The Meaning of Matthew 27:53 Explained

Matthew 27:53

KJV: And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

YLT: and having come forth out of the tombs after his rising, they went into the holy city, and appeared to many.

Darby: and going out of the tombs after his arising, entered into the holy city and appeared unto many.

ASV: and coming forth out of the tombs after his resurrection they entered into the holy city and appeared unto many.

What is the context of Matthew 27:53?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  came  out of  the graves  after  his  resurrection,  and went  into  the holy  city,  and  appeared  unto many. 

What does Matthew 27:53 Mean?

Context Summary

Matthew 27:45-56 - The Broken Heart And The Rent Veil
With hushed hearts we stand in the presence of "that sight." It is the tragedy of time; the one supreme act of self-surrender; the unique unapproachable sacrifice and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world. It is here that myriads of sin-sick, terror-stricken souls, in every century, have found refuge. It is here that martyrs have been made strong to endure. It is here that Jacob's ladder rested, in the lower places of the earth, for He that ascended is the same also that first "descended into the lower parts of the earth." He became "obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross. Wherefore"¦." See Philippians 2:8.
The centurion had seen other crucified ones die, but never one like this. He recognized the superhuman elements of the scene. But for us, the emotions of this hour are not those of wonder, but of loving gratitude and faith. He "loved me" He "gave Himself up for me," Galatians 2:20. [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in Matthew 27:53 mean?

and having gone forth out of the tombs after the resurrection of Him they entered into holy city appeared to many
καὶ ἐξελθόντες ἐκ τῶν μνημείων μετὰ τὴν ἔγερσιν αὐτοῦ εἰσῆλθον εἰς ἁγίαν πόλιν ἐνεφανίσθησαν πολλοῖς

ἐξελθόντες  having  gone  forth 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἐξέρχομαι 
Sense: to go or come forth of.
ἐκ  out  of 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ἐκ 
Sense: out of, from, by, away from.
μνημείων  tombs 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Neuter Plural
Root: μνημεῖον  
Sense: any visible object for preserving or recalling the memory of any person or thing.
μετὰ  after 
Parse: Preposition
Root: μετά  
Sense: with, after, behind.
ἔγερσιν  resurrection 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ἔγερσις  
Sense: a rousing, excitation.
αὐτοῦ  of  Him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
εἰσῆλθον  they  entered 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: εἰσέρχομαι  
Sense: to go out or come in: to enter.
εἰς  into 
Parse: Preposition
Root: εἰς  
Sense: into, unto, to, towards, for, among.
ἁγίαν  holy 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ἅγιος  
Sense: most holy thing, a saint.
πόλιν  city 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: πόλις  
Sense: a city.
ἐνεφανίσθησαν  appeared 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἐμφανίζω  
Sense: to manifest, exhibit to view.
πολλοῖς  to  many 
Parse: Adjective, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: πολύς  
Sense: many, much, large.