MAT 28:1-10

The Resurrection

1Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawning of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. [28:2] And look — there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat on it. [28:3] His appearance was like lightning and his clothing white as snow. [28:4] And from fear of him the guards were shaken and became as dead men. [28:5] But the angel answered and said to the women, 'Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. [28:6] He is not here, for he has been raised, just as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. [28:7] Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has been raised from the dead. And look — he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.' [28:8] And they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy and ran to report to his disciples. [28:9] And look — Jesus met them and said, 'Rejoice!' And they came and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. [28:10] Then Jesus said to them, 'Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.'

In the world it was spoken into

For a 1st-century Jewish audience, the mention of "late on the Sabbaths" would immediately evoke the end of the weekly day of rest, a time when normal activities resumed. The gradual dawning of the first day of the week, following the Sabbath, marked the beginning of a new cycle. The women's journey to the tomb would have been understood within the customary practices of mourning and tending to the deceased, often involving anointing the body. The sudden, violent earthquake and the appearance of an angel described with lightning-like brilliance and snow-white clothing would have signified a direct, powerful divine intervention, disrupting the natural order. The guards' reaction of profound terror rendering them "as dead men" underscores the overwhelming nature of this supernatural event. The angel's greeting, "Rejoice!" , would have been a common salutation, but in this context, following such a terrifying display, it would have carried a profound, almost jarring, sense of unexpected joy and well-being.

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How other translations render this

MAT 28:1

KJV: In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
BSB: After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.
Koinōnos: Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawning of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.

MAT 28:2

KJV: And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
BSB: Suddenly there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, rolled away the stone, and sat on it.
Koinōnos: And look — there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat on it.

MAT 28:3

KJV: His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
BSB: His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.
Koinōnos: His appearance was like lightning and his clothing white as snow.

MAT 28:4

KJV: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
BSB: The guards trembled in fear of him and became like dead men.
Koinōnos: And from fear of him the guards were shaken and became as dead men.

MAT 28:5

KJV: And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
BSB: But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.
Koinōnos: But the angel answered and said to the women, 'Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.

MAT 28:6

KJV: He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
BSB: He is not here; He has risen, just as He said! Come, see the place where He lay.
Koinōnos: He is not here, for he has been raised, just as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.

MAT 28:7

KJV: And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
BSB: Then go quickly and tell His disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him.’ See, I have told you.”
Koinōnos: Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has been raised from the dead. And look — he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.

MAT 28:8

KJV: And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
BSB: So they hurried away from the tomb in fear and great joy, and ran to tell His disciples.
Koinōnos: And they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy and ran to report to his disciples.

MAT 28:9

KJV: And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
BSB: Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” They came to Him, grasped His feet, and worshiped Him.
Koinōnos: And look — Jesus met them and said, 'Rejoice!' And they came and took hold of his feet and worshiped him.

MAT 28:10

KJV: Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.
BSB: “Do not be afraid,” said Jesus. “Go and tell My brothers to go to Galilee. There they will see Me.”
Koinōnos: Then Jesus said to them, 'Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

MAT 28:1

of [the] Sabbaths:The word translated 'Sabbaths' here is plural, but in this context, it refers to the single Sabbath day, emphasizing its significance as the culmination of the week.
dawning:The term translated 'dawning' describes the very first light appearing in the sky, indicating the earliest possible moment of daybreak.

MAT 28:4

fear:The word translated 'fear' here often carried the sense of panic or terror, suggesting a profound and overwhelming dread rather than simple apprehension.

MAT 28:9

of him:The word translated 'of him' is actually a form of the verb 'to rejoice' or 'to be glad,' indicating that the women were greeting Jesus with joy.