Bible Dictionary: Arimathaea

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ARIMATHAEA

ar-i-ma-the'-a (Arimathaia): "A city of the Jews," the home of Joseph in whose sepulchre the body of Jesus was laid. Its identity is the subject of much conjecture. The Onomasticon of Eusebius and Jerome identifies it with Ramathaim-Zophim in the hill-country of Ephraim (1 Samuel 11), which is Ramah the birthplace and burial-place of Samuel (1 Samuel 1:19; 1 Samuel 25:1), and places it near Timnah on the borders of Judah and Dan. G. A. Smith thinks it may be the modern Beit Rima, a village on an eminence 2 miles North of Timnah. Others incline to Ramallah, 8 miles North of Jerusalem and 3 miles from Bethel (Matthew 27:57 Mark 15:43 Luke 23:51 John 19:38).

S. F. Hunter

JOSEPH OF ARIMATHAEA

(A Arimathaias; for etymology, etc., of Joseph, see general article on JOSEPH): Joseph of Arimathea-a place the locality of which is doubtful, but lying probably to the Northwest of Jerusalem-was a "rich man" (Matthew 27:57), "a councilor of honorable estate," or member of the Sanhedrin (Mark 15:43 Luke 23:50), "a good and righteous man.... who was looking for the kingdom of God" (Luke 23:50 Mark 15:43), and "himself was Jesus' disciple" (Matthew 27:57 John 19:38). Although he kept his discipleship secret "for fear of the Jews" (John 19:38), he was yet faithful to his allegiance in that he absented himself from the meeting which found Jesus guilty of death (compare Luke 23:51 Mark 14:64). But the condemnation of his Lord awakened the courage and revealed the true faith of Joseph. On the evening after the crucifixion he went "boldly" to Pilate and begged the body of Jesus. There is a fine touch in that he himself took down the body from the cross. With the assistance of Nicodemus he wound it in fine linen with spices (compare Matthew 27:57, Joseph was a "rich man") and brought it to the new sepulcher in the garden near the place of His crucifixion. There they "laid him in a tomb that was hewn in stone, where never man had yet lain" and `rolled a stone against the door of the tomb' (compare Matthew 27:57-60 Mark 15:42-46 Luke 23:50-53 John 19:38-42). In this was held to be the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah 53:9.

The Gospel of Peter, written probably in Syria about the middle of the 2nd century, gives a slightly different account. According to this Joseph, "the friend of Pilate and the Lord," was present at the trial of Jesus, and immediately upon its conclusion besought of Pilate that he might have the body for burial. This was granted, and after the crucifixion the Jews handed the body over to Joseph (compare Hennecke, Neutestamentliche Apokryphen, 27-30). Legends of a later origin record that Joseph was sent by Philip from Gaul to Britain along with 11 other disciples in 63 A.D., and built an oratory at Glastonbury (compare PHILIP, the Apostle), that he brought the Holy Grail to England, and that he freed Ireland from snakes.

C. M. Kerr

Greek

707. Harimathaia -- Arimathea, probably a city near Jer.
... NASB Word Usage Arimathea (4). Arimathaea. Of Hebrew origin (Ramah); Arimathaea
(or Ramah), a place in Palestine -- Arimathaea. see HEBREW Ramah. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/707.htm - 6k

Library

J. The Death and Burial. Ch. 23:44-56
... And behold, a man named Joseph, who was a councillor, a good and righteous man 51
(he had not consented to their counsel and deed), a man of Arimathaea, a city ...
/.../erdman/the gospel of luke an exposition/j the death and burial.htm

The Crucifixion.
... b when even was now come, because it was the Preparation, that is, the day before
the sabbath, ^c behold, ^a there came a rich man from Arimathaea, ^ca city of ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/cxxxiii the crucifixion 4.htm

No Ballot-Box.
... There are sadly too many, who are like Joseph of Arimathaea, disciples, but secretly
for fear. WE WANT NO SECRET VOTES. Say right out which side you are for. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/champness/broken bread/xxxix no ballot-box.htm

Before Annas and the Court of Caiaphas
... Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus were not now to be summoned, but there
were others who might dare to speak in favor of justice. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 75 before annas and.htm

