The tombs broke open, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised.
Parallel translations
- WEB The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised;
- KJV And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
- NKJV and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised;
- NASB Also the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised;
- NLT and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Tombs open and many bodies of departed saints are raised. Jesus' death has power over the grave.
Overview
The earthquake at the crucifixion opens tombs, and the bodies of many holy ones who had died are raised to life. This striking sign anticipates the resurrection that Christ secures for His people. It declares that the death of Jesus breaks the power of death itself and guarantees future resurrection for believers.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Isa 26:19Your dead will live; their bodies will rise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in the dust! For your dew is like the dew of the morning, and the earth will bring forth her dead.
- 1 Th 4:14For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.
- John 5:25–29Truly, truly, I tell you, the hour is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
- 1 Cor 15:20But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
- Dan 12:2And many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, but others to shame and everlasting contempt.
- Isa 25:8He will swallow up death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from every face and remove the disgrace of His people from the whole earth. For the LORD has spoken.
- 1 Th 5:10He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him.
- 1 Cor 15:51Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—
- Hos 13:14I will ransom them from the power of Sheol; I will redeem them from Death. Where, O Death, are your plagues? Where, O Sheol, is your sting? Compassion is hidden from My eyes.
- 1 Cor 11:30That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.
- Acts 7:60Falling on his knees, he cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 27:52 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.