Luke 23 53

Luke 23:53 kjv

And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.

Luke 23:53 nkjv

Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a tomb that was hewn out of the rock, where no one had ever lain before.

Luke 23:53 niv

Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid.

Luke 23:53 esv

Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid.

Luke 23:53 nlt

Then he took the body down from the cross and wrapped it in a long sheet of linen cloth and laid it in a new tomb that had been carved out of rock.

Luke 23 verses

Luke 23 53 Meaning

This verse details the burial of Jesus by Joseph of Arimathea. After Jesus' death, Joseph respectfully took the body down from the cross, prepared it according to prevailing custom by wrapping it in a linen cloth, and then laid it in a newly cut tomb he owned. The specification that no one had yet been laid in this tomb is crucial for establishing the uniqueness of Jesus' burial place, precluding any confusion about the identity of the body, and subsequently, confirming His solitary resurrection.

Luke 23 53 Context

Luke 23:53 directly follows the crucifixion and death of Jesus (Luke 23:44-49). Jesus has just cried out His last words and breathed His last, recognized as the Son of God even by the centurion. Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the Jewish Council and a righteous man who had not consented to their condemnation of Jesus, bravely approached Pontius Pilate to request Jesus' body for burial. The verse depicts the immediate actions taken to lay Jesus' body to rest before the onset of the Sabbath, which began at sunset on Friday. Jewish custom, reinforced by the Mosaic Law (Deut 21:22-23), required that the body of someone hanged on a tree should not remain overnight. The act of burial, especially in a new tomb belonging to a prominent man, signifies a respectful, albeit hasty, interment befitting one who was truly dead and worthy of proper burial.

Luke 23 53 Word analysis

• Then he took it down (καθελὼν - kathelon): This aorist participle implies a deliberate, immediate action after receiving permission. It signifies the physical removal of the body from the cross, an act requiring care and reverence.
• wrapped it (ἐνετύλιξεν - enetylixen): This verb suggests an act of careful enfolding. It speaks to the customary Jewish burial practice of winding a body tightly in cloths, distinct from embalming, and here implies respectful preparation.
• in linen cloth (σινδόνι - sindoni): This refers to fine, clean linen. Its use indicates a measure of honor and expense, pointing to Joseph of Arimathea's means and his desire to provide a dignified burial for Jesus. Linen was a common, yet respectable, burial shroud.
• and placed it (ἔθηκεν - etheken): A simple verb signifying the act of laying down the body. It completes the process of careful handling and re-locating the body into its resting place.
• in a tomb (ἐν μνημείῳ - en mnemeiō): Refers to a memorial place, specifically a grave or sepulcher. In this context, it is a burial chamber.
• cut into the rock (λαξευτῷ - laxeytō implied, or contextually describing it as rock-hewn): This detail specifies a type of tomb common for wealthier individuals or families in ancient Judea. It means the tomb was carved directly out of a solid rock face, providing permanence, security, and an expensive form of burial. Such tombs were typically more secure against disturbance than graves dug in the earth.
• one in which no one had yet been laid (οὗ οὐκ ἦν οὐδεὶς οὔπω κείμενος - hou ouk ēn oudeis oupō keimenos): This phrase is profoundly significant. It emphasizes that this tomb was unused, fresh. This detail is crucial for several reasons: it precludes any claim that another body was involved in the subsequent resurrection, highlights Jesus' unique identity (even in death, His resting place was set apart), and makes the later empty tomb unambiguous as referring solely to Jesus' resurrection. It fulfills prophecy (Isa 53:9), demonstrating that Jesus, though dying among criminals, was buried among the rich.

Luke 23 53 Bonus section

• The immediate action of Joseph reflects the pressing Jewish law to bury bodies before the Sabbath began at sunset (Deut 21:22-23), indicating the rapid succession of events from Jesus' death to His interment.
• The carefulness implied in "took it down" and "wrapped it" emphasizes that Jesus' body was treated with respect, in contrast to the ignominy of the crucifixion itself, and it points to the genuine love and reverence felt by His disciples, even after His death.
• Luke uniquely notes that women who followed Jesus "from Galilee" observed where the body was laid (Luke 23:55). While not directly in verse 53, this detail sets up their return on the third day to the very same tomb, confirming its location and later, its emptiness. This meticulous observation by witnesses strengthens the historical basis for the resurrection.
• The fact that it was Joseph's own new tomb speaks volumes of his generosity and devotion, providing an appropriate final resting place for Jesus without relying on a common criminal's grave.

Luke 23 53 Commentary

Luke 23:53 provides a concise yet potent account of Jesus' burial, largely undertaken by the brave and faithful Joseph of Arimathea. This verse highlights the profound humanity of Jesus’ death—He was truly dead and His body needed proper disposal. Joseph, a secret disciple and a man of high standing, steps out of the shadows at immense personal risk to honor Jesus' body. The act of "taking down," "wrapping in linen," and "placing in a tomb" signifies a respectful and conventional Jewish burial, providing a concrete historical event that solidifies the reality of Jesus' death before His resurrection.

The specific details, like the "linen cloth" (indicative of status and Joseph’s devotion) and the "tomb cut into the rock," attest to a dignified and secure burial. Most importantly, the detail that "no one had yet been laid" in this tomb serves as a critical factual anchor. This uniqueness of the burial place, also noted by the other Gospel writers, removes any ambiguity about whose body was laid there and, subsequently, whose body was missing from it. This foresight protects against future claims that Jesus’ body was simply replaced by another or that there was confusion as to which body rose, thereby bolstering the certainty and distinctiveness of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. It also providentially fulfills the prophecy that He would be with the rich in His death (Isa 53:9). This humble yet significant act of burial is an integral part of the gospel message, the 'was buried' preceding the 'was raised on the third day.'