Pilate said to them, “You have a guard. Go, make it as secure as you can.”
Parallel translations
- KJV Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.
- BSB “You have a guard,” Pilate said. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.”
- ESV Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.”
- NKJV Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how.”
- NASB Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go, make it as secure as you know how.”
- NLT Pilate replied, “Take guards and secure it the best you can.”
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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
Pilate grants them a guard and tells them to secure the tomb as best they can. The authorities take responsibility for the seal.
Overview
Pilate provides soldiers and authorizes the leaders to make the tomb as secure as possible. The official involvement places the resources of Rome behind guarding the grave. Their best human efforts, however, will prove powerless against the resurrection God has appointed.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Matt 27:66So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone.
- Matt 28:11–15Now while they were going, behold, some of the guards came into the city, and told the chief priests all the things that had happened.
- Prov 21:30There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against Yahweh.
- Ps 76:10Surely the wrath of man praises you. The survivors of your wrath are restrained.
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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 27:65 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
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