Iscariot

American  

[ih-skar-ee-uht] / ɪˈskær i ət /

noun

1. the surname of Judas, the betrayer of Jesus. Mark 3:19; 14:10, 11.

2. a person who betrays another; traitor.

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Iscariot British  

/ ɪˈskærɪət /

noun

1. See Judas

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Other Word Forms

• Iscariotic adjective
• Iscariotical adjective
• Iscariotism noun

Etymology

Origin of Iscariot

< Latin Iscariōta < Greek Iskariṓtēs < Hebrew īsh-qərīyōth man of Kerioth a village in Palestine

Example Sentences

Unsurprisingly, most white Southerners bitterly rejected Longstreet’s entreaties and condemned him as a traitor on par with Judas Iscariot and Benedict Arnold.

From Slate • Nov. 20, 2023

Originally, the burning figures were effigies of Judas Iscariot, the apostle who betrayed Jesus, according to the Biblical account of the days leading up to Christ’s crucifixion.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 8, 2023

Inspired by the Bob Dylan lyric “Did Judas Iscariot have God on his side?” from the 1964 song “With God on Our Side,” Rice set out to humanize the New Testament’s unambiguous villain.

From New York Times • Oct. 12, 2021

This is a biblical reference to Judas Iscariot receiving 30 pieces of silver to betray Christ.

From Washington Times • Jun. 1, 2021

Witness Simon who is called Peter, Matthew also known as Levi, Nathaniel who is also Bartholomew, Judas, not Iscariot, who took the name Thaddeus, Simeon who went by Niger, Saul who became Paul.

From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel