The Meaning of Matthew 27:63 Explained

Matthew 27:63

KJV: Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.

YLT: saying, 'Sir, we have remembered that that deceiver said while yet living, After three days I do rise;

Darby: saying, Sir, we have called to mind that that deceiver said when he was still alive, After three days I arise.

ASV: saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said while he was yet alive, After three days I rise again.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Saying,  Sir,  we remember  that  that  deceiver  said,  while he was yet  alive,  After  three  days  I will rise again. 

What does Matthew 27:63 Mean?

Study Notes

After three days
See, Matthew 16:21 ; Matthew 17:23 ; Matthew 20:19 ; Matthew 26:61 ; Mark 8:31 ; Mark 10:34 ; Luke 9:22 ; Luke 18:33 ; Luke 24:6 ; Luke 24:7 ; John 2:19

Context Summary

Matthew 27:57-66 - The Closed And Guarded Tomb
Fear not to entrust yourself to God in death. If you yield up your spirit and commend it to the Father's hands, He will provide for it and for your body also. He has His Josephs everywhere. He will provide loving hands for the body, which was the shrine and casket of the precious jewel that He bought at so great a cost. Precious in His sight is the death of His saints, Psalms 116:15.
The kings and princes of this world set themselves to guard the sepulcher of the Son of God by sealing-wax and sentries. They might as well have endeavored to restrain the bursting life of spring. Said the King of Terrors to Captain Corruption, "Take care to keep this Man's body fast." But what did this avail, when it had been ordained that he should not stay in Hades, nor even see corruption? Whatever your foes may do against you will not avail, if only you wait patiently for God. See Psalms 40:1-17. [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

Greek Commentary for Matthew 27:63

Sir, we remember [κυριε εμνεστημεν]
This was the next day, on our Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath, the day after the Preparation (Matthew 27:62). Ingressive aorist indicative, we have just recalled. It is objected that the Jewish rulers would know nothing of such a prediction, but in Matthew 12:40 he expressly made it to them. Meyer scouts as unhistorical legend the whole story that Christ definitely foretold his resurrection on the third day. But that is to make legendary much of the Gospels and to limit Jesus to a mere man. The problem remains why the disciples forgot and the Jewish leaders remembered. But that is probably due on the one hand to the overwhelming grief of the disciples coupled with the blighting of all their hopes of a political Messiah in Jesus, and on the other hand to the keen nervous fear of the leaders who dreaded the power of Jesus though dead. They wanted to make sure of their victory and prevent any possible revival of this pernicious heresy. [source]
That deceiver [πλανος]
(πλανος — ekeinos ho planos) they call him, a vagabond wanderer (εκεινος — planos) with a slur in the use of that (ekeinos), a picturesque sidelight on their intense hatred of and fear of Jesus. [source]
that [ekeinos)]
(ekeinos), a picturesque sidelight on their intense hatred of and fear of Jesus. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 27:63

