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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Matthew 27:52 The tombs broke open, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/matthew/27-52.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/9/40_Mat_27_52.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Matthew 27:52 - The Death of Jesus" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="The tombs broke open, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script> <script src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/biblehub.js' type='text/javascript'></script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/matthew/27-52.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/matthew/27-52.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/matthew/">Matthew</a> > <a href="/matthew/27.htm">Chapter 27</a> > Verse 52</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad1.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/matthew/27-51.htm" title="Matthew 27:51">◄</a> Matthew 27:52 <a href="/matthew/27-53.htm" title="Matthew 27:53">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Study Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Crossref </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comment </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/matthew/27.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/matthew/27.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/matthew/27.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/matthew/27.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/matthew/27.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />The tombs broke open, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/matthew/27.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />And the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints having fallen asleep arose.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/matthew/27.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/matthew/27.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/matthew/27.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Also the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/matthew/27.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/matthew/27.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />and the tombs were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/matthew/27.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />And the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/matthew/27.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints (God’s people) who had fallen asleep [in death] were raised [to life];<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/matthew/27.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The tombs were also opened and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/matthew/27.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The tombs were also opened and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/matthew/27.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />and the tombs were opened; and many bodies of the saints that had fallen asleep were raised;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/matthew/27.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Graves opened, and many of God's people were raised to life. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/matthew/27.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />and the tombs were opened; and many bodies of the saints that had fallen asleep were raised;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/matthew/27.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />The tombs were opened, and the bodies of many holy people who had died came back to life.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/matthew/27.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />the graves broke open, and many of God's people who had died were raised to life. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/matthew/27.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />tombs were opened, and many saints who had died were brought back to life. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/matthew/27.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />The tombs broke open, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/matthew/27.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />And tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had died were raised.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/matthew/27.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/matthew/27.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And the graves were opened, and many bodies of saints who slept, arose,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/matthew/27.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />the tombs opened; and many of God's people who were asleep in death awoke.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/matthew/27.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/matthew/27.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />and the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the holy ones who have fallen asleep, arose,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/matthew/27.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />And the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints having fallen asleep arose.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/matthew/27.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who have fallen asleep, arose,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/matthew/27.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And the tombs were opened: and many bodies of the holy ones, having been set to sleep, were raised,<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/matthew/27.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And the graves were opened: and many bodies of the saints that had slept arose, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/matthew/27.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And the tombs were opened. And many bodies of the saints, which had been sleeping, arose.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/matthew/27.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/matthew/27.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/matthew/27.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And the tombs were opened; and the bodies of a great many saints who were sleeping in death rose up,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/aramaic-plain-english/matthew/27.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a></span><br />Tombs were opened, and many bodies of the Saints who were sleeping arose.