Matthew 28 · Verse 4

Matthew 28:4

And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
Matthew 28:4, King James Version

Matthew 28:4 in other translations

BSBThe guards trembled in fear of him and became like dead men.
WEBFor fear of him, the guards shook, and became like dead men.
ASVand for fear of him the watchers did quake, and became as dead men.
YLTand from the fear of him did the keepers shake, and they became as dead men.
DARBYAnd for fear of him the guards trembled and became as dead men.
BBEAnd for fear of him the watchmen were shaking, and became as dead men.
WebsterAnd for fear of him the keepers trembled and became as dead men.

What does Matthew 28:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
4. And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men--Is the sepulchre "sure" now, O ye chief priests? He that sitteth in the heavens doth laugh at you.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 4. The keepers did shake. It was night. The appearance was sudden and unexpected, and to them terrific. The stone was probably suddenly removed. At the noise, the light, the suddenness of the appearance, they were affrighted.

And became as dead men. Probably by terror they fainted, or were thrown into a swoon. At this time it is probable that the Lord Jesus arose; and hence he was not seen by them when he came forth. At what precise time of the night this was, we are not certainly informed. The narrative, however, leads us to suppose that it was not long before the women came to the sepulchre, or near the break of day.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 The keepers - became as dead men - God can, by one and the same means, comfort his servants, and terrify his enemies. The resurrection of Christ is a subject of terror to the servants of sin, and a subject of consolation to the sons of God; because it is a proof of the resurrection of both, the one to shame and everlasting contempt - the other to eternal glory and joy.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 28:1-8

Christ rose the third day after his death; that was the time he had often spoken of. On the first day of the first week God commanded the light to shine out of darkness. On this day did He who is the Light of the world, shine out of the darkness of the grave; and this day is from henceforward often mentioned in the New Testament, as the day which Christians religiously observed in solemn assemblies, to the honour of…

Read the full comment on Matthew 28:1-8 →

Matthew 28:4 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.

ἀπὸapoFromG575
δὲdenowG1161
τοῦtoutheG3588
φόβουphoboufearG5401
αὐτοῦautouof himG846
ἐσείσθησανeseisthēsantrembledG4579
οἱhoithoseG3588
τηροῦντεςtērounteskeeping guardG5083
καὶkaiandG2532
ἐγενήθησανegenēthēsanthey wereG1096
ὡςhōsasG5613
νεκροί.¶nekroidead [men].G3498

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

Cross references for Matthew 28:4

  • Revelation 1:17

    And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

  • Daniel 10:7

    And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves.

  • Matthew 27:65-66

    Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

  • Matthew 28:11

    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.

  • Acts 16:29

    Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,

  • Psalms 48:6

    Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail.

  • Job 4:14

    Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake.

  • Acts 9:3-7

    And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. …

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the.
11; 27:65,66
shake.
Job 4:14; Ps 48:6; Da 10:7; Ac 9:3-7; 16:29; Re 1:17

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

Context

  • Matthew 28:3

    His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:

  • Matthew 28:4

    And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.

  • Matthew 28:5

    And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

Read all of Matthew 28

Matthew 28:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y de miedo de él los guardas se asombraron, y fueron vueltos como muertos.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et de la frayeur qu’ils en eurent, les gardiens tremblèrent et devinrent comme morts.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Aber aus Furcht vor ihm bebten die Hüter und wurden wie Tote.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Præ timore autem ejus exterriti sunt custodes, et facti sunt velut mortui.