English Standard Version
Matthew 28:4
4And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men.
Matthew 28:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
- New International Version (NIV)The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.
- New Living Translation (NLT)The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint.
Context of Matthew 28:4
2And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. 5But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.
Read all of Matthew 28Matthew 28:4 word by word
ἀπὸ δὲ τοῦ φόβου αὐτοῦ ἐσείσθησαν οἱ τηροῦντες καὶ ἐγενήθησαν ὡς νεκροί.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andδέde · thenG1161
- forἀπόapo · away fromG575
- fearὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- fearφόβοςphobos · fearG5401
- of himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- the keepersτηρέωtēreō · to keep: guardG5083
- did shakeσείωseiō · to shakeG4579
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- becameγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
- asὡσείhōsei · like/as/aboutG5616
- deadνεκρόςnekros · deadG3498
Cross-references for Matthew 28:4
- Matthew 28:11While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place.
- Matthew 27:65Pilate said to them, "You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can."
- Job 4:14dread came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones shake.
- Psalms 48:6Trembling took hold of them there, anguish as of a woman in labor.
- Daniel 10:7And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision, but a great trembling fell upon them, and they fled to hide themselves.
- Acts 9:3Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him.
- Acts 16:29And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas.
- Revelation 1:17When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, "Fear not, I am the first and the last,
Commentaries on Matthew 28:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4The 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.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4The 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…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-10The four gospels each emphasize different aspects of the empty tomb and resurrection appearances. Matthew focuses on three things: the reunion of Jesus and his disciples in Galilee, the Jewish leaders' attempt to discredit the resurrection, and the importance of the ressurection for the salvation of the world.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. 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.Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 28:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Matthew 28
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries