

Yes, that's it: Matthew knows his Old Testament extremely well, as it is obvious to anyone who has studied the First Gospel. He most likely wouldn't be making such a major blunder such as confusing the names of the two prophets. He seems to combine two prophecies (Zechariah and Jeremiah) and mentions the name of only one of them. See the following apologetic article: Where was the Judas quote from, actually? (http://www.christian-thinktank.com/judas30where.html)

And there is something brilliant going on that quote, like a beautiful divine wink revealed in the structure of the Bible. :winking0071: By mentioning Jeremiah instead of Zechariah, Matthew was unwittingly establishing a link between Matthew 27 Verse 9 and Book 27 Chapter 9. In both passages we find a biblical allusion to a prophecy of Jeremiah the prophet!

Daniel 9:2 In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.

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;
Of course it is not everywhere in Scripture that we find an allusion to a prophecy in the book of Jeremiah! It is a top level link.

It can also be said that the two verses are connected by means of atbash (Daniel <> Hey - Tsaddi <> Matthew).

Matthew's not quoting Zechariah:

Matthew 27

9Then 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;

10And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me.
You won't find this section in Zechariah. You'll find the previous section:

Zechariah 11

11And it was broken in that day: and so the poor of the flock that waited upon me knew that it was the word of the LORD.

12And 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.

13And 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.
But where is it in Jeremiah? Jeremiah 18? 19?

[Richard Amiel McGough]

Yes, that's it: Matthew knows his Old Testament extremely well, as it is obvious to anyone who has studied the First Gospel. He most likely wouldn't be making such a major blunder such as confusing the names of the two prophets. He seems to combine two prophecies (Zechariah and Jeremiah) and mentions the name of only one of them. See the following apologetic article: Where was the Judas quote from, actually? (http://www.christian-thinktank.com/judas30where.html)

And there is something brilliant going on that quote, like a beautiful divine wink revealed in the structure of the Bible. :winking0071: By mentioning Jeremiah instead of Zechariah, Matthew was unwittingly establishing a link between Matthew 27 Verse 9 and Book 27 Chapter 9. In both passages we find a biblical allusion to a prophecy of Jeremiah the prophet!
Daniel 9:2 In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.

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;
Of course it is not everywhere in Scripture that we find an allusion to a prophecy in the book of Jeremiah! It is a top level link.

It can also be said that the two verses are connected by means of atbash (Daniel <> Hey - Tsaddi <> Matthew).
Fascinating link!

I've long been aware of the general link between Matt 27 and Book 27 based on the resurrection (http://biblewheel.com/InnerWheels/Matthew/Mat27.asp) and a stone being used to seal the tomb (http://biblewheel.com/InnerWheels/Matthew/Mat27_Seal.asp), but I had never noticed this profound two-dimensional (27:9) link based on the name Jeremiah.

:signthankspin:

[gilgal]

Fascinating link!

I've long been aware of the general link between Matt 27 and Book 27 based on the resurrection (http://biblewheel.com/InnerWheels/Matthew/Mat27.asp) and a stone being used to seal the tomb (http://biblewheel.com/InnerWheels/Matthew/Mat27_Seal.asp), but I had never noticed this profound two-dimensional (27:9) link based on the name Jeremiah.

:signthankspin:
Yeah a good one. Was Jeremiah mentioned elsewhere than Daniel?

It seems to me that the only place where it talks about the purchasing of a field is none other than Jeremiah 32:

Jeremiah 32
9And I bought the field of Hanameel my uncle's son, that was in Anathoth, and weighed him the money, even seventeen shekels of silver. 11So I took the evidence of the purchase, both that which was sealed according to the law and custom, and that which was open:
So the prophecy isn't directly linked to Matthew 27 but is hinting to something else: the purchasing of a field with silver.
Then, it's linked to the Valley of the son of Hinnom where the potter's clay is dug.

[Victor]

Fascinating link!

I've long been aware of the general link between Matt 27 and Book 27 based on the resurrection (http://biblewheel.com/InnerWheels/Matthew/Mat27.asp) and a stone being used to seal the tomb (http://biblewheel.com/InnerWheels/Matthew/Mat27_Seal.asp), but I had never noticed this profound two-dimensional (27:9) link based on the name Jeremiah.

:signthankspin:


One thing I find amazing in this link is the fact that it is an irony against those who yell "Contradiction!" when they mention Jeremiah's reference in Matthew 27.

[gilgal]

One thing I find amazing in this link is the fact that it is an irony against those who yell "Contradiction!" when they mention Jeremiah's reference in Matthew 27.

I don't understand how Matthew knows what to quote and put two or three prophecies together?