Matthew 27:51

Matthew 27:51 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
• New International Version (NIV)At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split
• English Standard Version (ESV)And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split,

Context of Matthew 27:51

49But the rest said, “Leave him alone! Let’s see if Elijah will come to save him.” 50Then Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and gave up his spirit. Just then the temple curtain was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks were split apart. 52And tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had died were raised. 53(They came out of the tombs after his resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.)

Matthew 27:51 word by word

Καὶ ἰδοὺ τὸ καταπέτασμα τοῦ ναοῦ ἐσχίσθη ἀπ᾽ ἄνωθεν ἕως κάτω εἰς δύο, καὶ ἡ γῆ ἐσείσθη, καὶ αἱ πέτραι ἐσχίσθησαν,Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• beholdὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
• the veilὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the veilκαταπέτασμαkatapetasma · curtainG2665
• of the templeναόςnaos · templeG3485
• was rentσχίζωschizō · to splitG4977
• inεἰςeis · towardG1519
• twainδύοduo · twoG1417
• fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
• the topἄνωθενanōthen · from above/againG509
• toἕωςheōs · untilG2193
• the bottomκάτωkatō katōterō · underG2736
• the earthγῆgē · earth: planetG1093
• did quakeσείωseiō · to shakeG4579
• the rocksπέτραpetra · rockG4073

Cross-references for Matthew 27:51

• Exodus 26:31“You are to make a special curtain of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine twisted linen; it is to be made with cherubim, the work of an artistic designer.
• Exodus 40:21And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, hung the protecting curtain, and shielded the ark of the testimony from view, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
• Leviticus 16:2and the Lord said to Moses: “Tell Aaron your brother that he must not enter at any time into the holy place inside the veil-canopy in front of the atonement plate that is on the ark so that he may not die, for I will appear in the cloud over the atonement plate.
• Leviticus 21:23but he must not go into the veil-canopy or step forward to the altar because he has a physical flaw. Thus he must not profane my holy places, for I am the Lord who sanctifies them.’”
• 2 Chronicles 3:14He made the curtain out of violet, purple, crimson, and white fabrics, and embroidered on it decorative cherubim.
• Isaiah 25:7On this mountain he will swallow up the shroud that is over all the peoples, the woven covering that is over all the nations;
• Mark 15:38And the temple curtain was torn in two, from top to bottom.
• Luke 23:45because the sun’s light failed. The temple curtain was torn in two.
• Ephesians 2:13But now in Christ Jesus you who used to be far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
• Hebrews 6:19We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, sure and steadfast, which reaches inside behind the curtain,
• Hebrews 10:19Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus,
• Matthew 28:2Suddenly there was a severe earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descending from heaven came and rolled away the stone and sat on it.
• Psalms 18:7The earth heaved and shook; the roots of the mountains trembled; they heaved because he was angry.
• Micah 1:3Look, the Lord is coming out of his dwelling place! He will descend and march on the earth’s mountaintops!
• Nahum 1:3The Lord is slow to anger but great in power; the Lord will certainly not allow the wicked to go unpunished. He marches out in the whirlwind and the raging storm; dark storm clouds billow like dust under his feet.
• Habakkuk 3:10When the mountains see you, they shake. The torrential downpour sweeps through. The great deep shouts out; it lifts its hands high.

Commentaries on Matthew 27:51

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 51The veil of the temple was rent - That is, the veil which separated the holy place, where the priests ministered, from the holy of holies, into which the high priest only entered, and that once a year, to make a general expiation for the sins of the people. This rending of the veil was emblematical, and pointed out that the separation between Jews and Gentiles was now abolished, and that the privilege of the high priest was now communicated to all…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 51The vail of the temple - This was doubtless the veil, curiously performed, which separated the holy from the most holy place, dividing the temple into two apartments, Exodus 26:31-33. In twain - In two pieces or parts. This was the time of day when the priest was burning incense in the holy place, and it is probable that he witnessed it. The most holy place has been usually considered as a type of heaven, and the tearing of the veil to signify that the…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 51-56Verses 51-56 The rending of the veil signified that Christ, by his death, opened a way to God. We have an open way through Christ to the throne of grace, or mercy-seat now, and to the throne of glory hereafter. When we duly consider Christ's death, our hard and rocky hearts should be rent; the heart, and not the garments. That heart is harder than a rock that will not yield, that will not melt, where Jesus Christ is plainly set forth crucified. The graves…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 51The tearing of the temple curtain is symbolic. It means that that the wall dividing people from God has been torn down by the death of Jesus (see also Ephesians 2:11–22; Hebrews 6:19; 9:1–10:25). The earth quaked and the rocks were split: These are signs that judgment has come (see Exodus 19:18; Judges 5:4; Psalm 18:7; Joel 3:14–17; Amos 8:8–10). The Jewish historian Josephus records that around AD 30, a star resembling a sword appeared and the temple…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 5151. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom--This was the thick and gorgeously wrought veil which was hung between the "holy place" and the "holiest of all," shutting out all access to the presence of God as manifested "from above the mercy seat and from between the cherubim"--"the Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest" (He 9:8). Into this holiest of all none…Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 27:51

• Death
• Earthquakes
• Jesus, the Christ
• Symbols and Similitudes
• Temple
• Vail

In the dictionaries

• Accusation
• Notable
• Plat
• Seal
• Veil, vail
• Wag
• Watch
• Wont
• Desire of All Nations
• Earthquake

Commentaries on Matthew 27

• 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
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• 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