Matthew 27:60
Encyclopedia
Matthew 27:60 is the sixtieth verse of the twenty-seventh chapter of the Gospel of Matthew
in the New Testament
. This verse describes the Entombment of Jesus by Joseph of Arimathea
after the crucifixion
.
The original Koine Greek
, according to Westcott and Hort
, reads:
In the King James Version of the Bible it is translated as:
The modern World English Bible
translates the passage as:
For a collection of other versions see BibRef Matthew 27:60
Joseph of Arimathea places Jesus in his own new tomb, a sign of great loyalty by Joseph. This verse is based on Mark 15:46, and is paralleled by Luke 23:53 and John 19:41. Matthew is the only gospel writer to mention that it was Joseph's own tomb that Jesus was placed. Typically wealthy residents of Jerusalem would have a large family tomb, with space for many burials. The new tomb implies that no one has yet been entombed there, something made explicit in both Luke and John. Mentioning the newness, and emptiness, of the tomb may also be part of the body of evidence Matthew presents for the truth of the resurrection
. A new tomb with only one body would prevent any confusion. Davies and Allison note that reference to the newness of the tomb might also be an allusion to the newness that emerges from it with the resurrection. The newness of the tomb may also reflect that Joseph's wealth is new found, or that his family is newly arrived in Jerusalem. This could explain why he has a tomb in Jerusalem rather than his native Arimathea.
The description of the rock hewn tomb is fully in keeping with archeological evidence from the period. Jerusalem was surrounded by soft limestone rock that was perforated by natural and artificial caves, creating a giant natural cemetery. The door also matches examples from this period. Most tombs would have a smaller stone able to keep out animals. More expensive tombs would have a stone large enough to keep out grave robbers. This and other verses make clear that a larger stone is in place.
Joseph departs, not to be seen again in Matthew's narrative. Davies and Allison note that Matthew frequently treats his minor characters in this manner, giving no unnecessary details. Joseph leaving is in the next verses contrasted with the women who remain and the guards who later arrive. His departure is not mentioned in any of the other gospels, but Matthew adds the story of the guards arriving, so that could explain adding a mention of Joseph leaving.
Gospel of Matthew
The Gospel According to Matthew is one of the four canonical gospels, one of the three synoptic gospels, and the first book of the New Testament. It tells of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth...
in the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
. This verse describes the Entombment of Jesus by Joseph of Arimathea
Joseph of Arimathea
Joseph of Arimathea was, according to the Gospels, the man who donated his own prepared tomb for the burial of Jesus after Jesus' Crucifixion. He is mentioned in all four Gospels.-Gospel references:...
after the crucifixion
Crucifixion of Jesus
The crucifixion of Jesus and his ensuing death is an event that occurred during the 1st century AD. Jesus, who Christians believe is the Son of God as well as the Messiah, was arrested, tried, and sentenced by Pontius Pilate to be scourged, and finally executed on a cross...
.
The original Koine Greek
Koine Greek
Koine Greek is the universal dialect of the Greek language spoken throughout post-Classical antiquity , developing from the Attic dialect, with admixture of elements especially from Ionic....
, according to Westcott and Hort
The New Testament in the Original Greek
The New Testament in the Original Greek is the name of a Greek language version of the New Testament published in 1881. It is also known as the Westcott and Hort text, after its editors Brooke Foss Westcott and Fenton John Anthony Hort...
, reads:
- και εθηκεν αυτο εν τω καινω αυτου μνημειω ο ελατομησεν εν τη
- πετρα και προσκυλισας λιθον μεγαν τη θυρα του μνημειου απηλθεν
In the King James Version of the Bible it is translated as:
- And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and
- he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.
The modern World English Bible
World English Bible
The World English Bible is a public domain translation of the Bible that is currently in draft form. Work on the World English Bible began in 1997 and was known as the American Standard Version 1997...
translates the passage as:
- and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut out in the rock,
- and he rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb, and departed.
For a collection of other versions see BibRef Matthew 27:60
Joseph of Arimathea places Jesus in his own new tomb, a sign of great loyalty by Joseph. This verse is based on Mark 15:46, and is paralleled by Luke 23:53 and John 19:41. Matthew is the only gospel writer to mention that it was Joseph's own tomb that Jesus was placed. Typically wealthy residents of Jerusalem would have a large family tomb, with space for many burials. The new tomb implies that no one has yet been entombed there, something made explicit in both Luke and John. Mentioning the newness, and emptiness, of the tomb may also be part of the body of evidence Matthew presents for the truth of the resurrection
Resurrection of Jesus
The Christian belief in the resurrection of Jesus states that Jesus returned to bodily life on the third day following his death by crucifixion. It is a key element of Christian faith and theology and part of the Nicene Creed: "On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures"...
. A new tomb with only one body would prevent any confusion. Davies and Allison note that reference to the newness of the tomb might also be an allusion to the newness that emerges from it with the resurrection. The newness of the tomb may also reflect that Joseph's wealth is new found, or that his family is newly arrived in Jerusalem. This could explain why he has a tomb in Jerusalem rather than his native Arimathea.
The description of the rock hewn tomb is fully in keeping with archeological evidence from the period. Jerusalem was surrounded by soft limestone rock that was perforated by natural and artificial caves, creating a giant natural cemetery. The door also matches examples from this period. Most tombs would have a smaller stone able to keep out animals. More expensive tombs would have a stone large enough to keep out grave robbers. This and other verses make clear that a larger stone is in place.
Joseph departs, not to be seen again in Matthew's narrative. Davies and Allison note that Matthew frequently treats his minor characters in this manner, giving no unnecessary details. Joseph leaving is in the next verses contrasted with the women who remain and the guards who later arrive. His departure is not mentioned in any of the other gospels, but Matthew adds the story of the guards arriving, so that could explain adding a mention of Joseph leaving.