λαξευτός (laxeutos)
laxeutos
engraved
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective laxeutos describes something that has been carved or hewn directly out of stone. Its meaning derives from roots referring to a rock and the act of scraping or cutting, pointing to the physical labor involved in shaping solid material into a specific form. In the New Testament, this term appears only once, in Luke 23:53, where it modifies the tomb prepared for Jesus.
The text specifies that Joseph of Arimathea placed Jesus in a tomb "hewn in stone," emphasizing that it was not a natural cave but a structure shaped by human hands. While other biblical writers might use different terms for quarries or excavation, Luke’s choice highlights the permanence and solidity of the burial place. This detail underscores the reality of Jesus’ death and burial, grounding the narrative in tangible, historical fact rather than abstract symbolism.
Translators typically render laxeutos as "hewn" or "cut out of stone," preserving the sense of deliberate craftsmanship. The word serves to distinguish this tomb from simple rock shelters, marking it as a prepared, finished space. By using this specific terminology, the Gospel writer draws attention to the care taken in preparing the burial site, adding weight to the subsequent account of the empty tomb.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word laxeutos describes a tomb hewn directly from solid rock. In Luke’s account, Jesus is placed in such a place, prepared by Joseph of Arimathea. This detail anchors the story in physical reality. It was not a temporary shelter but a permanent structure shaped by skilled hands.
For your faith, this permanence matters. It confirms that Jesus truly died and was buried. The empty tomb is not a vague symbol but a historical event. God entered our world of stone and dust, facing death fully. This gives weight to the hope of resurrection.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- cut in a rock1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- λαξευτῷ1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 23:53
He took it down and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb that was cut in stone, where no one had ever been laid.
This verse uses laxeutos to specify that Jesus was buried in a tomb cut from rock, emphasizing the historical reality of His death and burial.