Devine Scripture

Matthew 27:60

What does Matthew 27:60 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 27:60 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 27:60 means

Joseph lays Jesus in his own new tomb, hewn in the rock, and rolls a great stone to the tomb’s door. The new tomb signifies honor—unused, clean, and private—befitting a respected burial. Hewn rock tombs were costly, indicating Joseph’s wealth and devotion. Rolling a great stone to seal it ensures security. The act completes a respectful interment and also sets the stage for the resurrection narrative—sealing the tomb makes the subsequent empty tomb a more convincing sign of divine power.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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 tomb, and departed.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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 tomb, and departed.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And put it in the resting-place which had been cut out of the rock for himself; and after rolling a great stone to the door of it he went away.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and laid it in his new tomb, that he hewed in the rock, and having rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb, he went away;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And laid it in his own new monument, which he had hewed out in a rock. And he rolled a great stone to the door of the monument and went his way.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn in the rock; and having rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb, went away.

Context

This verse follows the wrapping of the body (v. 59) and completes the burial narrative. By establishing that the tomb is new and sealed with a great stone, Matthew prepares the reader for the forthcoming concern of the chief priests and Pharisees about guarding the tomb (vv. 62–66) and for the later empty tomb account.

v.59And Joseph took the body, and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,

v.60This passage

v.61And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Luke 24:2

    And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb.

  • Isaiah 53:9

    And they made his grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in his death; although he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

  • Matthew 28:2

    And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled away the stone, and sat upon it.

  • John 20:1

    Now on the firstdayof the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, while it was yet dark, unto the tomb, and seeth the stone taken away from the tomb.

  • Mark 16:3

    And they were saying among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the tomb?

  • Matthew 27:66

    So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, the guard being with them.

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