<div class="vheading2"><b>NT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/anderson/matthew/27.htm">Anderson New Testament</a></span><br />and the sepulchers were opened, and many bodies of the saints that slept, arose.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/godbey/matthew/27.htm">Godbey New Testament</a></span><br />and the tombs were opened; and many bodies of the sleeping saints arose;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/haweis/matthew/27.htm">Haweis New Testament</a></span><br />and the sepulchres were opened; and many bodies of saints, who slept, arose;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/mace/matthew/27.htm">Mace New Testament</a></span><br />the graves opened, and the bodies of many saints who slept arose,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/matthew/27.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />the tombs opened; and many of God's people who were asleep in death awoke.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worrell/matthew/27.htm">Worrell New Testament</a></span><br />and the tombs were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worsley/matthew/27.htm">Worsley New Testament</a></span><br />and the graves opened, and many bodies of departed saints arose,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/matthew/27-52.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hriiyJYqzvc?start=8949" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/matthew/27.htm">The Death of Jesus</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">51</span>At that moment the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split. <span class="reftext">52</span><span class="highl"><a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. "></a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ta (Art-NNP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">The</a> <a href="/greek/3419.htm" title="3419: mnēmeia (N-NNP) -- A tomb, sepulcher, monument. From mneme; a remembrance, i.e. Cenotaph.">tombs</a> <a href="/greek/455.htm" title="455: aneōchthēsan (V-AIP-3P) -- To open. From ana and oigo; to open up.">broke open,</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">and</a> <a href="/greek/4983.htm" title="4983: sōmata (N-NNP) -- Body, flesh; the body of the Church. From sozo; the body, used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively.">the bodies</a> <a href="/greek/4183.htm" title="4183: polla (Adj-NNP) -- Much, many; often. ">of many</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tōn (Art-GMP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/40.htm" title="40: hagiōn (Adj-GMP) -- Set apart by (or for) God, holy, sacred. From hagos; sacred.">saints</a> <a href="/greek/2837.htm" title="2837: kekoimēmenōn (V-RPM/P-GMP) -- From keimai; to put to sleep, i.e. to slumber; figuratively, to decease.">who had fallen asleep</a> <a href="/greek/1453.htm" title="1453: ēgerthēsan (V-AIP-3P) -- (a) I wake, arouse, (b) I raise up. Probably akin to the base of agora; to waken, i.e. Rouse.">were raised.</a> </span> <span class="reftext">53</span>After Jesus’ resurrection, when they had come out of the tombs, they entered the holy city and appeared to many people.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/37-12.htm">Ezekiel 37:12-13</a></span><br />Therefore prophesy and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘O My people, I will open your graves and bring you up from them, and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. / Then you, My people, will know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and bring you up from them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/daniel/12-2.htm">Daniel 12:2</a></span><br />And many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, but others to shame and everlasting contempt.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/26-19.htm">Isaiah 26:19</a></span><br />Your dead will live; their bodies will rise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in the dust! For your dew is like the dew of the morning, and the earth will bring forth her dead.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/15-20.htm">1 Corinthians 15:20-23</a></span><br />But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. / For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. / For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_thessalonians/4-14.htm">1 Thessalonians 4:14-16</a></span><br />For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him. / By the word of the Lord, we declare to you that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep. / For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/5-28.htm">John 5:28-29</a></span><br />Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice / and come out—those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/20-12.htm">Revelation 20:12-13</a></span><br />And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. And books were opened, and one of them was the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books. / The sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead, and each one was judged according to his deeds.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/2-24.htm">Acts 2:24</a></span><br />But God raised Him from the dead, releasing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep Him in its grip.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/8-11.htm">Romans 8:11</a></span><br />And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/philippians/3-10.htm">Philippians 3:10-11</a></span><br />I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to Him in His death, / and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/11-35.htm">Hebrews 11:35</a></span><br />Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused their release, so that they might gain a better resurrection.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/19-25.htm">Job 19:25-27</a></span><br />But I know that my Redeemer lives, and in the end He will stand upon the earth. / Even after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God. / I will see Him for myself; my eyes will behold Him, and not as a stranger. How my heart yearns within me!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/13-14.htm">Hosea 13:14</a></span><br />I will ransom them from the power of Sheol; I will redeem them from Death. Where, O Death, are your plagues? Where, O Sheol, is your sting? Compassion is hidden from My eyes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/3-18.htm">1 Peter 3:18-19</a></span><br />For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit, / in whom He also went and preached to the spirits in prison<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/5-1.htm">2 Corinthians 5:1-4</a></span><br />For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is dismantled, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. / For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, / because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. ...