John 7:12 Much murmuring [γογγυσμος πολυς]
This Ionic onomatopoetic word is from γογγυζω — gogguzō for which verb see John 6:41, John 6:61; John 7:32, for secret displeasure (Acts 6:1) or querulous discontent (Philemon 2:14). Among the multitudes “The multitudes” literally, plural here only in John. These different groups were visitors from Galilee and elsewhere and were divided in their opinion of Jesus as the Galileans had already become (John 6:66). A good man Pure in motive. See Mark 10:17.; Romans 5:7 (absolute sense of God). Superior to δικαιος — dikaios Jesus had champions in these scattered groups in the temple courts. Not so, but he leadeth the multitude astray Sharp clash in the crowd. Present active indicative of εκεινος ο πλανος — planaō to go astray (Matthew 18:12.), like our “planets,” to lead others astray (Matthew 24:4, Matthew 24:5, Matthew 24:11, etc.). In the end the rulers will call Jesus “that deceiver” (ekeinos ho planos Matthew 27:63). The Jewish leaders have a following among the crowds as is seen (John 7:31.). [source]
John 7:12 Among the multitudes [εν τοις οχλοις]
“The multitudes” literally, plural here only in John. These different groups were visitors from Galilee and elsewhere and were divided in their opinion of Jesus as the Galileans had already become (John 6:66). A good man Pure in motive. See Mark 10:17.; Romans 5:7 (absolute sense of God). Superior to δικαιος — dikaios Jesus had champions in these scattered groups in the temple courts. Not so, but he leadeth the multitude astray Sharp clash in the crowd. Present active indicative of εκεινος ο πλανος — planaō to go astray (Matthew 18:12.), like our “planets,” to lead others astray (Matthew 24:4, Matthew 24:5, Matthew 24:11, etc.). In the end the rulers will call Jesus “that deceiver” (ekeinos ho planos Matthew 27:63). The Jewish leaders have a following among the crowds as is seen (John 7:31.). [source]
John 7:12 A good man [αγατος]
Pure in motive. See Mark 10:17.; Romans 5:7 (absolute sense of God). Superior to δικαιος — dikaios Jesus had champions in these scattered groups in the temple courts. Not so, but he leadeth the multitude astray Sharp clash in the crowd. Present active indicative of εκεινος ο πλανος — planaō to go astray (Matthew 18:12.), like our “planets,” to lead others astray (Matthew 24:4, Matthew 24:5, Matthew 24:11, etc.). In the end the rulers will call Jesus “that deceiver” (ekeinos ho planos Matthew 27:63). The Jewish leaders have a following among the crowds as is seen (John 7:31.). [source]
John 7:12 Not so, but he leadeth the multitude astray [ου αλλα πλαναι τον οχλον]
Sharp clash in the crowd. Present active indicative of εκεινος ο πλανος — planaō to go astray (Matthew 18:12.), like our “planets,” to lead others astray (Matthew 24:4, Matthew 24:5, Matthew 24:11, etc.). In the end the rulers will call Jesus “that deceiver” (ekeinos ho planos Matthew 27:63). The Jewish leaders have a following among the crowds as is seen (John 7:31.). [source]
2 Corinthians 6:8 By evil report and good report [δυσ]
Play on the words with prefixes ευ — duṡ and πημη — eu̇ and Δυσπημια — phēmē Ευπημια — Dusphēmia is a late word, only here in N.T. ως πλανοι και αλητεις — Euphēmia old and common word, only here in N.T. As deceivers and yet true (ως — hōs planoi kai alētheis). Paul takes up δια — hōs now in place of εν — dia which succeeded και — en Note use of Πλανος — kai in sense of “and yet” (adversative). πλαναω — Planos is late word (Diodorus, Josephus) for wandering, vagabond, impostor (cf. πλανος — planaō to lead astray, used of Christ, John 7:12). In N.T. only here; Matthew 27:63 (of Christ by Pharisees); 2 John 1:7. “In the Clementines St. Paul is expressly described by his adversaries as πλανην — planos and as disseminating deceit (planēn)” (Bernard). Such slander from one‘s enemies is praise. [source]
2 Corinthians 6:8 As deceivers and yet true [ως]
Paul takes up δια — hōs now in place of εν — dia which succeeded και — en Note use of Πλανος — kai in sense of “and yet” (adversative). πλαναω — Planos is late word (Diodorus, Josephus) for wandering, vagabond, impostor (cf. πλανος — planaō to lead astray, used of Christ, John 7:12). In N.T. only here; Matthew 27:63 (of Christ by Pharisees); 2 John 1:7. “In the Clementines St. Paul is expressly described by his adversaries as πλανην — planos and as disseminating deceit Such slander from one‘s enemies is praise. [source]
1 John 1:8 We deceive ourselves [ἑαυτοὺς πλανῶμεν]
Lit., we lead ourselves astray. See on Mark 7:24; see on Matthew 27:63, Matthew 27:64; see on Judges 1:13. Not only do we err, we are responsible for it. The phrase only here in the New Testament. For the verb as applied to deceivers of various kinds, see Matthew 24:4; Revelation 2:20; Revelation 13:14; Revelation 19:20; Revelation 12:9; Revelation 20:3. Compare πλάνοι deceivers(2 John 1:7); πλάνη error(Judges 1:11; 1 John 4:6). [source]
2 John 1:7 Deceivers [πλανοι]
Late adjective (Diodorus, Josephus) meaning wandering, roving (1 Timothy 4:1). As a substantive in N.T. of Jesus (Matthew 27:63), of Paul (2 Corinthians 6:8), and here. See the verb Cf. 1 John 1:8. [source]
Revelation 2:20 To teach and to seduce [διδάσκειν καὶ πλανᾶσθαι]
The best texts read καὶ διδάσκει andshe teacheth and seduceth. So Rev. For seduceth see on err, Mark 12:24, and see on deceiver and error, Matthew 27:63, Matthew 27:64. The word πλανᾶν toseduce is found oftener in Revelation than elsewhere in the New Testament. It never means mere error as such, but fundamental departure from the truth. [source]

What do the individual words in Matthew 27:63 mean?

saying Sir we have remembered how that - deceiver said while living After three days I arise
λέγοντες Κύριε ἐμνήσθημεν ὅτι ἐκεῖνος πλάνος εἶπεν ἔτι ζῶν Μετὰ τρεῖς ἡμέρας ἐγείρομαι

λέγοντες  saying 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
Κύριε  Sir 
Parse: Noun, Vocative Masculine Singular
Root: κύριος  
Sense: he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord.
ἐμνήσθημεν  we  have  remembered 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Passive, 1st Person Plural
Root: μιμνῄσκομαι  
Sense: to remind.
ὅτι  how 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
ἐκεῖνος  that 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἐκεῖνος  
Sense: he, she it, etc.
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
πλάνος  deceiver 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: πλάνος  
Sense: wandering, roving.
εἶπεν  said 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.
ἔτι  while 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ἔτι  
Sense: yet, still.
ζῶν  living 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ζάω  
Sense: to live, breathe, be among the living (not lifeless, not dead).
Μετὰ  After 
Parse: Preposition
Root: μετά  
Sense: with, after, behind.
τρεῖς  three 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Feminine Plural
Root: τρεῖς 
Sense: three.
ἡμέρας  days 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Plural
Root: ἡμέρα  
Sense: the day, used of the natural day, or the interval between sunrise and sunset, as distinguished from and contrasted with the night.
ἐγείρομαι  I  arise 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγείρω  
Sense: to arouse, cause to rise.