Matthew 28:13
What does Matthew 28:13 mean?
A plain-English look at Matthew 28:13 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Matthew 28:13 means
The chief priests instructed the soldiers to spread a false story: they were to claim that Jesus' disciples came by night and stole His body while the guards were asleep. This fabrication was designed to discredit the resurrection. The absurdity of the story—that soldiers could know what happened while they were supposedly asleep—reveals the desperation of the religious leaders. It was a calculated lie intended to explain away the empty tomb without acknowledging divine intervention.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Say, His disciples came by night and took him away secretly while we were sleeping.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862saying, `Say ye, that his disciples having come by night, stole him--we being asleep;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Saying: Say you, His disciples came by night and stole him away when we were asleep.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890saying, Say that his disciples coming by night stole him [while] we [were] sleeping.
Context
This verse directly states the false narrative that the chief priests devised for the soldiers. This lie is given immediately after the bribe, showing the direct quid pro quo. This fabrication is a cynical attempt to counter the truth of the resurrection, and it directly sets up the soldiers' actions to spread this rumor among the Jewish people, which is detailed in the subsequent verses.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Matthew 26:64
Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Henceforth ye shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.
Related questions readers ask
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