</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,</p><p class="hdg">many.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/25-8.htm">Isaiah 25:8</a></b></br> He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken <i>it</i>.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/26-19.htm">Isaiah 26:19</a></b></br> Thy dead <i>men</i> shall live, <i>together with</i> my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew <i>is as</i> the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/hosea/13-14.htm">Hosea 13:14</a></b></br> I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.</p><p class="hdg">slept.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/daniel/12-2.htm">Daniel 12:2</a></b></br> And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame <i>and</i> everlasting contempt.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_corinthians/11-30.htm">1 Corinthians 11:30</a></b></br> For this cause many <i>are</i> weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_corinthians/15-51.htm">1 Corinthians 15:51</a></b></br> Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/matthew/26-43.htm">Asleep</a> <a href="/matthew/8-25.htm">Awoke</a> <a href="/matthew/24-29.htm">Bodies</a> <a href="/matthew/26-26.htm">Broke</a> <a href="/matthew/27-33.htm">Dead</a> <a href="/matthew/27-26.htm">Death</a> <a href="/matthew/22-27.htm">Died</a> <a href="/matthew/18-26.htm">Fallen</a> <a href="/matthew/27-43.htm">God's</a> <a href="/matthew/23-29.htm">Graves</a> <a href="/matthew/25-31.htm">Holy</a> <a href="/matthew/26-32.htm">Life</a> <a href="/matthew/27-27.htm">Open</a> <a href="/matthew/20-33.htm">Opened</a> <a href="/matthew/26-32.htm">Raised</a> <a href="/matthew/23-29.htm">Resting-Places</a> <a href="/matthew/24-31.htm">Saints</a> <a href="/matthew/26-45.htm">Sleeping</a> <a href="/matthew/25-5.htm">Slept</a> <a href="/matthew/23-29.htm">Tombs</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/matthew/28-13.htm">Asleep</a> <a href="/mark/4-39.htm">Awoke</a> <a href="/mark/13-25.htm">Bodies</a> <a href="/mark/6-41.htm">Broke</a> <a href="/matthew/27-53.htm">Dead</a> <a href="/matthew/28-5.htm">Death</a> <a href="/mark/4-39.htm">Died</a> <a href="/mark/9-20.htm">Fallen</a> <a href="/matthew/27-54.htm">God's</a> <a href="/matthew/27-53.htm">Graves</a> <a href="/matthew/27-53.htm">Holy</a> <a href="/mark/6-16.htm">Life</a> <a href="/mark/1-5.htm">Open</a> <a href="/mark/1-10.htm">Opened</a> <a href="/mark/1-31.htm">Raised</a> <a href="/matthew/27-53.htm">Resting-Places</a> <a href="/mark/13-20.htm">Saints</a> <a href="/matthew/28-13.htm">Sleeping</a> <a href="/matthew/28-13.htm">Slept</a> <a href="/matthew/27-53.htm">Tombs</a><div class="vheading2">Matthew 27</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/27-1.htm">Jesus is delivered bound to Pilate.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">3. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/27-3.htm">Judas hangs himself.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">19. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/27-19.htm">Pilate, admonished of his wife,</a></span><br><span class="reftext">20. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/27-20.htm">and being urged by the multitude, washes his hands, and releases Barabbas.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">27. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/27-27.htm">Jesus is mocked and crowned with thorns;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">33. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/27-33.htm">crucified;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">39. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/27-39.htm">reviled;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">50. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/27-50.htm">dies, and is buried;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">62. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/27-62.htm">his tomb is sealed and watched.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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The Greek word for "tombs" is "mnemeia," which refers to graves or sepulchers. The breaking open of the tombs symbolizes the power of Christ's death over the grave, foreshadowing the ultimate victory over death through His resurrection. Historically, Jewish burial practices involved placing bodies in rock-hewn tombs, often sealed with stones. The opening of these tombs would have been a dramatic and undeniable sign to the witnesses of the supernatural nature of the events surrounding Jesus' crucifixion.<p><b>and the bodies of many saints</b><br />The term "saints" here is translated from the Greek word "hagios," meaning holy or set apart. These individuals were likely devout followers of God who had died before the coming of Christ. The use of "bodies" emphasizes the physical resurrection, not just a spiritual awakening. This event serves as a testament to the power of Jesus' sacrifice, which extends beyond His own resurrection to those who were faithful to God, illustrating the hope of resurrection for all believers.<p><b>who had fallen asleep</b><br />The phrase "fallen asleep" is a euphemism for death, commonly used in the New Testament. The Greek word "koimao" conveys the idea of rest, suggesting that death is temporary for believers, akin to sleep from which one will awaken. This reflects the early Christian belief in the resurrection of the dead, a core tenet of the faith that promises eternal life through Christ. The use of this term underscores the hope and assurance that death is not the end for those who are in Christ.<p><b>were raised</b><br />The Greek word "egeiro" means to awaken or to raise up. This miraculous raising of the saints' bodies is a foretaste of the general resurrection at the end of the age, as promised in Christian eschatology. It demonstrates the immediate impact of Jesus' death on the power of sin and death, providing a tangible sign of the new covenant and the inauguration of the Kingdom of God. This event would have served as a powerful witness to the truth of Jesus' identity as the Messiah and the transformative power of His sacrifice.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/matthew/27.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(52) <span class= "bld">Many bodies of the saints which slept arose.