Matthew 27:64
New International Version
So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.”

New Living Translation
So we request that you seal the tomb until the third day. This will prevent his disciples from coming and stealing his body and then telling everyone he was raised from the dead! If that happens, we’ll be worse off than we were at first.”

English Standard Version
Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.”

Berean Standard Bible
So give the order that the tomb be secured until the third day. Otherwise, His disciples may come and steal Him away and tell the people He has risen from the dead. And this last deception would be worse than the first.”

Berean Literal Bible
Therefore command the tomb to be secured until the third day, lest ever His disciples having come, steal Him away and say to the people, 'He is risen from the dead.' And the last deception will be worse than the first."

King James Bible
Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.

New King James Version
Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead.’ So the last deception will be worse than the first.”

New American Standard Bible
Therefore, give orders for the tomb to be made secure until the third day; otherwise, His disciples may come and steal Him, and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.”

NASB 1995
“Therefore, give orders for the grave to be made secure until the third day, otherwise His disciples may come and steal Him away and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.”

NASB 1977
“Therefore, give orders for the grave to be made secure until the third day, lest the disciples come and steal Him away and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Therefore, order for the grave to be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come and steal Him away and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.”

Amplified Bible
Therefore, give orders to have the tomb made secure and safeguarded until the third day, otherwise His disciples may come and steal Him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last deception [the reporting of His resurrection] will be worse than the first [the reporting that He is the Messiah].”

Christian Standard Bible
So give orders that the tomb be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come, steal him, and tell the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Therefore give orders that the tomb be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, His disciples may come, steal Him, and tell the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead.’ Then the last deception will be worse than the first."”

American Standard Version
Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest haply his disciples come and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: and the last error will be worse than the first.

Contemporary English Version
So please order the tomb to be carefully guarded for three days. If you don't, his disciples may come and steal his body. They will tell the people he has been raised to life, and this last lie will be worse than the first one."

English Revised Version
Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest haply his disciples come and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: and the last error will be worse than the first.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Therefore, give the order to make the tomb secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may steal him and say to the people, 'He has been brought back to life.' Then the last deception will be worse than the first."

Good News Translation
Give orders, then, for his tomb to be carefully guarded until the third day, so that his disciples will not be able to go and steal the body, and then tell the people that he was raised from death. This last lie would be even worse than the first one."

International Standard Version
Therefore, order the tomb to be secured until the third day, or his disciples may go and steal him and then tell the people, 'He has been raised from the dead.' Then the last deception would be worse than the first one."

Majority Standard Bible
So give the order that the tomb be secured until the third day. Otherwise, His disciples may come by night and steal Him away and tell the people He has risen from the dead. And this last deception would be worse than the first.”

NET Bible
So give orders to secure the tomb until the third day. Otherwise his disciples may come and steal his body and say to the people, 'He has been raised from the dead,' and the last deception will be worse than the first."

New Heart English Bible
Command therefore that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest perhaps his disciples come and steal him away, and tell the people, 'He is risen from the dead;' and the last deception will be worse than the first."

Webster's Bible Translation
Command therefore that the sepulcher be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say to the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error will be worse than the first.

Weymouth New Testament
So give orders for the sepulchre to be securely guarded till the third day, for fear his disciples should come by night and steal the body, and then tell the people that he has come back to life; and so the last imposture will be more serious than the first."

World English Bible
Command therefore that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest perhaps his disciples come at night and steal him away, and tell the people, ‘He is risen from the dead;’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
command, then, the grave to be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples, having come by night, may steal Him away, and may say to the people, He rose from the dead, and the last deceit will be worse than the first.”

Berean Literal Bible
Therefore command the tomb to be secured until the third day, lest ever His disciples having come, steal Him away and say to the people, 'He is risen from the dead.' And the last deception will be worse than the first."

Young's Literal Translation
command, then, the sepulchre to be made secure till the third day, lest his disciples, having come by night, may steal him away, and may say to the people, He rose from the dead, and the last deceit shall be worse than the first.'

Smith's Literal Translation
Order therefore, the tomb to be rendered secure till the third day, lest his disciples, having come by night, should steal him, and say to the people, He was raised from the dead; and the last error shall be worse than the first.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Command therefore the sepulchre to be guarded until the third day: lest perhaps his disciples come and steal him away, and say to the people: He is risen from the dead; and the last error shall be worse than the first.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Therefore, order the sepulcher to be guarded until the third day, lest perhaps his disciples may come and steal him, and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead.’ And this last error would be worse than the first.”

New American Bible
Give orders, then, that the grave be secured until the third day, lest his disciples come and steal him and say to the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead.’ This last imposture would be worse than the first.”

New Revised Standard Version
Therefore command the tomb to be made secure until the third day; otherwise his disciples may go and steal him away, and tell the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead,’ and the last deception would be worse than the first.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Now, therefore, command that precautions be taken at the tomb for three days. It is probable that his disciples may come and steal him at night, and then say to the people, He has risen from the dead; and the last deception will be worse than the first.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“Command therefore to guard the tomb until the third day, lest his disciples should come and steal it in the night and say to the people that he is risen from the grave, and the last deception be worse than the first.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Therefore, command that the sepulcher be made safe till the third day, lest his disciples come and steal him away, and say to the people, He has risen from the dead; and the last error will be worse than the first.

Godbey New Testament
Command therefore that the tomb be made safe until the third day, lest His disciples having come, may steal Him away, and say to the people, He is risen from the dead: and the last error shall be worse than the first.

Haweis New Testament
Command therefore that the sepulchre be made perfectly secure until the third day, lest his disciples coming by night, steal him, and say to the people, He is risen from the dead, so the last delusion would be worse than the first.

Mace New Testament
pray therefore order a guard to be posted at the sepulchre till the third day, for fear his disciples should come and steal him away, and then tell the people, "he is risen from the dead:" for this last imposture would be of worse consequence than the first.

Weymouth New Testament
So give orders for the sepulchre to be securely guarded till the third day, for fear his disciples should come by night and steal the body, and then tell the people that he has come back to life; and so the last imposture will be more serious than the first."

Worrell New Testament
order, therefore, that the sepulchre be made secure until the third day, lest haply His disciples, coming, should steal Him away, and say to the people, 'He was raised from the dead;' and the last error will be worse than the first."

Worsley New Testament
order therefore the sepulchre to be secured till the third day, least his disciples should come and steal Him away, and tell the people, He is risen from the dead: and so the last error will be worse than the first.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Guards at the Tomb
63“Sir,” they said, “we remember that while He was alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64So give the order that the tomb be secured until the third day. Otherwise, His disciples may come and steal Him away and tell the people He has risen from the dead. And this last deception would be worse than the first.” 65“You have a guard,” Pilate said. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.”…

Cross References
Matthew 28:13-15
and instructed them: “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.’ / If this report reaches the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” / So the guards took the money and did as they were instructed. And this account has been circulated among the Jews to this very day.

John 2:19-21
Jesus answered, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up again.” / “This temple took forty-six years to build,” the Jews replied, “and You are going to raise it up in three days?” / But Jesus was speaking about the temple of His body.

Matthew 12:40
For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Mark 14:58
“We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this man-made temple, and in three days I will build another that is made without hands.’”

Luke 24:46
And He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,

John 10:17-18
The reason the Father loves Me is that I lay down My life in order to take it up again. / No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from My Father.”

Acts 2:24-32
But God raised Him from the dead, releasing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep Him in its grip. / David says about Him: ‘I saw the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. / Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will dwell in hope, ...

Romans 6:4
We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life.

1 Corinthians 15:3-4
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, / that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

John 11:25
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies.

Acts 13:30-37
But God raised Him from the dead, / and for many days He was seen by those who had accompanied Him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now His witnesses to our people. / And now we proclaim to you the good news: What God promised our fathers ...

Psalm 16:10
For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay.

Isaiah 53:9-12
He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in His death, although He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth. / Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush Him and to cause Him to suffer; and when His soul is made a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand. / After the anguish of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities. ...

Hosea 6:2
After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His presence.

Jonah 1:17
Now the LORD had appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of the fish.


Treasury of Scripture

Command therefore that the sepulcher be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say to the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.

and steal.

Matthew 28:13
Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.

so.

Matthew 12:45
Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

Jump to Previous
Body Command Dead Deception Disciples Error Fear First Guarded Night Orders Perhaps Risen Secure Securely Sepulcher Sepulchre Steal Sure Third Tomb Worse
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Body Command Dead Deception Disciples Error Fear First Guarded Night Orders Perhaps Risen Secure Securely Sepulcher Sepulchre Steal Sure Third Tomb Worse
Matthew 27
1. Jesus is delivered bound to Pilate.
3. Judas hangs himself.
19. Pilate, admonished of his wife,
20. and being urged by the multitude, washes his hands, and releases Barabbas.
27. Jesus is mocked and crowned with thorns;
33. crucified;
39. reviled;
50. dies, and is buried;
62. his tomb is sealed and watched.














