Iscariot

Iscariot is the surname of Judas, the disciple who betrayed Jesus, and also of his father Simon (John 6:71; 13:26). The meaning and origin of the name have been debated: the most widely held interpretation derives it from the Hebrew ish Qeriyoth — "man of Kerioth" — identifying Judas as coming from Kerioth, a town in Judah (Joshua 15:25) or possibly Kerioth in Moab (Jeremiah 48:24). This would make Judas the only non-Galilean among the twelve apostles. Alternative derivations have proposed Aramaic terms for "dagger-man" (assassin) or "red" or "liar," but the geographic derivation remains most plausible.

Judas served as the treasurer of the apostolic group (John 12:6; 13:29) and is consistently named last in the apostolic lists with the designation "who betrayed him" (Matthew 10:4; Mark 3:19; Luke 6:16). For thirty pieces of silver he led the temple authorities to arrest Jesus in Gethsemane (Matthew 26:14–16, 47–50). His subsequent remorse, return of the money, and death by hanging (Matthew 27:3–5; Acts 1:18–19) are recorded in terms that echo Old Testament prophetic patterns. Peter interprets the betrayal as a fulfillment of Psalms 41:9 and 69:25, and his replacement by Matthias restores the number of the twelve apostles.