</span>--It is scarcely, perhaps, surprising that a narrative so exceptional in its marvellousness, and standing, as it does, without any collateral testimony in any other part of the New Testament, should have presented to many minds difficulties which have seemed almost insuperable. They have accordingly either viewed it as a mythical addition, or, where they shrank from that extreme conclusion, have explained it as meaning simply that the bodies of the dead were exposed to view by the earthquake mentioned in the preceding verse, or have seen in it only the honest report of an over-excited imagination. On the other hand, the brevity, and in some sense simplicity, of the statement differences it very widely from such legends, more or less analogous in character, as we find, <span class= "ital">e.g.,</span> in the Apocryphal <span class= "ital">Gospel of Nicodemus,</span> and so far excludes the mythical element which, as a rule, delights to show itself in luxuriant expansion. And this being excluded, we can hardly imagine the Evangelist as writing without having received his information from witnesses whom he thought trustworthy; and then the question rises, whether the narrative is of such a character as to be in itself incredible. On that point men, according to the point of view from which they look on the Gospel records, may naturally differ; but those who believe that when our Lord passed into Hades, the unseen world, it was to complete there what had been begun on earth, to proclaim there His victory over death and sin, will hardly think it impossible that there should have been outward tokens and witnesses of such a work. And the fact which St. Matthew records supplies, it is believed, the most natural explanation of language hardly less startling, which meets us in the Epistle, which even the most adverse critics admit to be from the hands of St. Peter. If he, or those whom he knew, had seen the saints that slept and had risen from their sleep, we can understand how deeply it would have impressed on his mind the fact that his Lord when "put to death in the flesh" had been "quickened in the spirit," and had "preached to the spirits in prison" (<a href="/1_peter/3-19.htm" title="By which also he went and preached to the spirits in prison;">1Peter 3:19</a>), so that glad tidings were proclaimed even to the dead (<a href="/1_peter/4-6.htm" title="For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.">1Peter 4:6</a>). Who they were that thus appeared, we are not told. Most commentators have followed--somewhat unhappily, I venture to believe--the lead of the Apocryphal Gospel just named, and <span class= "greekheb"></span> have identified them with the Patriarchs and Prophets of the Old Testament. It is clear, however, that St. Matthew's statement implies that they were those who came out of the opened graves, who had been buried, that is, in the sepulchres of Jerusalem; and, remembering that the term "saints" was applied almost from the very first to the collective body of disciples (<a href="/acts/9-13.htm" title="Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem:">Acts 9:13</a>; <a href="/acts/9-32.htm" title="And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelled at Lydda.">Acts 9:32</a>; <a href="/acts/9-41.htm" title="And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.">Acts 9:41</a>), it seems more natural to see in them those who, believing in Jesus, had passed to their rest before His crucifixion. On this supposition, their appearance met the feeling, sure to arise among those who were looking for an immediate manifestation of the kingdom--as it arose afterwards at Thessalonica (<a href="/1_thessalonians/4-13.htm" title="But I would not have you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning them which are asleep, that you sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.">1Thessalonians 4:13</a>)--that such as had so died were shut out from their share in that kingdom; and we have thus an adequate reason for their appearance, so that friends and kindred might not sorrow for them as others who had no hope. The statement that they did not appear till after our Lord's resurrection, is from this point of view significant. The disciples were thus taught to look on that resurrection, not as an isolated phenomenon, but as the "firstfruits" of the victory over death (<a href="/1_corinthians/15-20.htm" title="But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept.">1Corinthians 15:20</a>), in which not they themselves only, but those also whom they had loved and lost were to be sharers. . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/matthew/27.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 52.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">The graves</span> (<span class="accented">the sepulchres</span>) <span class="accented"><span class="cmt_word"></span>were opened.</span> The earthquake tore away the stones that closed the mouths of many of the adjacent tombs. This and the following fact are mentioned only by St. Matthew. <span class="cmt_word">Many bodies of the saints which slept</span> (<span class="greek">τῶν</span> <span class="greek">κεκοιμημένων</span>, <span class="accented">who had fallen asleep</span>) <span class="accented"><span class="cmt_word"></span>arose.</span> Matthew anticipates the time of the actual occurrence of the marvel, which took place, not at this moment, but after our Lord's resurrection, who was "the firstfruits of them that slept" (see the next verse). Who are meant by "the saints" here is doubtful. The Jews probably would have understood the term to apply to the worthies of the Old Testament (comp. <a href="/2_peter/3-4.htm">2 Peter 3:4</a>). But the opening of the sepulchres in the neighbourhood of Jerusalem would not have liberated the bodies of many of those who were buried far away. The persons signified must be those who in life had looked for the hope of Israel, and had seen in Christ that hope fulfilled; they were such as Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathaea, true believers, who are called saints in the New Testament. How did these bodies arise? or how were they raised up? They were not mere phantoms, unsubstantial visitants from the spirit world, for they were in some sense corporeal. That they were not resuscitated corpses, as Lazarus, Jairus's daughter and the son of the widow, who lived for a time a second life, seems plain from the expression applied to them in the next verse, that "they appeared unto many," <span class="accented">i.e.