Luke 6:16 and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.(ESV)
⚓ Floatie: The Traitor We All Know
Judas. One of the most reviled names in all of Scripture. A name synonymous with betrayal. When spoken, it evokes images of silver coins, midnight kisses, and a hanging tree. But the tragedy of Judas Iscariot isn’t just in what he did—it’s in how his betrayal disfigured a name once revered. The fall of the name mirrors the fall of a man, and both cast a shadow that history still hasn’t fully escaped.
✒️ Forge: A Name of Praise and Power
Genesis 29:35 And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she ceased bearing.(ESV)
The name Judas is the Greek form of Judah—the fourth son of Jacob and Leah. His name literally means “praised.” And for good reason: it was Judah who stepped forward when his brothers wanted to kill Joseph, offering an alternative plan that spared his life (Genesis 37). It was Judah who would later offer himself in Benjamin’s place to save his father from grief (Genesis 44). And it was Judah whose line would carry kings, prophets, and ultimately the Messiah.
In the centuries leading up to Jesus, the name retained its honor. Perhaps no figure illustrates this better than Judas Maccabeus—the Jewish leader who led the successful revolt against the Seleucids and rededicated the temple (an event commemorated by Hanukkah). His bravery and devotion to Torah made Judas a name of patriotism, strength, and faithfulness. By the time of Christ, it would have been one of the most respected names a Jewish boy could carry.
⚒️ Anvil: The Betrayal That Broke the Name
Matthew 26:14–16 (14)Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests (15)and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. (16)And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.(ESV)
Judas Iscariot shattered the name. Trusted as the group’s treasurer, he carried the money bag (John 12:6) and shared bread with Jesus. But his betrayal—both premeditated and intimate—left a scar across all of Christendom. So deep was the damage that even Scripture distinguishes others with the same name: “Judas (not Iscariot)” (John 14:22).
The early Church never used the name again. Apostles avoided it. Translators softened it. Jude, the writer of the epistle bearing his name, was originally Judas in Greek—only the English render it differently to avoid confusion. The name had gone from praised to pariah.
🔥 Ember: The First Judah—A Shadow of Betrayal
Genesis 37:26–27 (26)Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? (27)Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him.(ESV)
Matthew 27:3–5 (3)Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, (4)saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” (5)And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself.(ESV)
Judas Iscariot was not the first Judah to sell out a brother. The first Judah—son of Jacob—proposed the idea to sell Joseph. In both cases:
- A brother is handed over.
- A transaction is made.
- The betrayer walks away with silver.
Just as the first Judah lived to see his sin redeemed, Judas Iscariot could have repented—but instead despaired.
🌿 Covenant Triumph: The Name That Praises Once More
Genesis 44:33 Now therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the boy as a servant to my lord, and let the boy go back with his brothers.(ESV)
Revelation 5:5 And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”(ESV)
Jude 1:1 Judas, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James,(ESV)
Psalm 113:1 Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord!(ESV)
Judah’s story didn’t end in betrayal. In a moment of raw repentance, he offered himself in Benjamin’s place. He who once sold his brother now laid down his life for one. And it’s that act—not the betrayal—that established his legacy. From him came David. And from David came the Christ.
Enter Jude. Greek name: Judas. Likely the half-brother of Jesus. Once a skeptic (John 7:5). Later, a servant of Christ and author of a letter calling out false teachers—men who follow the path of Cain, Balaam, and yes, Judas. But this Judas didn’t betray. He stood firm. The name was redeemed not by silence, but by faithfulness.
God doesn’t discard names. He redeems them. Just like He redeems people. Judas may mean betrayal to us—but it began as “praise.” Through the faithfulness of Judah, and the courage of Jude, the name finds its way back. The line of Christ runs through Judah. The letter that warned the early Church came from Jude.
The story didn’t end in the garden. It ended in glory.
[⚓ Floatie] [✒️ Forge] [⚒️ Anvil] [🔥 Ember] [🌿 Covenant Triumph]
This post follows the Forge Baseline Rule—layered truth for the discerning remnant.
Walking With Christ 
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