Matthew 27 · Verse 51

Matthew 27:51

And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
Matthew 27:51, King James Version

Matthew 27:51 in other translations

BSBAt that moment the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split.
WEBBehold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split.
ASVAnd behold, the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake; and the rocks were rent;
YLTand lo, the vail of the sanctuary was rent in two from top unto bottom, and the earth did quake, and the rocks were rent,
DARBYAnd lo, the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom, and the earth was shaken, and the rocks were rent,
BBEAnd the curtain of the Temple was parted in two from end to end; and there was an earth-shock; and the rocks were broken;
WebsterAnd behold, the vail of the temple was rent in two, from the top to the bottom: and the earth shook, and the rocks rent;

What does Matthew 27:51 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
51. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom--This was the thick and gorgeously wrought veil which was hung between the "holy place" and the "holiest of all," shutting out all access to the presence of God as manifested "from above the mercy seat and from between the cherubim"--"the Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest" (He 9:8). Into this holiest of all none might enter, not even the high priest, save once a year, on the great day of atonement, and then only with the blood of atonement in his hands, which he sprinkled "upon and before the mercy seat seven times" (Le 16:14)--to signify that access for sinners to a holy God is only through atoning blood. But as they had only the blood of bulls and of goats, which could not take away sins (He 10:4), during all the long ages that preceded the death of Christ the thick veil remained; the blood of bulls and of goats continued to be shed and sprinkled; and once a year access to God through an atoning sacrifice was vouchsafed--in a picture, or rather, was dramatically represented, in those symbolical actions--nothing more. But now, the one atoning Sacrifice being provided in the precious blood of Christ, access to this holy God could no longer be denied; and so the moment the Victim expired on the altar, that thick veil which for so many ages had been the dread symbol of separation between God and guilty men was, without a hand touching it, mysteriously "rent in twain from top to bottom"--"the Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was NOW made manifest!" How emphatic the statement, from top to bottom; as if to say, Come boldly now to the Throne of Grace; the veil is clean gone; the mercy seat stands open to the gaze of sinners, and the way to it is sprinkled with the blood of Him--"who through the eternal Spirit hath offered Himself without spot to God!" Before, it was death to go in, now it is death to stay out. See more on this glorious subject on He 10. 19-22. An Earthquake--The Rocks Rent--The Graves Opened, that the Saints Which Slept in Them Might Come Forth after Their Lord's Resurrection (Mt 27:51-53). 51. and the earth did quake--From what follows it would seem that this earthquake was local, having for its object the rending of the rocks and the opening of the graves. and the rocks rent--"were rent"--the physical creation thus sublimely proclaiming, at the bidding of its Maker, the concussion which at that moment was taking place in the moral world at the most critical moment of its history. Extraordinary rents and fissures have been observed in the rocks near this spot.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 51. The veil of the temple. This was doubtless the veil, curiously wrought, which separated the holy from the most holy place, dividing the temple into two apartments, Ex 26:31-33.

In twain. In two pieces, or parts. This was the time of day when the priest was burning incense in the holy place, and it is probable that he witnessed it. The most holy place has been usually considered as a type of heaven, and the rending of the veil to signify that the way to heaven was now open to all-- the great high Priest, the Lord Jesus, being about to enter in as the Forerunner of his people. However, about the design of the rending of the veil the Scriptures are silent, and conjecture is useless.

And the earth did quake. Or shook, Earthquakes are violent convulsions of the ground, caused commonly by confined and rarefied air. This was probably, however, a miraculous convulsion of the earth, in attestation of the truth that the Sufferer was the Messiah, the Son of God; and as an exhibition of his wrath at the crimes of those who put him to death. It was not confined to Judea, but was felt in other countries. It is mentioned by Roman writers.

The rocks rent. That is, were torn asunder. Rocks are still seen at Mount Calvary thus rent asunder, which are said to be the ones that were convulsed when the Saviour died.

