Mark 15:46 kjv
And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre.
Mark 15:46 nkjv
Then he bought fine linen, took Him down, and wrapped Him in the linen. And he laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock, and rolled a stone against the door of the tomb.
Mark 15:46 niv
So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.
Mark 15:46 esv
And Joseph bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud and laid him in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. And he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.
Mark 15:46 nlt
Joseph bought a long sheet of linen cloth. Then he took Jesus' body down from the cross, wrapped it in the cloth, and laid it in a tomb that had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone in front of the entrance.
Mark 15 46 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mt 27:57 | When evening came, there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who himself was also a disciple of Jesus. | Joseph as a rich, secret disciple |
| Mt 27:59 | And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud. | Parallels Mark's account of wrapping the body |
| Mt 27:60 | and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut out in the rock. And he rolled a large stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away. | Details the tomb's ownership and sealing |
| Lk 23:50 | Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man. | Joseph's character and high position |
| Lk 23:52 | This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. | Joseph's courage in requesting the body |
| Lk 23:53 | 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. | Emphasis on the tomb being new/unused |
| Lk 23:54 | It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. | Urgency for burial before the Sabbath |
| Jn 19:38 | After this, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away His body. | Joseph's identity as a secret disciple who acted boldly |
| Jn 19:39 | Nicodemus, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. | Nicodemus assists with costly spices |
| Jn 19:40 | So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen strips with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. | Mentions Jewish burial customs and use of linen strips and spices |
| Jn 19:41 | Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. | Specific location of the tomb |
| Jn 20:6 | Simon Peter came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he saw the linen wraps lying there... | Mention of the remaining grave clothes (sindon) |
| Isa 53:9 | And they made His grave with the wicked, And with a rich man in His death, Although He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth. | Prophecy of burial with a rich man (fulfilled by Joseph) |
| Psa 16:10 | For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay. | Prophecy of the Messiah's body not seeing decay (Resurrection foreshadowed) |
| Act 2:27 | FOR YOU WILL NOT ABANDON MY SOUL TO HADES, NOR ALLOW YOUR HOLY ONE TO UNDERGO DECAY. | Peter cites Psa 16:10 applying it to Christ |
| Act 13:35 | Therefore He also says in another psalm, ‘YOU WILL NOT ALLOW YOUR HOLY ONE TO UNDERGO DECAY.’ | Paul cites Psa 16:10 applying it to Christ |
| 1 Pet 2:24 | He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. | Refers to Jesus' body and its suffering/purpose |
| Mk 16:3 | They were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?" | Sets up the surprise of the rolled away stone |
| Mk 16:4 | And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was extremely large. | Confirms the size of the stone |
| Lk 7:38 | and stood behind Him at His feet, weeping, and began to wet His feet with her tears and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and reverently kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume. | Prior instances of devoted care for Jesus' body (prefigurement) |
Mark 15 verses
Mark 15 46 Meaning
This verse describes the actions of Joseph of Arimathea immediately following the death of Jesus, emphasizing the care and reverence given to His body in preparation for burial. Joseph secured a linen shroud, took Jesus' body down from the cross, wrapped it, and placed it in a newly carved rock tomb, sealing it with a large stone. This swift and honorable burial highlights both the urgency before the Sabbath and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy regarding the Messiah's death and burial.
Mark 15 46 Context
Mark chapter 15 vividly recounts the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, His suffering, His death, and His immediate burial. This specific verse (15:46) details the actions following Jesus' last breath. The previous verses describe Jesus yielding His spirit, the rending of the temple curtain, and the centurion's confession, confirming Jesus' divine identity even in death.Historically, Roman law permitted the bodies of crucified criminals to remain on the cross or be thrown into common pits, but Jewish law (Deut 21:22-23) required burial before nightfall, especially for those hung on a tree. Given that the Sabbath was approaching at sunset, the burial had to be conducted quickly. Joseph of Arimathea's intervention was crucial, as Pilate's permission was required for a proper burial. The urgency and care in this verse stand in stark contrast to the preceding hours of abuse and public disgrace. The preparation of a rich man's tomb for a condemned criminal fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah 53:9, further emphasizing God's plan at work amidst human cruelty.
