Matthew 27 59

Matthew 27:59 kjv

And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,

Matthew 27:59 nkjv

When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,

Matthew 27:59 niv

Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,

Matthew 27:59 esv

And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud

Matthew 27:59 nlt

Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a long sheet of clean linen cloth.

Matthew 27 verses

Matthew 27 59 Meaning

The verse describes the respectful actions of Joseph of Arimathea immediately following the crucifixion of Jesus. After receiving permission from Pilate to take the body of Jesus, Joseph personally retrieves the deceased Lord from the cross. He then prepares the body for burial by wrapping it in a pristine, costly linen shroud. This act demonstrates profound reverence, courage, and adherence to proper Jewish burial customs, setting the stage for the entombment.

Matthew 27 59 Context

Matthew 27:59 follows immediately after Jesus' death on the cross (27:50) and Pilate granting Joseph's request for Jesus' body (27:58). The Jewish Passover was imminent, and strict Jewish law (Dt 21:23) mandated that bodies, especially of those executed, not remain exposed overnight. This urgency, coupled with the approaching Sabbath, compelled quick action for burial. Historically, Roman practice often left crucified criminals' bodies exposed as a deterrent or tossed them into mass graves, making Joseph's procurement of the body a remarkable exception granted by Pilate. This verse sets the stage for Jesus' proper burial, an act significant both culturally for a dignified end and prophetically for the fulfillment of Isa 53:9 and the historical reality of His death and coming resurrection.

Matthew 27 59 Word analysis

• And when Joseph (καὶ λαβὼν Ἰωσήφ - kai labōn Iōsēph):
  • And (καὶ - kai): A simple conjunction connecting to the previous verse, signaling a direct sequence of events.
  • Joseph (Ἰωσήφ - Iōsēph): Joseph of Arimathea, as identified in Mt 27:57. He was a rich man (Mt 27:57), a secret disciple (Jn 19:38), and a prominent member of the Sanhedrin (Mk 15:43, Lk 23:50-51), who did not consent to their decision against Jesus. His courage in requesting Jesus' body publicly from Pilate, especially for an executed criminal, was significant and risky. His actions fulfill Isaiah's prophecy (Isa 53:9) regarding Jesus' burial with the rich.
• had taken (λαβὼν - labōn):
  • From the verb lambanō, meaning "to take, receive, lay hold of." This participle indicates Joseph's active role in retrieving the body himself, possibly with aid (Jn 19:38, Nicodemus also came). It implies ownership or responsibility after Pilate granted permission.
• the body (τὸ σῶμα - to sōma):
  • Refers to Jesus' physical, deceased corporeal form. The focus on "the body" emphasizes the reality of Jesus' death and underscores the tangibility of what was buried, a crucial point for the historicity of the resurrection.
• he wrapped it (ἐνετύλιξεν αὐτὸ - enetyḷixen auto):
  • He wrapped (ἐνετύλιξεν - enetyḷixen): From entylissō, meaning "to wrap around, enfold, swathe." This verb conveys a deliberate and careful act of preparing the body, consistent with Jewish burial customs which often involved wrapping limbs and the body itself.
  • it (αὐτὸ - auto): Direct object pronoun referring to "the body."
• in a clean linen cloth (σινδόνι καθαρᾷ - sindoni kathara):
  • in a clean (καθαρᾷ - kathara): From katharos, meaning "clean, pure, unstained." This adjective highlights the quality of the linen. The purity signifies reverence and dignity accorded to Jesus, a stark contrast to His gruesome execution. It might also reflect the Jewish purity laws for sacred purposes or burial, ensuring proper observance.
  • linen cloth (σινδόνι - sindoni): From sindōn, referring to fine linen, often used for shrouds or valuable clothing. It was an expensive material, again emphasizing Joseph's status (rich man) and the respectful nature of the burial. This contrasts sharply with the humility and poverty Jesus experienced in His life and crucifixion, yet fits the prophecy of burial with the rich. This same term, sindōn, is found in Mk 14:51 for the young man who fled naked, possibly a deliberate narrative parallel or symbolic link by Mark.

• Words-group Analysis:
  • "And when Joseph had taken the body": This phrase encapsulates Joseph's courageous and prompt action, challenging Roman convention and upholding Jewish law (Dt 21:23). It signals a turning point from the horrific death to the dignified preparation.
  • "he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth": This signifies the careful, respectful, and traditional Jewish burial preparation. The use of "clean linen" highlights reverence, dignity, and wealth, thus fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 53:9 regarding Jesus' burial with the rich. It also prepares the body for its immediate placement in the tomb, underscoring the reality of His physical death.

Matthew 27 59 Bonus section

• The urgency of Joseph's actions is highlighted by the approaching Sabbath and Passover. Jewish law (Dt 21:23) demanded the burial of a crucified body before sunset of the day it was hanged. Had Joseph not intervened, Jesus’ body likely would have remained exposed overnight or been disposed of ignominiously by Roman soldiers.
• The specific mention of "clean linen cloth" (sindon) implies not only reverence but also the high status of Joseph, a wealthy and influential man, who could afford such costly burial preparations. This stands in contrast to Jesus’ humble earthly life.
• The tradition of Joseph of Arimathea as the custodian of the Holy Grail in later legends, while not biblical, underscores the high regard in which his character and actions related to Jesus' body were held in early Christian imagination.
• Joseph's actions paved the way for the historical proof of the resurrection. By providing a tomb and properly preparing the body, the reality of Jesus' death and burial was unequivocally established, making the subsequent discovery of an empty tomb all the more powerful as evidence for His rising.

Matthew 27 59 Commentary

Matthew 27:59 succinctly yet profoundly portrays the critical initial step of Jesus' burial, undertaken by Joseph of Arimathea. This act was one of remarkable courage and piety, given the potential risks of identifying with a condemned criminal. Joseph’s dignified treatment of Jesus' body, contrasted with the ignominious death on the cross, emphasizes the profound respect given to the crucified Lord. The wrapping in "clean linen" signifies the quality of the burial and underscores Joseph’s affluence, directly fulfilling the ancient prophecy of Isaiah 53:9, "with the rich in his death." This detailed, caring preparation also sets the foundation for the later discovery of the empty tomb, as the very "linen cloths" will remain behind as silent witnesses to the resurrection (Jn 20:6-7), thus authenticating the physicality of Jesus' death and the subsequent miraculous event.