The Resurrection: Women at the Tomb
Matthew 28:1-10
Matt.28.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Οψε: ADV
- δε: CONJ
- σαββατων: NOUN,gen,pl,n
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- επιφωσκουση: VERB,pres,act,part,dat,sg,f
- εις: PREP
- μιαν: ADJ,acc,sg,f
- σαββατων: NOUN,gen,pl,n
- ηλθεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- Μαριαμ: PROPN,nom,sg,f
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- Μαγδαληνη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- αλλη: ADV
- Μαρια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- θεωρησαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- ταφον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- Mark 16:1-2 (verbal): Mary Magdalene and Mary (the mother of James/‘the other Mary’) go to the tomb; early on the first day of the week they come—close wording and narrative parallel to Matthew’s timing and characters.
- Luke 24:1 (verbal): On the first day of the week at dawn the women (with spices) visit the tomb—parallels Matthew’s setting (dawning/first day) and the motif of women coming to the tomb.
- John 20:1 (verbal): Mary Magdalene comes to the tomb early (while it was still dark) and finds the stone removed—parallels Matthew’s emphasis on Mary Magdalene and the early/dawning timing.
- Matt.27:61 (structural): The same two women (Mary Magdalene and the other Mary) are introduced as watching the tomb after the burial—internal Matthew parallel that prepares their appearance in 28:1.
Alternative generated candidates
- Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the tomb.
- Now toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.
Matt.28.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ιδου: INTJ
- σεισμος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εγενετο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- μεγας·αγγελος: ADJ,nom,sg,m+NOUN,nom,sg,m
- γαρ: CONJ
- κυριου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- καταβας: VERB,aor,act,part,m,sg,nom
- εξ: PREP
- ουρανου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- προσελθων: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,sg,m
- απεκυλισε: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- λιθον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- εκαθητο: VERB,impf,mp,ind,3,sg
- επανω: PREP
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,3,m
Parallels
- Mark 16:4-5 (verbal): The stone is found rolled away and the women see a young man sitting inside the tomb — closely parallels Matthew’s rolled-away stone and the angel seated on it.
- Luke 24:2-4 (structural): The women discover the stone rolled away and encounter angelic figures; parallels the motif of the stone removed and heavenly messengers announcing the resurrection.
- John 20:1,11-13 (verbal): Mary Magdalene finds the stone removed and later sees two angels sitting where Jesus’ body had been, echoing the rolled-away stone and angelic presence in Matthew.
- Matt.27:51-53 (thematic): At Jesus’ death there is an earthquake and tombs are opened; parallels Matthew 28:2’s earthquake as a seismic sign accompanying divine action linked to resurrection.
Alternative generated candidates
- And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat upon it.
- And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat upon it.
Matt.28.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ην: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- δε: CONJ
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- ειδεα: NOUN,nom,pl,n
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,3,m
- ως: CONJ
- αστραπη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- το: ART,nom,sg,n
- ενδυμα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,3,m
- λευκον: ADJ,nom,sg,n
- ως: CONJ
- χιων: NOUN,nom,sg,f
Parallels
- Mark 16:5 (verbal): At the empty tomb a young man/angel is described wearing a white robe, paralleling Matthew’s note of dazzling appearance and white clothing.
- Luke 24:4 (verbal): The women at the tomb encounter two men ‘in dazzling apparel,’ echoing Matthew’s description of a radiant appearance and bright garments.
- Acts 1:10 (thematic): At the Ascension two men in white speak to the disciples; similar angelic presence characterized by white/dazzling clothing.
- Matt.17:2 (verbal): At the Transfiguration Jesus’ face and garments shine and his clothes become ‘white as light,’ closely paralleling the motif of radiance and whiteness.
- Dan.7:9 (allusion): The Ancient of Days is described with garments ‘white as snow,’ providing an Old Testament precedent for divine/angelic whiteness and dazzling appearance.
Alternative generated candidates
- His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.
- His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing was white as snow.
Matt.28.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- απο: PREP
- δε: CONJ
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- φοβου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,3,m
- εσεισθησαν: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,pl
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- τηρουντες: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- εγενηθησαν: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,pl
- ως: CONJ
- νεκροι: ADJ,nom,pl,m
Parallels
- Mark 16:5 (thematic): At the empty tomb the witnesses see a youthful figure and are struck with fear—parallel reaction to a supernatural presence at the resurrection scene.
- Luke 24:4-5 (thematic): The women at the tomb are terrified and bow their faces to the ground when confronted by angels—similar fear-filled response to angelic revelation.
- Matt.17:6 (thematic): At the Transfiguration the disciples fall on their faces and are greatly afraid—comparable bodily collapse and terror in the presence of divine glory.
- Rev.1:17 (verbal): John reports 'I fell at his feet as dead,' echoing the language and motif of falling/being as dead in the face of a heavenly apparition.
- Ezek.1:28 (verbal): Ezekiel falls on his face when seeing a majestic vision of the divine—uses similar wording and depicts the overwhelming effect of a celestial manifestation.
Alternative generated candidates
- And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men.
- And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men.
Matt.28.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- αποκριθεις: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- αγγελος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ειπεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- ταις: ART,dat,pl,f
- γυναιξιν·Μη: NOUN,dat,pl,f
- φοβεισθε: VERB,pres,mp,imp,2,pl
- υμεις: PRON,nom,pl,2
- οιδα: VERB,perf,act,ind,1,sg
- γαρ: CONJ
- οτι: CONJ
- Ιησουν: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- εσταυρωμενον: VERB,perf,pass,ptc,acc,sg,m
- ζητειτε·: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
Parallels
- Mark 16:6 (verbal): Angel speaks to the women at the tomb, tells them 'Do not be alarmed' and identifies Jesus, closely paralleling Matthew's wording and function of the angelic message.
- Luke 24:5-6 (verbal): Men (angels) address the women with a question and then declare that Jesus is risen—parallel in content (response to women seeking Jesus and the announcement about his status) and similar wording.
- John 20:13 (structural): Angels at the tomb question the weeping woman(s) and address the search for Jesus; structurally parallels Matthew's scene of women seeking the crucified Jesus and angelic interaction.
- Luke 2:10 (thematic): Angelic greeting 'Do not be afraid' appears here as a recurrent motif in annunciatory angelic speeches, thematically linking the reassurance given at Jesus' birth to the tomb scene.
Alternative generated candidates
- But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know you seek Jesus who was crucified.
- But the angel answered the women, "Do not be afraid; I know you seek Jesus who was crucified."
Matt.28.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ουκ: PART
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ωδε: ADV
- ηγερθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- γαρ: CONJ
- καθως: CONJ
- ειπεν·δευτε: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg+VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- ιδετε: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,pl
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- τοπον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- οπου: ADV
- εκειτο·: VERB,impf,mid/pass,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Mark 16:6 (verbal): Angel's announcement closely mirrors Matthew: 'He has risen; he is not here,' the same basic wording and proclamation of resurrection.
- Luke 24:6-7 (verbal): The angels say 'He is not here, but has risen' and recall Jesus' own prediction ('as he said'), echoing both the empty-tomb claim and 'as he said' motif.
- John 20:1-9 (thematic): John's account of the empty tomb (including Peter and the beloved disciple entering and seeing the linen cloths) parallels Matthew's emphasis on the tomb being empty and invites inspection of the place where Jesus lay.
- Psalm 16:10 (allusion): The psalm's oracle that God will not abandon His holy one to decay is used in New Testament preaching (e.g., Acts) as a prophetic basis for the resurrection that Matthew announces.
- Matthew 27:59-60 (structural): Matthew's earlier burial narrative (Jesus laid in the new tomb) provides the immediate context for 'come, see the place where he lay,' tying the resurrection scene back to the specific tomb.
Alternative generated candidates
- He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
- He is not here; for he has risen, just as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
Matt.28.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ταχυ: ADV
- πορευθεισαι: VERB,aor,pass,part,nom,pl,f
- ειπατε: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,pl
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,m
- μαθηταις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,3,m
- οτι: CONJ
- Ηγερθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- απο: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- νεκρων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- ιδου: INTJ
- προαγει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- υμας: PRON,acc,pl,2
- εις: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- Γαλιλαιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εκει: ADV
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m,3
- οψεσθε·ιδου: VERB,fut,mid,ind,2,pl
- ειπον: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,m
Parallels
- Mark 16:7 (verbal): Angel instructs the women to ‘go, tell his disciples’ that he is risen and ‘goes before you into Galilee’—very close verbal parallel (Mark adds explicit mention of Peter).
- Matt.26:32 (allusion): Earlier prediction by Jesus: ‘But after I am risen I will go before you into Galilee,’ which Matthew 28:7 recalls and fulfills (structural promise–fulfillment link).
- Luke 24:6–7 (thematic): Angel announces ‘He is not here, but is risen’ and reminds them of Jesus’ words spoken in Galilee; thematically parallels the announcement of the resurrection and the reference to Galilee.
- Matt.28:10 (verbal): Jesus’ own words to the women—‘go tell my brothers to go into Galilee; there they will see me’—repeats and reinforces the same instruction found in 28:7.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you into Galilee; there you will see him.’ Hearken— I have told you.”
- And go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead; and behold, he goes before you into Galilee. There you will see him. Lo, I have told you.
Matt.28.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- απελθουσαι: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,pl,f
- ταχυ: ADV
- απο: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- μνημειου: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- μετα: PREP
- φοβου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- χαρας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- μεγαλης: ADJ,gen,sg,f
- εδραμον: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- απαγγειλαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,m
- μαθηταις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,3,m
Parallels
- Matt.28.7 (quotation): The angel's prior instruction to the women to 'go quickly and tell his disciples' provides the immediate cause for their departing quickly to report the resurrection.
- Mark.16.8 (verbal): Mark uses similar language about the women leaving the tomb 'trembling and astonishment' (fear), though Mark adds that they said nothing to anyone in the earliest manuscripts, a notable narrative difference.
- Luke.24.9-11 (thematic): Luke reports that the women 'returned from the tomb and told all these things to the Eleven and to all the rest,' paralleling Matthew's note that they ran to bring the disciples the news.
- John.20.1-10 (thematic): John describes Mary Magdalene running to tell Peter and the other disciple and then Peter and the other disciple running to the tomb, a closely parallel scene of immediate, urgent reporting after discovering the empty tomb.
Alternative generated candidates
- So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring his disciples word.
- So they departed quickly from the tomb, with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.
Matt.28.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ιδου: INTJ
- Ιησους: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- υπηντησεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- αυταις: PRON,dat,pl,f
- λεγων·Χαιρετε·αι: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- προσελθουσαι: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,pl,f
- εκρατησαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,3,m
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- ποδας: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- προσεκυνησαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
Parallels
- John 20:17 (verbal): Mary Magdalene encounters the risen Jesus and is told 'Do not touch me' (μὴ μὴν ἅπτου), a striking verbal/representational contrast to Matthew's report that the women took hold of his feet and worshiped him.
- Mark 16:9-10 (thematic): Mark likewise reports an appearance of the risen Jesus to Mary Magdalene and her reporting to the disciples—parallel testimony of a first-postresurrection appearance to the women.
- Luke 24:9-11 (thematic): Luke names the women (Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James) who reported the empty tomb and later appearances, paralleling Matthew's emphasis on women as the first witnesses.
- Matt.28:10 (structural): Immediate narrative parallel in which Jesus meets the women, repeats 'Do not be afraid,' and commissions them to tell the disciples—direct continuation of the same appearance scene.
- Philippians 2:10-11 (thematic): Paul's universal language of worship ('every knee should bow') thematically parallels the women's worship of the risen Jesus, underscoring his recognized lordship after the resurrection.
Alternative generated candidates
- And as they were going to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings.” They approached, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.
- And behold, Jesus met them and said, "Rejoice!" And they came and took hold of his feet and worshiped him.
Matt.28.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- τοτε: ADV
- λεγει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- αυταις: PRON,dat,pl,f
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Ιησους·Μη: NOUN,nom,sg,m+PART
- φοβεισθε·υπαγετε: VERB,pres,mp,imp,2,pl+VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- απαγγειλατε: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,pl
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,m
- αδελφοις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- ινα: CONJ
- απελθωσιν: VERB,aor,act,subj,3,pl
- εις: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- Γαλιλαιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- κακει: ADV
- με: PRON,acc,sg,1
- οψονται: VERB,fut,mid,ind,3,pl
Parallels
- Matt.28:7 (structural): The angel earlier instructs the women to tell the disciples to go to Galilee where they will see Jesus; Matt.28:10 repeats and personalizes that commission coming directly from Jesus.
- Mark 16:7 (verbal): Very close verbal parallel: an angelic message telling the women to inform the disciples (and Peter) that Jesus will meet them in Galilee.
- Mark 14:28 (allusion): Earlier prediction by Jesus that after his resurrection he will go before the disciples to Galilee, which Matt.28:10 evokes as the place of the post‑resurrection meeting.
- John 20:17 (thematic): Jesus commissions Mary to tell his 'brothers' something after the resurrection; both verses use the term 'my brothers' and involve a living Lord sending a message through a woman to the disciples.
- Matt.28:16 (structural): Narrative fulfillment: the eleven go to Galilee and see Jesus there, accomplishing the instruction given in Matt.28:10.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”
- Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me."
Now late on the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat upon it.
His appearance was like lightning, and his garments were white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.
He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.
Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he goes before you into Galilee—there you will see him. Lo, I have told you." So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, "Greetings." They came up, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.
Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me."