Matthew 28 · Verse 5

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.
Matthew 28:5, King James Version

Matthew 28:5 in other translations

BSBBut the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.
WEBThe angel answered the women, “Don’t be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, who has been crucified.
ASVAnd the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye; for I know that ye seek Jesus, who hath been crucified.
YLTAnd the messenger answering said to the women, ‘Fear not ye, for I have known that Jesus, who hath been crucified, ye seek;
DARBYAnd the angel answering said to the women, Fear not ye, for I know that ye seek Jesus the crucified one.
BBEAnd the angel said to the women, Have no fear: for I see that you are searching for Jesus, who was put to death on the cross.
WebsterAnd the angel answered and said to the women, Fear ye not: for I know that ye seek Jesus, who was crucified.

What does Matthew 28:5 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
5. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye--The "ye" here is emphatic, to contrast their case with that of the guards. "Let those puny creatures, sent to keep the Living One among the dead, for fear of Me shake and become as dead men (Mt 28:4); but ye that have come hither on another errand, fear not ye." for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified--Jesus the Crucified.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 5. And the angel answered and said, etc. This was not on the outside of the tomb, for Matthew does not say that the angel appeared to the women then, but only to the keepers. Mark says, "entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment," Mk 16:6. Luke says, (Lk 24:3,4) "They entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And as they were much perplexed thereabout behold, two men stood by them in shining garments." Seeing the stone rolled away, and the sepulchre open, they of course anxiously entered into it, to see if the body was there. They did not find it, and there they saw the vision of the angels, who gave them information respecting his resurrection. Infidels have objected that there are three inconsistencies. in the accounts by Mark and Luke:

(1.) That Mark says the angel was sitting, and Luke says they were standing. Answer. The word in Luke does not of necessity mean that they stood, but only that they were present. Or it may be that the one that Mark mentions was sitting when they entered, and then arose.

(2.) It is objected that Luke mentions two, but Mark and Matthew one. Answer. Mark mentions the one who spoke; for it cannot be supposed they both spake the same thing. He does not deny that another was present with him. Luke affirms that there was. This way of speaking is not unfrequent. Thus Mark and Luke mention only one demoniac who was cured at Gadara. Matthew mentions two. In like manner, Mark and Luke speak of only one blind man who was cured at Jericho, while from Matthew it is certain that two were there. The fact that but one is mentioned--where it is not denied that there were others--does not prove that there could not be others.

(3.) Matthew calls this an angel; Mark and Luke a man. Answer. Angels, in the Scriptures, from appearing in the form of men, are often called as they appear, and are mentioned as men. See Gen 18:2,16,22, 19:1,5.

Fear not ye. The cause of their fear was doubtless the appearance of the angels; or the word fear may be taken in a wider sense, and mean agitated or troubled. Thus, Be not agitated, or troubled, that you do not find the body of the Saviour. I know that ye seek him, and are troubled that he is removed; but you need not fear that he has been stolen. You will see him again in Galilee.

(f) "angel" Heb 1:14 (g) "for I know" Ps 105:3,4

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 5 I know that ye seek Jesus - Speaking after the manner of men, these women deserved to be the first witnesses of the resurrection of Christ: during life they ministered to him, and in death they were not divided. They attended him to the Cross, notwithstanding their attachment to him exposed them to the most imminent danger; and now they come to watch and weep at his Tomb. The common opinion is, that women are more fickle and less courageous than men. The reverse of this I believe to be the truth, in those who are thoroughly converted to God; and who, previously to conversion, whether man or woman, can be trusted in any case?

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 28:5 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.

ἈποκριθεὶςApokritheisAnsweringG611
δὲdenowG1161
ὁhotheG3588
ἄγγελοςangelosangelG32
εἶπενeipensaidG2036
ταῖςtaisto theG3588
γυναιξίν·gunaixinwomen;G1135
μὴmēNotG3361
φοβεῖσθεphobeisthedo fearG5399
ὑμεῖς·humeisyou yourselves;G4771
οἶδαoidaI know
γὰρgarforG1063
ὅτιhotithatG3754
ἸησοῦνIēsounJesusG2424
τὸνtonthe [One]G3588
ἐσταυρωμένονestaurōmenoncrucifiedG4717
ζητεῖτε.zēteiteyou seek.G2212

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

Cross references for Matthew 28:5

  • Hebrews 1:14

    Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

  • Revelation 1:17-18

    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: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

  • Isaiah 41:10

    Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

  • Luke 24:5

    And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?

  • Luke 1:30

    And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

  • Isaiah 35:4

    Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.

  • Isaiah 41:14

    Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the Lord, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

  • Psalms 105:3-4

    Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord. Seek the Lord, and his strength: seek his face evermore.

  • Daniel 10:12

    Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.

  • Mark 16:6

    And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.

  • Matthew 28:10

    Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.

  • Luke 1:12-13

    And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Fear.
Isa 35:4; 41:10,14; Da 10:12,19; Mr 16:6; Lu 1:12,13,30; Heb 1:14
Re 1:17,18
ye seek.
Ps 105:3,4; Lu 24:5; Joh 20:13-15; Heb 1:14

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

Context

  • 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.

  • Matthew 28:6

    He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

Read all of Matthew 28

Matthew 28:5 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y respondiendo el ángel, dijo á las mujeres: No temáis vosotras; porque yo sé que buscáis á Jesús, que fué crucificado.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et l’ange, répondant, dit aux femmes: Pour vous, n’ayez point de peur; car je sais que vous cherchez Jésus le crucifié;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Der Engel aber hob an und sprach zu den Weibern: Fürchtet ihr euch nicht, denn ich weiß, daß ihr Jesum, den Gekreuzigten, suchet.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Respondens autem angelus dixit mulieribus: Nolite timere vos: scio enim, quod Jesum, qui crucifixus est, quæritis.