God’s Word Translation
Matthew 28:4
4The guards were so deathly afraid of him that they shook.
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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.
Context of Matthew 28:4
2Suddenly, there was a powerful earthquake. An angel of the Lord had come down from heaven, rolled the stone away, and was sitting on it. 3He was as bright as lightning, and his clothes were as white as snow. The guards were so deathly afraid of him that they shook. 5The angel said to the women, “Don’t be afraid! I know you’re looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6He’s not here. He has been brought back to life as he said. Come, see the place where he was lying.
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 the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city. They told the chief priests everything that had happened.
- Matthew 27:65Pilate told them, “You have the soldiers you want for guard duty. Go and make the tomb as secure as you know how.”
- Job 4:14fear and trembling came over me, and all my bones shook.
- Psalms 48:6Trembling seized them like the trembling that a woman experiences during labor.
- Daniel 10:7I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision. The men with me didn’t see the vision. Yet, they started to tremble violently, and they quickly hid themselves.
- Acts 9:3As Saul was coming near the city of Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him.
- Acts 16:29The jailer asked for torches and rushed into the jail. He was trembling as he knelt in front of Paul and Silas.
- Revelation 1:17When I saw him, I fell down at his feet like a dead man. Then he laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! 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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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