Matthew 27 · Verse 65

Matthew 27:65

Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.
Matthew 27:65, King James Version

Matthew 27:65 in other translations

BSB“You have a guard,” Pilate said. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.”
WEBPilate said to them, “You have a guard. Go, make it as secure as you can.”
ASVPilate said unto them, Ye have a guard: go, make it as sure as ye can.
YLTAnd Pilate said to them, ‘Ye have a watch, go away, make secure--as ye have known;'
DARBYAnd Pilate said to them, Ye have a watch: go, secure it as well as ye know how.
BBEPilate said to them, You have watchmen; go and make it as safe as you are able.
WebsterPilate said to them, Ye have a watch: go, make it as secure as ye can.

What does Matthew 27:65 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
65. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch--The guards had already acted under orders of the Sanhedrim, with Pilate's consent; but probably they were not clear about employing them as a night watch without Pilate's express authority. go your way, make it as sure as ye can--as ye know how, or in the way ye deem securest. Though there may be no irony in this speech, it evidently insinuated that if the event should be contrary to their wish, it would not be for want of sufficient human appliances to prevent it.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 65. Ye have a watch. The Jews had a guard or watch of Roman soldiers, who kept watch in the tower of Antonia, on the north-west of the temple. Pilate either referred to these, or to the watch that attended the crucifixion: the whole band that had been appointed for that. As the torments of crucifixion sometimes lasted many days, the band had been probably granted to them during that time, and they were, therefore, still at the direction of the chief priests.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 65 Ye have a watch - The Jews had a corps of Roman troops, consisting of several companies, as a guard for the temple, Act 4:1. These companies mounted guard by turns, see Luk 22:4. Some of these companies, which were not then on duty, Pilate gave them leave to employ to watch the tomb.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 27:62-66

On the Jewish sabbath, the chief priests and Pharisees, when they should have been at their devotions, were dealing with Pilate about securing the sepulchre. This was permitted that there might be certain proof of our Lord's resurrection. Pilate told them that they might secure the sepulchre as carefully as they could. They sealed the stone, and set a guard, and were satisfied that all needful care was taken. But to…

Read the full comment on Matthew 27:62-66 →

Matthew 27:65 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.

ἜφηEphēwas sayingG5346
αὐτοῖςautoisto themG846
ὁho<the>G3588
Πιλᾶτος·PilatosPilate;G4091
ἔχετεecheteYou haveG2192
κουστωδίαν·koustōdiana guard;G2892
ὑπάγετεhupagetedo goG5217
ἀσφαλίσασθεasphalisasthedo make [it as] secureG805
ὡςhōsasG5613
οἴδατε.¶oidateyou know [how].

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

Cross references for Matthew 27:65

  • Matthew 27:66

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

  • Matthew 28:11-15

    Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. …

  • Psalms 76:10

    Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.

  • Proverbs 21:30

    There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
make.
28:11-15; Ps 76:10; Pr 21:30

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

Context

  • Matthew 27:64

    Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.

  • Matthew 27:65

    Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.

  • Matthew 27:66

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

Read all of Matthew 27

Matthew 27:65 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y Pilato les dijo: Tenéis una guardia: id, aseguradlo como sabéis.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et Pilate leur dit: Vous avez une garde; allez, rendez-le sûr comme vous l’entendez.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Pilatus aber sprach zu ihnen: Ihr habt eine Wache; gehet hin, sichert es, so gut ihr es wisset.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ait illis Pilatus: Habetis custodiam, ite, custodite sicut scitis.