Markos 15:7

7 Now there was the one being called Bar-Abba, who had been imprisoned with his fellow insurrectionists and who, at the time of the Mered (Revolt, Uprising), had committed retzach (murder).

Markos 15:7 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 15:7

And there was one named Barabbas
A prisoner of that name at Jerusalem;

which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him:
he had been at the head of a seditious mob, and he and his accomplices were taken and put in prison:

who had committed murder in the insurrection;
which may be connected either with Barabbas, and read in the singular number, as it is in the Vulgate Latin version, "he had committed"; or with the seditious persons he lay bound with, and be read in the plural number, "they had committed murder", as it is in the Syriac, Arabic, and Persic versions; and so in the ancient copies; and the Ethiopic renders it, "he was bound with seditious persons and murderers"; though, no doubt, he was guilty of murder as well as they; and so Peter calls him a murderer, ( Acts 3:14 ) . About this time murders were very frequently committed: the Jews say ^F18 that

``from the time that murderers increased, the slaying of the red heifer ceased; (the reason the commentators ^F19 give, is, because they were known who were accustomed to commit murder;) and that was from the time that Eleazar ben Dinai came, and Techinah ben Perishah he was called; and they called him again the son of a murderer;''

(See Gill on Matthew 27:16).

---

FOOTNOTES:

F18 Misn. Sota, c. 9. sect. 9. Maimon. Hilch. Rotzeach. c. 9. sect. 12.
F19 Jarchi & Bartienora in ib.

Markos 15:7 In-Context

5 But Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach no longer answered anything, so Pilate was astounded. [YESHAYAH 53:7]

6 Now [at] every Chag he was releasing to them one prisoner for whom they were making bakosha (request).

7 Now there was the one being called Bar-Abba, who had been imprisoned with his fellow insurrectionists and who, at the time of the Mered (Revolt, Uprising), had committed retzach (murder).

8 So the crowd came and began to ask Pilate to do for them just as in the past was his custom.

9 But Pilate answered them, saying, Do you wish [that] I should release to you the Melech HaYehudim?