The Burial.
... And after these things, when even was come, there came a rich man from Arimathaea,
named Joseph, a councillor of honorable estate, a disciple of Jesus, but ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barton/his life/the burial.htm

Jesus is Crucified by his Enemies
... Because it was now evening of the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathaea,
an honorable member of the Jewish national council, who was himself looking for ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/jesus is crucified by his.htm

Crucified, Dead and Buried
... And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day
before the sabbath, Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also ...
/.../mark/jesus of nazareth a biography/chapter xv crucified dead and.htm

The Minne-Songs
... or as it is always called in this poem, "the Holy Grail." The Holy Grail was said
to be a vessel of pure emerald, belonging to Joseph of Arimathaea, from which ...
/.../winkworth/christian singers of germany/the minne-songs.htm

The Feast at Simon's House
... her faith and love. Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus offered not their
gift of love to Jesus in His life. With bitter tears they ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 62 the feast at.htm

A Believer's Privilege at Death
... Death does to a believer, as Joseph of Arimathaea did to Christ, it takes
him down from the cross, and gives him a writ of ease. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/2 a believers privilege at.htm

Thesaurus

Arimathaea (4 Occurrences)
...ARIMATHAEA. ar-i-ma-the'-a (Arimathaia): "A city of the Jews," the home of Joseph
in whose sepulchre the body of Jesus was laid. ... SF Hunter. JOSEPH OF ARIMATHAEA. ...
/a/arimathaea.htm - 11k

Arimathea (4 Occurrences)
...ARIMATHAEA. ar-i-ma-the'-a (Arimathaia): "A city of the Jews," the home of Joseph
in whose sepulchre the body of Jesus was laid. ... SF Hunter. JOSEPH OF ARIMATHAEA. ...
/a/arimathea.htm - 12k

Waited (72 Occurrences)
... Mark 15:43 Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for
the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body ...
/w/waited.htm - 26k

Waiting (274 Occurrences)
... Mark 15:43 There came Joseph of Arimathaea, a responsible man in high honour, who
was himself waiting for the kingdom of God; and he went in to Pilate without ...
/w/waiting.htm - 35k

Council (51 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV ASV WBS NAS RSV). Mark 15:43 Joseph of Arimathaea, a prominent council
member who also himself was looking for the Kingdom of God, came. ...
/c/council.htm - 24k

Awaiting (13 Occurrences)
... Mark 15:43 Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable councillor, who also himself was
awaiting the kingdom of God, coming, emboldened himself and went in to Pilate ...
/a/awaiting.htm - 10k

Disciple (38 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Matthew 27:57 When evening had come, a rich man from Arimathaea,
named Joseph, who himself was also Jesus' disciple came. ...
/d/disciple.htm - 22k

Aright (14 Occurrences)

/a/aright.htm - 10k

Request (248 Occurrences)
... Mark 15:43 There came Joseph of Arimathaea, a responsible man in high honour, who
was himself waiting for the kingdom of God; and he went in to Pilate without ...
/r/request.htm - 34k

Jews (287 Occurrences)
... Luke 23:51 (he had not consented to their counsel and deed), from Arimathaea, a
city of the Jews, who was also waiting for the Kingdom of God: (WEB KJV ASV BBE ...
/j/jews.htm - 36k

Bible Concordance

Arimathaea (4 Occurrences)

Matthew 27:57 When evening had come, a rich man from Arimathaea, named Joseph, who himself was also Jesus' disciple came.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY)

Mark 15:43 Joseph of Arimathaea, a prominent council member who also himself was looking for the Kingdom of God, came. He boldly went in to Pilate, and asked for Jesus' body.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY)

Luke 23:51 (he had not consented to their counsel and deed), from Arimathaea, a city of the Jews, who was also waiting for the Kingdom of God:
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY)

John 19:38 After these things, Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked of Pilate that he might take away Jesus' body. Pilate gave him permission. He came therefore and took away his body.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY)

Subtopics

Arimathaea

Related Terms

Arimathea (4 Occurrences)

Waited (72 Occurrences)

Waiting (274 Occurrences)

Council (51 Occurrences)

Awaiting (13 Occurrences)

Disciple (38 Occurrences)

Aright (14 Occurrences)

Request (248 Occurrences)

Jews (287 Occurrences)