Matthew 27:52 · Bible study
Matthew 27:52 Commentary: Tombs Opened, Saints Raised
Greek · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why did the tombs open at Jesus' death? And when did the saints rise? Unpack the meaning of this unique sign of victory.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The tombs were opened at Christ's death and many saints were raised after his resurrection as a pledge of the general resurrection.
- Key words: μνημεῖον (tomb), κεκοιμημένων (having fallen asleep), ἠγέρθησαν (were raised).
- Main debate: Whether the saints rose at the moment of death or after Christ's resurrection.
- Theological theme: Christ's victory over death is cosmic and public, not private.
- Best use: As a confirmation of the resurrection hope and a sign that Christ has plundered the grave.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
The tombs broke open, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised.
WEB World English Bible 2000
The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised;
KJV King James Version 1769
And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
ASV American Standard Version 1901
and the tombs were opened; and many bodies of the saints that had fallen asleep were raised;
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
and the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who have fallen asleep, arose,
Darby Darby Bible 1890
and the tombs were opened; and many bodies of the saints fallen asleep arose,
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And the graves were opened: and many bodies of the saints that had slept arose,
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y abriéronse los sepulcros, y muchos cuerpos de santos que habían dormido, se levantaron;
Os sepulcros se abriram, e muitos corpos de santos que tinham morrido foram ressuscitados.
les sépulcres s’ ouvrirent, et plusieurs corps des saints qui étaient morts ressuscitèrent.
Und die Erde erbebte, und die Felsen zerrissen, die Gräber taten sich auf, und standen auf viele Leiber der Heiligen, die da schliefen,
En de graven werden geopend, en vele lichamen der heiligen, die ontslapen waren, werden opgewekt;
e le tombe s’aprirono, e molti corpi de’ santi che dormivano, risuscitarono;
I groby się otwierały, a wiele ciał świętych, którzy byli zasnęli, powstało:
и гробы отверзлись; и многие тела усопших святых воскресли
墳墓 也 開了， 已睡 聖徒 的身體 多 有起來的。
And the resting-places of the dead came open; and the bodies of a number of sleeping saints came to life;
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Matthew 27:52
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree this verse records a direct sign of Christ's victory over death at the moment of His crucifixion. The tombs were opened by the earthquake, laying bare the rock-hewn graves near Jerusalem. Barnes notes that 'sleep' is a common Scriptural term for death, echoing Daniel 12:2. Calvin argues the opening of the tombs was a 'presage of a new life,' while the actual resurrection of the saints occurred after Christ's own resurrection, making Him 'the first-born from the dead' (Colossians 1:18). Gill concurs: the graves opened at the earthquake, but the bodies did not arise until after Jesus rose. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown emphasize that this was not a temporary revival like Lazarus but a resurrection to eternal life. The consensus holds that the event serves as a pledge of the general resurrection and proves that Christ's death and resurrection were not private but for all believers.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Post-resurrection chronological view: Verse 53 explicitly says 'after his resurrection', and Paul teaches Christ is the firstfruits of the resurrection (1 Cor 15:20, Col 1:18).
- Immediate resurrection view: The aorist verbs in v.52 could be interpreted as simultaneous with the opening of the tombs, and some early interpreters read it that way for a more dramatic immediate sign.
What is clear: The tombs were physically opened at Jesus' death, and the saints were genuinely raised from the dead, appearing in Jerusalem.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Timing of the resurrection | The tombs were opened at the moment of Jesus' death by the earthquake. | Some argue the saints rose immediately from the opened tombs; others read the Greek aorist and the following verse to indicate they rose only after Christ's resurrection. |
| Identity of the saints | They were believers who had died (fallen asleep) and were known in Jerusalem. | Some suggest Old Testament figures (Adam, Abraham); others propose more recent saints like Simeon or Zechariah. |
| Nature of the resurrection | This was a literal, bodily resurrection, not a vision. | Whether it was a temporary return to mortal life (like Lazarus) or a permanent resurrection to glory. Most commentators (JFB, Calvin) see it as eternal resurrection, as they entered the holy city. |
| Historical reliability | Matthew alone records this event among the Gospels. | Some historians question the event due to its singular attestation; believers see it as a unique sign of Christ's cosmic victory. |
Historical & Cultural Context
First-century Jewish tombs were typically cut into soft limestone cliffs or caves, with a low entrance closed by a rolling stone. The gospel accounts note Jesus' own tomb was such a rock-cut tomb (Matthew 27:60). The earthquake at Christ's death literally rent the rocks (v.51), so tombs cracked open. This was visible to witnesses and cannot be dismissed as merely symbolic. The Greek term for 'sleep' (κεκοιμημένων) is a euphemism for death used throughout the New Testament (Acts 7:60, 1 Corinthians 11:30), rooted in the Old Testament (Daniel 12:2). The saints who 'slept' are believers who died in faith before Christ's resurrection. Only Matthew records this event among the Gospels. He places it among other apocalyptic signs: darkness, the torn temple veil, earthquake. The earthquake also affected the guards at the tomb (Matthew 28:2-4). The holy city is Jerusalem, which had rejected its Messiah. The appearance of these resurrected saints to many people in Jerusalem served as a dramatic witness that Jesus' death had conquered death. The event fulfills Isaiah 26:19 and Hosea 13:14.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Matthew 27:52. The Greek text is stable across manuscripts.
