Abrahamic / Middle Eastern Christianity Why Is Wednesday of Holy Week Called Spy Wednesday? The Origin of the Name Print The Betrayal by Judas, detail of tile from Episodes From Christ's Passion and Resurrection, reverse surface of Maesta' of Duccio Altarpiece in the Cathedral of Siena, 1308-1311, by Duccio di Buoninsegna (ca 1255 - pre-1319), tempera on wood. DEA/G. Nimatallah/Getty Images Christianity Catholicism Holy Days and Holidays Beliefs and Teachings Prayers Tips Worship Saints Christianity Origins The Bible The New Testament The Old Testament Practical Tools for Christians Christian Life For Teens Christian Prayers Weddings Inspirational Bible Devotions Denominations of Christianity Christian Holidays Christian Entertainment Key Terms in Christianity Latter Day Saints View More By Scott P. Richert Scott P. Richert Catholicism Expert M.A., Political Theory, Catholic University of America B.A., Political Theory, Michigan State University Scott P. Richert is senior content network manager of Our Sunday Visitor. He has written about Catholicism for outlets including Humanitas and Catholic Answers Magazine. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on June 25, 2019 You may know why Holy Thursday is called Maundy Thursday, but do you know why the day before called Spy Wednesday? Many Catholics, on hearing the name Spy Wednesday, assume that Spy must be a corruption or abbreviation of a Latin word. That's a reasonable assumption: After all, the Maundy in Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday) is an anglicization (by way of Old French) of the Latin mandatum ("mandate" or "command"), referring to Christ's commandment to His disciples at the Last Supper in John 13:34 ("A new commandment I give unto you: That you love one another, as I have loved you"). Likewise, the Ember in Ember Days has nothing to do with fire but comes from the Latin phrase Quatuor Tempora ("four times"), since the Ember Days are celebrated four times per year. Judas Betrayed But in the case of Spy Wednesday, the word means exactly what we think it means. It's a reference to Judas's action in Matthew 26: 14-16: "Then went one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, to the chief priests, and said to them: What will you give me, and I will deliver him unto you? But they appointed him thirty pieces of silver. And from thenceforth he sought opportunity to betray him." The beginning of Matthew 26 seems to place that event two days before Good Friday. Thus, a spy entered the midst of the disciples on Wednesday of Holy Week, when Judas resolved to betray our Lord for 30 pieces of silver. Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Richert, Scott P. "Why Is Wednesday of Holy Week Called Spy Wednesday?" Learn Religions, Aug. 25, 2020, learnreligions.com/spy-wednesday-3970805. Richert, Scott P. (2020, August 25). Why Is Wednesday of Holy Week Called Spy Wednesday? Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/spy-wednesday-3970805 Richert, Scott P. "Why Is Wednesday of Holy Week Called Spy Wednesday?" Learn Religions. https://www.learnreligions.com/spy-wednesday-3970805 (accessed May 1, 2024). copy citation