</span> to persons who had known them while living. Some have thought that in them was anticipated the general resurrection, that, delivered from Hades and united to their bodies, they died no more, but at the Ascension accompanied Christ into heaven. Scripture says nothing of all this, nor have we any reason to suppose that any human body, save that of our blessed Lord (mediaeval legends add that of the Virgin Mary), has yet entered the highest heaven (see <a href="/hebrews/11-39.htm">Hebrews 11:39, 40</a>). Another opinion is that these were not strictly resurrections, but bodily appearances of saints like those of Moses and Elias at the Transfiguration; but it is a straining of language to make the evangelist describe such visitations as bodies arising from open sepulchres. Farrar tries to elude the difficulty by a supposition, as baseless as it is dishonouring to the evangelist's strict and simple veracity. He writes, "An earthquake shook the earth and split the rocks, and as it rolled away from their places the great stones which closed and covered the cavern sepulchres of the Jews, so it seemed to the imaginations of many to have disimprisoned the spirits of the dead, and to have filled the air with ghostly visitants, who, after Christ had risen, appeared to linger in the holy city. Only in some such way," he adds, "can I account for the singular and wholly isolated allusion of Matthew." Because a fact is mentioned by one evangelist only, it is not on this account incredible. St. Matthew was probably an eyewitness of that which he relates, and might have been confuted by his contemporaries, if he had stated what was not true. An early witness to the fact is found in Igmatius, who, in his 'Epistle to the Magnesians,' ch. 9, speaks of Christ when on earth raising the prophets from the dead. The whole matter is mysterious and beyond human ken; but we may well believe that at this great crisis the Lord, who is the Resurrection and the Life, willed to exemplify his victory over death. and to make manifest the resurrection of the body, and this he did by releasing some saintly souls from Hades, and clothing them with the forms in which they had formerly lived, and permitting them to show themselves thus to those who knew and loved them. Of the future life of these resuscitated saints we know nothing, and will not presumptuously venture to inquire. When they have demonstrated that the sting was now taken from death, that the power of the grave was broken, that men shall rise again with their bodies and be known and recognized, they pass out of sight into the unseen world, and we can follow them no further. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/matthew/27-52.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div><span class="word">The</span><br /><span class="grk">τὰ</span> <span class="translit">(ta)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article - Nominative Neuter Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">tombs</span><br /><span class="grk">μνημεῖα</span> <span class="translit">(mnēmeia)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Nominative Neuter Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3419.htm">Strong's 3419: </a> </span><span class="str2">A tomb, sepulcher, monument. From mneme; a remembrance, i.e. Cenotaph.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">broke open,</span><br /><span class="grk">ἀνεῴχθησαν</span> <span class="translit">(aneōchthēsan)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_455.htm">Strong's 455: </a> </span><span class="str2">To open. From ana and oigo; to open up.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and</span><br /><span class="grk">καὶ</span> <span class="translit">(kai)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> </span><span class="str2">And, even, also, namely. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">[the] bodies</span><br /><span class="grk">σώματα</span> <span class="translit">(sōmata)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Nominative Neuter Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4983.htm">Strong's 4983: </a> </span><span class="str2">Body, flesh; the body of the Church. From sozo; the body, used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of many</span><br /><span class="grk">πολλὰ</span> <span class="translit">(polla)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - Nominative Neuter Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4183.htm">Strong's 4183: </a> </span><span class="str2">Much, many; often. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">saints</span><br /><span class="grk">ἁγίων</span> <span class="translit">(hagiōn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_40.htm">Strong's 40: </a> </span><span class="str2">Set apart by (or for) God, holy, sacred. From hagos; sacred.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">who had fallen asleep</span><br /><span class="grk">κεκοιμημένων</span> <span class="translit">(kekoimēmenōn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Genitive Masculine Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2837.htm">Strong's 2837: </a> </span><span class="str2">From keimai; to put to sleep, i.e. to slumber; figuratively, to decease.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">were raised.</span><br /><span class="grk">ἠγέρθησαν</span> <span class="translit">(ēgerthēsan)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1453.htm">Strong's 1453: </a> </span><span class="str2">(a) I wake, arouse, (b) I raise up. Probably akin to the base of agora; to waken, i.e. Rouse.</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/matthew/27-52.htm">Matthew 27:52 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/matthew/27-52.htm">Matthew 27:52 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/matthew/27-52.htm">Matthew 27:52 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/matthew/27-52.htm">Matthew 27:52 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/matthew/27-52.htm">Matthew 27:52 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/matthew/27-52.htm">Matthew 27:52 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/matthew/27-52.htm">Matthew 27:52 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/matthew/27-52.htm">Matthew 27:52 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/matthew/27-52.htm">Matthew 27:52 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/matthew/27-52.htm">Matthew 27:52 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/matthew/27-52.htm">NT Gospels: Matthew 27:52 The tombs were opened and many bodies (Matt. Mat Mt) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/matthew/27-51.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Matthew 27:51"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Matthew 27:51" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/matthew/27-53.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Matthew 27:53"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Matthew 27:53" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>