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Συνηγμένων οὖν αὐτῶν, εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὁ Πιλάτος, Τίνα θέλετε ἀπολύσω ὑμῖν; Βαραββᾶν, ἢ Ἰησοῦν τὸν λεγόμενον Χριστόν;
RBT Greek Interlinear:
Strongs 4863  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
synēgmenōn
συνηγμένων
those who have led together
V-RPM/P-GMP
Strongs 3767  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
oun
οὖν
therefore
Conj
Strongs 846  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
autōn
αὐτῶν
of themselves
PPro-GM3P
Strongs 2036  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
eipen
εἶπεν
said
V-AIA-3S
Strongs 846  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
autois
αὐτοῖς
to themselves
PPro-DM3P
Strongs 3588  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
ho

the
Art-NMS
Strongs 4091  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
Pilatos
Πιλᾶτος
Pilate
N-NMS
Strongs 5101  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
Tina
Τίνα
who
IPro-AMS
Strongs 2309  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
thelete
θέλετε
you desire
V-PIA-2P
Strongs 630  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
apolysō
ἀπολύσω
I should release
V-ASA-1S
Strongs 4771  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
hymin
ὑμῖν
to yourselves
PPro-D2P
Strongs 2424  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
Iēsoun
‹Ἰησοῦν
Salvation
N-AMS
Strongs 3588  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
ton
τὸν›
the
Art-AMS
Strongs 912  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
Barabban
Βαραββᾶν
Barabbas
N-AMS
Strongs 2228  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
ē

or
Conj
Strongs 2424  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
Iēsoun
Ἰησοῦν
Salvation
N-AMS
Strongs 3588  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
ton
τὸν
the
Art-AMS
Strongs 3004  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
legomenon
λεγόμενον
he who is spoken
V-PPM/P-AMS
Strongs 5547  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
Christon
Χριστόν
Christ
N-AMS
RBT Translation:
Therefore while they, themselves brought together, the Man of the Spear said to themselves, "Who do you wish I should release to yourselves? Salvation the Son of AbbA or Salvation, the one who is called Anointed One?"52
Julia Smith Literal 1876 Translation:
Therefore they assembled together, Pilate laid to them, Whom will ye I shall loose to you? Barabbas, or Jesus, called Christ?
LITV Translation:
Then they, having been assembled, Pilate said to them, Whom do you wish I may release to you, Barabbas, or Jesus called Christ?

Footnotes

52
Mat 27:17

The full "Jesus Barabbas" is found in some of the earliest manuscripts. Some translations include the full name, while most translations leave it out.

There is considerable, though not quite decisive, evidence in favour of the reading which gives “Jesus Barabbas” as the name of the prisoner.

(Ellicott Commentary)

Origen mentions that in some MSS. this man bore the name Jesus, an identity of name which makes the contrast of character all the more striking.

(Expositors Greek Testament)

It is a strange fact that in some (not very trustworthy) manuscripts the name is given as Jesus Barabbas, which affords a remarkable antithesis in Pilate's question in the following verse, "Wilt ye that I release Jesus Barabbas or Jesus called Christ?" There can be no reasonable doubt that the prefix is not genuine, but has crept into some texts inadvertently. Matthew 27:16

(Pulpit Commentary)

Some were of the thought that verse 20 was "fatal" to the "insertion":

As Alford remarks, Matthew 27:20 is fatal to the insertion.

(Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges)

The NET Bible includes it since, as the argument goes, there is very good reason (obviously) for a religious scholar to want to omit it, but it would hardly be something added by one:

There is no good explanation for a scribe unintentionally adding ᾿Ιησοῦν (Iēsoun) before Βαραββᾶν (Barabban), especially since Barabbas is mentioned first in each verse...Metzger notes that codex S, a tenth-century majuscule, along with a score of minuscules, have a marginal comment on this verse as follows: “In many ancient copies which I have met with I found Barabbas himself likewise called ‘Jesus.’” The attribution of this scholium is variously given as Anastasius, Chrysostom, or even Origen (TCGNT 56).

(NET Bible Notes on Matthew 27:16)

Omission is strongly motivated

Scribes would have a clear reason to remove the name “Jesus” from “Barabbas,” namely:

  • reverential avoidance
  • discomfort with a criminal sharing the Lord’s name
  • liturgical scruples
  • fear of blasphemous misunderstanding

Origen explicitly states that copyists altered it “out of reverence.”

Thus the omission is very explainable.

It is very difficult to imagine a scribe accidentally adding Ἰησοῦν before Βαραββᾶν, because:

  • Barabbas appears first in v. 16 and 17
  • no immediate orthographic trigger for dittography
  • no parallel text with “Jesus Barabbas” to borrow from
  • scribes do not typically invent “the name Jesus” without reason

Thus the addition is not an easy scribal error.

Ironically, the NET Bible just a couple of verses later adds in a word that doesn't exist in the Greek: "his wife sent a message." (v.19). They admit this in their notes:

The word “message” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects were frequently omitted in Greek when clear from the context.

Ironic.