Matthew 27:60
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.
Original Language Analysis
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
1 of 22
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἔθηκεν
laid
G5087
ἔθηκεν
laid
Strong's:
G5087
Word #:
2 of 22
to place (in the widest application, literally and figuratively; properly, in a passive or horizontal posture, and thus different from g2476, which pr
αὐτοῦ
it
G846
αὐτοῦ
it
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
3 of 22
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
τῷ
G3588
τῷ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
5 of 22
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
καινῷ
new
G2537
καινῷ
new
Strong's:
G2537
Word #:
6 of 22
new (especially in freshness; while g3501 is properly so with respect to age
αὐτοῦ
it
G846
αὐτοῦ
it
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
7 of 22
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
μνημείου
of the sepulchre
G3419
μνημείου
of the sepulchre
Strong's:
G3419
Word #:
8 of 22
a remembrance, i.e., cenotaph (place of interment)
ὃ
which
G3739
ὃ
which
Strong's:
G3739
Word #:
9 of 22
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
τῇ
G3588
τῇ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
12 of 22
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
14 of 22
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
μέγαν
a great
G3173
μέγαν
a great
Strong's:
G3173
Word #:
17 of 22
big (literally or figuratively, in a very wide application)
τῇ
G3588
τῇ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
18 of 22
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
θύρᾳ
to the door
G2374
θύρᾳ
to the door
Strong's:
G2374
Word #:
19 of 22
a portal or entrance (the opening or the closure, literally or figuratively)
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
20 of 22
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Cross References
Isaiah 53:9And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.Matthew 27:66So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.Matthew 28:2And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
Historical Context
Rock-hewn tombs near Jerusalem were expensive, owned by wealthy families. They featured a small entrance sealed by a rolling stone in a groove. Some had antechambers for mourning. The tomb was near Golgotha (John 19:41-42), providentially located for quick burial before Sabbath. The location also fulfilled Isaiah's prophecy of burial 'with the rich.'
Questions for Reflection
- What did it cost Joseph to give up his family tomb for Jesus' burial?
- How does the secured tomb strengthen rather than weaken the resurrection evidence?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock—Joseph gave Jesus his personal burial plot, a costly sacrifice as tombs took months to carve and represented family inheritance. The new tomb meant no other body had occupied it, emphasizing Christ's uniqueness and ensuring no confusion about whose body rose. He rolled a great stone to the door (προσεκύλισεν λίθον μέγαν)—circular stones weighing 1-2 tons secured wealthy tombs.
This detail becomes crucial: the massive stone required multiple men to roll uphill into sealing position. The mega lithon (great stone) made theft humanly impossible without detection. The sealed tomb became evidence—not a prison but a testimony. The same stone meant to keep Jesus in would prove he rose through it, not by human rolling away.