Reception History
From the early church through the Reformation, this verse has been read as a promise of the resurrection. Matthew Henry saw it as a fulfillment of Isaiah 26:19. Calvin treated it as evidence that Christ's death opened the prison of death. Wesley speculated the saints included Simeon, Zacharias, and John the Baptist. In Eastern Orthodox tradition, the verse is referenced in icons of the Resurrection showing Christ harrowing Hades. The verse appears in lectionaries for Holy Saturday, emphasizing that Christ's death brought life to the dead.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Tombs Opened: The earthquake at Christ's death physically broke open rock-hewn graves, symbolizing that death could no longer hold its prisoners.
- The Saints Raised: Many bodies of believers who had fallen asleep were raised, not a temporary revival but a resurrection to eternal life, as JFB notes.
- The City Witnessed: They entered Jerusalem and appeared to many, giving public proof that Christ's victory over death was real and personal.
Five-point outline
- The Earthquake Opens Tombs (v.51-52a): The same power that rent the temple veil also rent the rocks.
- The Saints Sleep in Christ (v.52b): 'Fallen asleep' is the consistent Christian euphemism for death in hope.
- The Resurrection Occurs (v.52c): The aorist passive 'were raised' points to God's act.
- The Procession After Christ's Resurrection (v.53): They came out of the tombs after Jesus rose, aligning with Paul's doctrine of Christ the firstfruits.
- The Appearances to Many (v.53): Undeniable witnesses for the resurrection of Christ and ultimately for all believers.
Illustration hooks
- A courtroom where the key witness appears alive after the verdict, these saints appeared as character witnesses for Christ.
- An old sealed crypt suddenly unlocked, the earthquake unlocked the tombs, and the real key was Christ's death.
Questions your congregation is asking
- If these saints rose, did they die again later?
- Why does only Matthew mention this event?
- Does this mean our loved ones who died in Christ are already with him in some way?
Leading a Discussion
This passage is unique to Matthew and shows that Jesus' death shook not only the earth but the realm of the dead. It forces us to ask: what kind of death was this that could open tombs? As you discuss, keep in mind that Matthew places this among other signs of cosmic significance.
Discussion questions
- What does the text tell us about the timing of the saints' resurrection? Read v.52 and v.53 carefully.
- Why do you think Matthew is the only gospel writer to include this detail?
- What do the phrase 'fallen asleep' and the term 'saints' (hagioi) tell us about how early Christians viewed death?
- How does this event connect to Old Testament passages like Isaiah 26:19 and Daniel 12:2?
- What does it mean that these saints 'appeared to many' in Jerusalem? Why would that be important for the early church?
- If Christ's death opened tombs, what does that say about his power over death today?
- How does this event strengthen your hope for those who have died in Christ?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Isaiah 25:8 | He has swallowed up death forever! The Lord Yahweh will wipe away tears from off all faces. He will take the reproach of his people away from off all the earth, for Yahweh has spoken it. |
| Isaiah 26:19 | Your dead shall live. Their dead bodies shall arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in the dust; for your dew is like the dew of herbs, and the earth will cast out the departed spirits. |
| Daniel 12:2 | Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. |
| Hosea 13:14 | I will ransom them from the power of Sheol. I will redeem them from death! Death, where are your plagues? Sheol, where is your destruction? “Compassion will be hidden from my eyes. |
| John 5:25 | Most certainly I tell you, the hour comes, and now is, when the dead will hear the Son of God’s voice; and those who hear will live. |
| John 5:29 | and will come out; those who have done good, to the resurrection of life; and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment. |
| Acts 7:60 | He kneeled down and cried with a loud voice, “Lord, don’t hold this sin against them!” When he had said this, he fell asleep. |
| I Corinthians 11:30 | For this cause many among you are weak and sickly, and not a few sleep. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
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What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke explains that the graves were opened by the earthquake itself. He clarifies that when the text speaks of saints who slept, it uses sleep as a common biblical metaphor for death, meaning they were actually dead.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes notes the earthquake opened the rock-hewn graves but the dead did not rise until after Jesus' resurrection. He suggests these saints were recently deceased, not ancient figures, because they would have been known in Jerusalem and therefore believed as credible witnesses.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin makes a careful chronological distinction: the graves opened at Christ's death as a prophetic sign, but the saints actually rose after his resurrection. This keeps Christ the firstborn from the dead and shows his death and resurrection were not private events but done for all believers.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Note emphasizes that the graves opened of their own accord, highlighting the divine power at work. The saints are described as sleeping, a gentle term for death, indicating they were believers awaiting resurrection. Their arising demonstrates Christ’s victory over death even before his own resurrection.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill emphasises that the graves opened at Christ's death, but the saints did not rise until after his resurrection. He identifies the risen saints not as ancient patriarchs but as later figures known to people then alive, such as Zechariah, John the Baptist, Simeon, and Joseph the husband of Mary.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB argues that the graves were opened by the earthquake at Christ's death as a symbolic proclamation of victory, but the saints themselves did not rise until after Christ's resurrection. This distinguishes their resurrection from temporary revivals like Lazarus: these saints rose once for all to everlasting life as trophies of Christ's victory over death.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange sees the crucifixion as a cosmic event in which nature and spirit are deeply linked. The darkness, earthquake, and rent veil are not merely miraculous signs but natural phenomena that testify to the earth's sympathy with its Creator's death. Christ's cry of abandonment becomes the decisive moment where judgment turns into victory.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry draws attention to the precise timing of Christ's death, noting it coincided with the evening sacrifice and the killing of the paschal lamb. This typologically fulfills Christ as our Passover sacrificed for us. He further observes this may mark the exact fulfillment of Daniel's seventy weeks prophecy to the very day and hour.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley sees the raised bodies of holy men, known to many in Jerusalem, as a visible sign that Christ defeated death. Their tombs, opened by the earthquake and left unclosed over the Sabbath, allowed them to appear after his resurrection, demonstrating that he would one day raise all his saints.