Matthew 27:66

So they went and secured the tomb by sealing the stone and posting the guard.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The chief priests and Pharisees act on Pilate’s permission in Matthew 27:65 to secure Jesus’ tomb after his burial. They go to the site, seal the stone covering the entrance, and station a guard.

The words — πορευθέντες (poreuthentes) means "having gone," and ἠσφαλίσαντο (ēsphalisanto) means "they made secure." These terms describe the physical actions taken to fortify the burial site.

The thread — The sealing of a stone over a tomb or den appears in Daniel 6:17, while the same stone is later rolled away by an angel in Matthew 28:2. The act of securing a burial place with a stone and guard recurs in the immediate narrative of Matthew 27:60 and Matthew 28:2.

Why it lands — The text records the leaders’ attempt to physically prevent resurrection through human measures. It establishes the baseline of human effort that the subsequent divine intervention will override.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

ΟἱHoi<the>δὲdeAnd πορευθέντεςporeuthenteshaving gone ἠσφαλίσαντοēsphalisantothey made secure τὸνtonthe τάφονtaphontomb σφραγίσαντεςsphragisanteshaving sealed τὸνtonthe λίθονlithonstone μετὰmetawith τῆςtēsthe κουστωδίας.¶koustōdiasguard.

King James Version

So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

Cross-references

Daniel 6:17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that nothing concerning Daniel could be changed.
Matthew 27:60 and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut into the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance to the tomb and went away.
Matthew 28:2 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, rolled away the stone, and sat on it.
2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless, God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from iniquity.”
Matthew 28:11 While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened.