λατομέω (latomeō)
latomeō
to hew
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb latomeō means to cut or hew stone, describing the physical labor of a mason shaping rock. It appears in only two verses in the New Testament, both recording the burial preparations for Jesus after his crucifixion (Matthew 27:60; Mark 15:46). In these contexts, it specifies that Joseph of Arimathea used a new tomb he had personally prepared by cutting into the rock.
Its etymology connects to the word for a stonecutter or quarryman, grounding the term in the trade of working with hard material. While modern English often uses "hew" for wood or general shaping, this Greek word is specific to stonework. The sources highlight its use in the Septuagint for digging wells or cutting stones, emphasizing the effort required to create a lasting space from solid rock.
Translators consistently render it as "hewed out" or "cut out," preserving the sense of deliberate, skilled labor. By using this specific term, the Gospel writers underscore that Jesus was laid in a tomb that was not merely dug but carefully crafted, marking it as a new and reserved place for his body.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word latomeō describes the skilled, physical labor of hewing stone to create a new tomb. In Matthew and Mark, we see Joseph of Arimathea using this specific trade to prepare a resting place for Jesus. This was not a casual grave but a carefully crafted chamber, cut from solid rock by a craftsman's hand.
For your faith, this detail highlights the dignity given to Christ’s body. Even in death, He was honored with a prepared and permanent space. The effort involved shows that God’s plan unfolds through real human actions and resources. You can trust that your life, too, is held by One who values every detail of your journey.
This word reminds us that God often works through the steady, quiet efforts of ordinary people. Just as a stonecutter shapes rock into a home for the dead, God shapes our lives into something enduring. We can find comfort in knowing that our struggles and preparations are seen and used by Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- he had cut1×
- cut1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐλατόμησεν1×
- λελατομημένον1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 27:60
and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut out in the rock. Then he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed.
This verse specifies that Joseph laid Jesus in his own new tomb, which he had cut out in the rock, emphasizing the personal preparation and the newness of the space.
-
Mark 15:46
He bought a linen cloth, and taking him down, wound him in the linen cloth and laid him in a tomb which had been cut out of a rock. He rolled a stone against the door of the tomb.
Here the text notes the tomb was cut out of a rock, highlighting the permanence and security of the burial site prepared for Jesus' body.