Mark 15 46 Word analysis
- He: Refers to Joseph of Arimathea (from the preceding verse, Mark 15:43). Joseph was a respected member of the Jewish council (Sanhedrin), a man of wealth, and a secret disciple of Jesus (Jn 19:38). His act was one of remarkable courage, risking his reputation and position by associating with a crucified man.
- bought: This implies a conscious, intentional action involving a purchase. It signifies Joseph's investment and dedication to the task, obtaining the necessary materials despite the circumstances and time constraints.
- linen cloth (σινδών, sindōn): A type of fine, expensive linen, distinct from poorer materials. Its use indicates a burial of honor and respect, rather than a pauper's hasty burial. The sindon could be a single shroud or a large sheet in which the body was wrapped.
- took Him down: This act implies personal labor and tender care, rather than leaving the body for others or for disposal by authorities. It was a difficult and somber task, removing the body from the gruesome instrument of death.
- wrapped Him in the linen cloth: This was part of the traditional Jewish burial preparation. It signifies an act of piety, reverence, and respect for the deceased, consistent with treating Jesus as more than a common criminal. This also sets the stage for the empty tomb narrative, where the linen cloth is found apart from the body (Jn 20:6-7).
- laid Him in a tomb: This phrase denotes placing the body to rest. The tomb was a private, specific location for the deceased.
- cut out of rock (λαξευτὸς, laxeutos): This Greek term specifically denotes a tomb hewn from natural rock. Such tombs were expensive and typically reserved for the wealthy or influential, reinforcing the fulfillment of Isaiah 53:9 which prophesied that the Messiah would be "with a rich man in His death." Being cut from rock also means it was permanent and impenetrable, designed for lasting rest, not just a temporary grave.
- rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb: A large, circular stone (γοσεν gosen in some Aramaic sources related to
golal, for rolling stone in Hebrew context; in Greek simplylithon megaor "great stone") was customary for sealing tombs, protecting them from desecration, grave robbers, or wild animals. Its weight suggests it would have been nearly impossible for one person to move, emphasizing the finality and security of the burial.
Mark 15 46 Bonus section
The burial scene, described with such specificity across the Gospels, acts as a concrete anchor for the historicity of Jesus' death and resurrection. The presence of Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus (in John's account), both members of the Sanhedrin, adds credibility to the narrative, as they were high-ranking Jewish officials who would have risked everything to give Jesus a proper burial. The unused, new tomb (Lk 23:53, Jn 19:41) is significant: it means there could be no confusion with other bodies, strongly testifying that only one body was placed there and later was found gone, leaving behind the grave cloths. This attention to detail emphasizes the precise circumstances leading up to the empty tomb and Jesus' resurrection. The sindōn (linen cloth) mentioned specifically by Mark and Matthew, contrasting with John's othonia (linen strips or bandages), points to slight variations in terminology but maintains the essence of the burial preparation—a real body, reverently prepared.
Mark 15 46 Commentary
Mark 15:46 is pivotal, transitioning from Jesus' death to the events leading to His resurrection. It portrays an extraordinary act of courage and devotion by Joseph of Arimathea, a man who, despite his high standing and initial fear (Jn 19:38), steps out to give Jesus an honorable burial. This act fulfills Isaiah's prophecy (Isa 53:9), where the Suffering Servant is buried with the rich. The specificity of the "linen cloth" and the "new tomb cut out of rock" highlights the dignity and care afforded to Jesus' body, in stark contrast to His humiliating execution. The speed of the burial before the Sabbath demonstrates obedience to Jewish law but also provides a stark, dramatic setting for the coming Resurrection: a securely sealed, honorable tomb for a King who was proclaimed a criminal. This dignified burial of the Lord's physical body underscores its reality, paving the way for the profound reality of its subsequent absence through resurrection. It establishes the physical reality of Jesus' death and burial as the prerequisite for the resurrection and thus foundational to the Christian faith (1 Cor 15:3-4).