Scripture Journal

It is interesting to note that in chapter one of Matthew Judah, the son of Jacob, is referred to as Judas. We know the text is referring to Judah because it is through Judah that David and later Christ was born. According to Wikipedia the name Judas is actually the Greek equivalent of the name Judah. This is not uncommon in the scriptures. The Apostle Nathaniel is also called Bartholomew in Matthew. The interesting thing about this change is the new symbolic aspect that is brought to the character of Judas Iscariot. Judas's Hebrew name is Judah. Thus Judah (the person) betrayed the lord to the heads of Judah (the people). Thus Judas's betrayal of the lord can also be viewed as a symbol of the peoples betrayal of their lord.