So give the order
This phrase indicates a command or directive, reflecting the authority of the speaker. In the context of Roman governance, orders were given with the expectation of strict compliance. The Greek word for "order" (κελεύω, keleuō) implies a command that is to be carried out with urgency and precision. This reflects the seriousness with which the chief priests and Pharisees approached the potential threat of Jesus' resurrection claim.

for the tomb to be secured
The securing of the tomb was a measure taken to prevent any tampering. The Greek word for "secured" (ἀσφαλίζω, asphalizō) suggests making something safe or ensuring it is protected against any interference. Historically, Roman guards were known for their discipline and effectiveness, and securing a tomb would involve sealing it and placing guards to prevent any unauthorized access.

until the third day
This time frame is significant because Jesus had prophesied that He would rise on the third day (Matthew 16:21, 17:23, 20:19). The chief priests and Pharisees were aware of this prophecy and sought to prevent any possibility of it being fulfilled, whether by divine or human means. The "third day" is a recurring theme in Scripture, often associated with divine intervention and fulfillment of promises.

Otherwise, His disciples may come
The concern expressed here is that the disciples might attempt to fabricate a resurrection by stealing Jesus' body. This reflects the leaders' understanding of the disciples' devotion and their potential to act out of desperation. The Greek word for "come" (ἐλθόντες, elthontes) implies an approach with intent, highlighting the perceived threat.

and steal Him away
The act of stealing the body would be a direct challenge to the Roman and Jewish authorities. The Greek word for "steal" (κλέπτω, kleptō) indicates a secretive and unlawful act. This fear underscores the leaders' anxiety about maintaining control and preventing any further spread of Jesus' influence.

and tell the people
The leaders were concerned about the message that would be spread among the people. The Greek word for "tell" (εἴπωσιν, eipōsin) suggests proclaiming or declaring something publicly. The potential for the disciples to spread the news of a resurrection would undermine the authority of the religious leaders and could incite unrest among the populace.

‘He has risen from the dead.’
This declaration is central to Christian faith, as the resurrection is the cornerstone of the Gospel message. The Greek phrase "Ἠγέρθη ἀπὸ τῶν νεκρῶν" (ēgerthē apo tōn nekrōn) is a powerful statement of victory over death. The leaders' fear of this message highlights its transformative power and the threat it posed to their control.

This last deception
The leaders refer to the potential resurrection claim as a "deception" (πλάνη, planē), indicating their belief that it would be a falsehood. This term is used to describe a wandering or straying from the truth, reflecting their view of Jesus' ministry as misleading.

will be worse than the first
The "first" deception likely refers to Jesus' claim to be the Messiah and His teachings, which the leaders saw as a threat to their authority. The Greek word for "worse" (χείρων, cheirōn) suggests something more severe or damaging. The leaders feared that a resurrection claim would have an even greater impact, potentially leading to widespread belief in Jesus as the risen Lord, thus challenging their religious and social order.

(64) Until the third day.--The phrase is worth noting as indicating the meaning which the priests attached to the words "after three days." They were looking for the fraud which they anticipated as likely to be attempted at the beginning of the third day from the death.

The last error.--Better, deceit, to connect the word, in English as in the Greek, with the "deceiver" of Matthew 27:63.

