Matthew 27 51

Matthew 27:51 kjv

And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

Matthew 27:51 nkjv

Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split,

Matthew 27:51 niv

At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split

Matthew 27:51 esv

And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.

Matthew 27:51 nlt

At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart,

Matthew 27 verses

Matthew 27 51 Meaning

At the moment of Jesus' death on the cross, significant cosmic and physical phenomena occurred, highlighting the profound spiritual shift His sacrifice inaugurated. The tearing of the temple veil symbolizes the immediate and direct access to God, once restricted, now made available to all believers through Christ's atoning work. The earthquake and splitting rocks serve as divine attestations to the gravity and universal impact of this sacrificial event, signifying God's direct intervention and judgment, and the profound disturbance of creation witnessing its Creator's final redemptive act.

Matthew 27 51 Context

Matthew 27:51 follows the description of Jesus' crucifixion and His final cry from the cross. The darkness that had covered the land for three hours (Mt 27:45) had just lifted, and Jesus had yielded up His spirit. This verse describes immediate, miraculous occurrences accompanying His death, indicating divine involvement and the profound implications of His sacrifice. Historically and culturally, the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem, especially its inner sanctuary, represented God's dwelling among His people. The veil, or katapetasma, served as a strict barrier separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, where the Ark of the Covenant (and later, empty space) symbolized God's presence. Only the High Priest could enter the Most Holy Place, and only once a year on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), bearing the blood of sacrifice for the sins of the nation. The tearing of this veil challenged the prevailing belief that only a specific person could access God in a specific physical place through prescribed rituals, implying that this restricted, mediated access was now superseded by a new, direct access for all.

Matthew 27 51 Word analysis

• And behold: (Greek: Kai idou) – This phrase frequently introduces a new, significant, and often startling divine action or revelation. It commands immediate attention, signaling something miraculous or deeply symbolic.
• the veil: (Greek: to katapetasma) – Refers specifically to the thick, ornate curtain separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place (Holy of Holies) within the Jerusalem Temple. It was approximately 60 feet high and 30 feet wide, exceptionally thick, preventing access to the divine presence by ordinary means. Symbolically, it represented the separation between a holy God and sinful humanity, and the restrictions of the Old Covenant system for atonement and access to God.
• of the temple: (Greek: tou naou) – Denotes the inner sanctuary or holy edifice of the Temple itself, rather than the broader temple courts (hieros). This specifies that the tearing occurred in the most sacred part of the Jewish worship space.
• was torn: (Greek: eschisthē) – An aorist passive verb, indicating that the action was complete and was performed by an external, divine agent, not by human hands or natural deterioration. This emphasizes God's direct involvement in removing the barrier.
• in two: (Greek: eis duo) – Signifies a complete and definitive tearing, leaving no connection, illustrating the total dismantling of the former separation.
• from top to bottom: (Greek: apo anōthen heōs katō) – Crucially emphasizes the divine origin of the tearing. If it were a human act, it would likely start from the bottom or be cut. This detail underscores that God Himself was performing this act, opening the way from His end, rather than humanity attempting to ascend or gain access by its own efforts. It symbolizes the descent of God's presence and grace, reaching down to humanity.
• and the earth quaked: (Greek: kai hē gē eseisthē) – Earthquakes in the Bible often accompany significant divine appearances, judgments, or momentous events (e.g., God on Sinai, resurrection of Jesus). It signifies God's power, His presence, and His reaction to the momentous event unfolding on the cross. It represents cosmic validation of Jesus' unique identity and completed work.
• and the rocks were split: (Greek: kai hai petrai eschisthēsan) – A specific detail highlighting the intensity and supernatural nature of the earthquake. The tearing apart of solid rock further underscores the unparalleled magnitude of Christ's death and its impact on creation, revealing God's awesome power.
• The veil of the temple was torn: This group of words emphasizes the dramatic, instantaneous, and divine act of abolishing the barrier that separated sinful humanity from the holy presence of God. It directly signifies the end of the Old Covenant's limited access and the inauguration of a new covenant where believers have direct access to God through Christ.
• from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split: These phrases collectively demonstrate that the death of Jesus was not merely a human execution but a divinely ordained, world-altering event. The concurrent natural disturbances signify a cosmic reaction to the profound spiritual change taking place, asserting God's authoritative endorsement of Christ's completed work and the magnitude of the redemption achieved.

Matthew 27 51 Bonus section

The tearing of the veil was profoundly significant to those who knew the Temple's layout and its theological implications. While it occurred in Jerusalem, inside the Temple, it immediately resonated with the Jewish understanding of atonement and God's dwelling. The fact that this dramatic sign was accompanied by an earthquake, affecting the ground beneath everyone, extended its symbolic impact beyond the Temple's walls, declaring the universal ramifications of Jesus' death to both Jew and Gentile. This event directly counteracts any notion that access to God or atonement is found primarily in physical structures or elaborate human rituals, emphasizing the sole sufficiency of Christ's finished work. The physical disintegration of the barrier points to the spiritual breaking down of all forms of hostility and separation that previously divided humanity from God and from one another.

Matthew 27 51 Commentary

Matthew 27:51 marks the divine response to Jesus' atoning death, underscoring its pivotal significance. The tearing of the temple veil from top to bottom is a physical manifestation of a spiritual truth: the ceremonial barrier separating God from humanity has been supernaturally removed by God Himself. This act signifies that the old covenant, with its mediated access to God through priests, sacrifices, and a designated holy place, has been fulfilled and rendered obsolete by Christ's singular, perfect sacrifice. Access to the very presence of God is no longer limited by human lineage, ritual, or a physical structure but is now freely available to all who come through faith in Jesus, who is the "new and living way" (Heb 10:20). The accompanying cosmic disturbances – the earthquake and splitting rocks – validate the divine power and authority inherent in this event. These natural phenomena echo biblical accounts of God's mighty presence (e.g., Sinai) and foreshadow His ultimate judgment. They serve as a divine declaration, confirming the cataclysmic impact of Jesus' death on all creation and establishing the new spiritual reality it ushered in, inviting all to enter into an intimate relationship with God through the Savior.