(p) "veil" Ex 26:31, Lev 16:2,15, 21:23, 2Chr 3:14 (q) "rent in twain" Isa 25:7

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 51 The veil of the temple was rent - That is, the veil which separated the holy place, where the priests ministered, from the holy of holies, into which the high priest only entered, and that once a year, to make a general expiation for the sins of the people. This rending of the veil was emblematical, and pointed out that the separation between Jews and Gentiles was now abolished, and that the privilege of the high priest was now communicated to all mankind: All might henceforth have access to the throne of grace, through the one great atonement and mediator, the Lord Jesus. See this beautifully illustrated in Heb 10:19-22.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 27:51-56
The rending of the veil signified that Christ, by his death, opened a way to God. We have an open way through Christ to the throne of grace, or mercy-seat now, and to the throne of glory hereafter. When we duly consider Christ's death, our hard and rocky hearts should be rent; the heart, and not the garments. That heart is harder than a rock that will not yield, that will not melt, where Jesus Christ is plainly set forth crucified. The graves were opened, and many bodies of saints which slept, arose. To whom they appeared, in what manner, and how they disappeared, we are not told; and we must not desire to be wise above what is written. The dreadful appearances of God in his providence, sometimes work strangely for the conviction and awakening of sinners. This was expressed in the terror that fell upon the centurion and the Roman soldiers. We may reflect with comfort on the abundant testimonies given to the character of Jesus; and, seeking to give no just cause of offence, we may leave it to the Lord to clear our characters, if we live to Him. Let us, with an eye of faith, behold Christ and him crucified, and be affected with that great love wherewith he loved us. But his friends could give no more than a look; they beheld him, but could not help him. Never were the horrid nature and effects of sin so tremendously displayed, as on that day when the beloved Son of the Father hung upon the cross, suffering for sin, the Just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God. Let us yield ourselves willingly to his service.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Matthew 27:51 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΚαὶKaiAndG2532
ἰδοὺidoubeholdG2400
τὸtotheG3588
καταπέτασμαkatapetasmaveilG2665
τοῦtouof theG3588
ναοῦnaoutempleG3485
ἐσχίσθηeschisthēwas tornG4977
ἀπ᾽ap᾽fromG575
ἄνωθενanōthentopG509
ἕωςhe'ōsuntilG2193
κάτωkatōbottomG2736
εἰςeisintoG1519
δύο,duotwo,G1417
καὶkaiandG2532
ἡhētheG3588
γῆgēearthG1093
ἐσείσθη,eseisthēwas shaken,G4579
καὶkaiandG2532
αἱhaitheG3588
πέτραιpetrairocksG4073
ἐσχίσθησαν,eschisthēsanwere split,G4977

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Matthew 27:51

  • Hebrews 10:19-22

    Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

  • Mark 15:38

    And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.

  • Hebrews 6:19

    Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

  • Luke 23:45

    And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.

  • Revelation 11:19

    And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

  • Matthew 27:54

    Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

  • Exodus 26:31-37

    And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made: And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks shall be of gold, upon the four sockets of silver. And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy. And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place. …

  • Matthew 28:2

    And, 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.

  • Isaiah 25:7

    And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations.

  • Ephesians 2:13-18

    But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: …

  • Hebrews 9:3

    And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;

  • Revelation 11:13

    And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the veil.
Ex 26:31-37; 40:21; Le 16:2,12-15; 21:23; 2Ch 3:14; Isa 25:7
Mr 15:38; Lu 23:45; Eph 2:13-18; Heb 6:19; 10:19-22
the earth.
28:2; Ps 18:7,15; Mic 1:3,4; Na 1:3-5; Hab 3:10,13; Heb 12:25-27
Re 11:13,19

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Matthew 27:50

    Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.

  • Matthew 27:51

    And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

  • Matthew 27:52

    And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,

Read all of Matthew 27

Matthew 27:51 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y he aquí, el velo del templo se rompió en dos, de alto á bajo: y la tierra tembló, y las piedras se hendieron;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et voici, le voile du temple se déchira en deux, depuis le haut jusqu’en bas; et la terre trembla, et les rochers se fendirent,
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und siehe, der Vorhang des Tempels zerriß in zwei Stücke, von oben bis unten; und die Erde erbebte, und die Felsen zerrissen,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et ecce velum templi scissum est in duas partes a summo usque deorsum: et terra mota est, et petræ scissæ sunt,