Verse 64. - Command therefore. In consideration of the fact which we have stated, and of our apprehension of some imposture. The rulers had no power in themselves to take the measures which they required. Jesus was a state criminal, and they dared not assume the responsibility of guarding his tomb from invasion. Until the third day. Which was all that was necessary, as Christ had promised to rise on that day - neither before nor after it; and if it passed without the predicted event, he would be proved to be an impostor. Come by night (νυκτός). This word is absent from the best manuscripts and from the Vulgate. It seems to have been an early interpolation. And steal him away. A most unlikely hypothesis under the circumstances. The disciples had forsaken Christ while alive, were now hiding in terror, and utterly demoralized and depressed; were they likely to incur further danger for the sake of supporting an assertion, which, unless it proved absolutely true, would only further crush their faith and hope? The rulers seem to have had an uneasy feeling that Jesus might reappear, and they thus prepared themselves to cast discredit upon him, even if, like Lazarus, he rose from the dead. This explanation of the Resurrection has obtained among the Jews from the time of Justin Martyr ('Dial. c. Tryph.,' 17; 108.), and has scarcely yet died out, though in many quarters what is called the "vision-hypothesis" has taken its place (see on Matthew 28:15, and Edersheim, 2, pp. 626, etc.). The people. The Pharisees were always disdainful of the vulgar herd. "This people who knoweth not the Law are cursed" (John 7:49). The last error...the first. "Error" is πλάνη, as they had called Christ πλάνος (ver. 63), so the word here may be taken actively, as meaning "imposture." The deception arising from his death and supposed resurrection would be of graver consequence than that concerned with his previous life. Morison, considering the word to have its usual meaning of "error," regards it as used by the Pharisees in a political sense, in accordance with the governor's standpoint: "If that deceiver's body should be stolen by his disciples, the fickle people will undoubtedly leap back to their old conclusion, that after all he was what he professed to be. This conclusion would be, as we all know, an 'error;' but yet it would be most thin, ions to the interests of Caesar. There would be more political disaffection than ever." It is more simple to say that the first error, the acceptance of Christ's Messianic claims, was not of such decided and far-reaching consequence as would be the belief in his resurrection. They do not, indeed, see all that such belief involves; but they understood enough to know that it would give supernatural importance to all the words and acts of his life.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
So
οὖν (oun)
Conjunction
Strong's 3767: Therefore, then. Apparently a primary word; certainly, or accordingly.

give the order that
κέλευσον (keleuson)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 2753: To command, order, direct, bid. From a primary kello; 'hail'; to incite by word, i.e. Order.

the
τὸν (ton)
Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

tomb
τάφον (taphon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5028: A burial-place, sepulcher, tomb, grave. Masculine from thapto; a grave.

be secured
ἀσφαλισθῆναι (asphalisthēnai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Passive
Strong's 805: To make safe (secure, fast). From asphales; to render secure.

until
ἕως (heōs)
Preposition
Strong's 2193: A conjunction, preposition and adverb of continuance, until.

the
τῆς (tēs)
Article - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

third
τρίτης (tritēs)
Adjective - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 5154: Third. Ordinal from treis; third; neuter a third part, or a third time, thirdly.

day.
ἡμέρας (hēmeras)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 2250: A day, the period from sunrise to sunset.

Otherwise,
μή‿ (mē)
Adverb
Strong's 3361: Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether.

His
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

disciples
μαθηταὶ (mathētai)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3101: A learner, disciple, pupil. From manthano; a learner, i.e. Pupil.

may come
ἐλθόντες (elthontes)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2064: To come, go.

[and] steal Him away
κλέψωσιν (klepsōsin)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2813: To steal. A primary verb; to filch.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

tell
εἴπωσιν (eipōsin)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

the
τῷ (tō)
Article - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

people
λαῷ (laō)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2992: Apparently a primary word; a people.

He has risen
Ἠγέρθη (Ēgerthē)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1453: (a) I wake, arouse, (b) I raise up. Probably akin to the base of agora; to waken, i.e. Rouse.

from
ἀπὸ (apo)
Preposition
Strong's 575: From, away from. A primary particle; 'off, ' i.e. Away, in various senses.

the
τῶν (tōn)
Article - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

dead.
νεκρῶν (nekrōn)
Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3498: (a) adj: dead, lifeless, subject to death, mortal, (b) noun: a dead body, a corpse. From an apparently primary nekus; dead.

And
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

[this]
(hē)
Article - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

last
ἐσχάτη (eschatē)
Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2078: Last, at the last, finally, till the end. A superlative probably from echo; farthest, final.

deception
πλάνη (planē)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4106: Feminine of planos; objectively, fraudulence; subjectively, a straying from orthodoxy or piety.

would be
ἔσται (estai)
Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

worse
χείρων (cheirōn)
Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular - Comparative
Strong's 5501: Worse, more severe. Irregular comparative of kakos; from an obsolete equivalent cheres; more evil or aggravated.

than the
τῆς (tēs)
Article - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

first.”
πρώτης (prōtēs)
Adjective - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 4413: First, before, principal, most important. Contracted superlative of pro; foremost.


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NT Gospels: Matthew 27:64 Command therefore that the tomb be made (Matt. Mat Mt)
Matthew 27:63
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