Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - Matthew 27:52

Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - Matthew 27:52 - 27:52

Online Resource Library

Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | Download

Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - Matthew 27:52 - 27:52

(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)

This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
52. τῶν κεκοιμημένων ἁγίων. κοιμᾶσθαι twice in this gospel, here figuratively of death; ch. Mat 28:13, of literal sleep. The figure is quite classical, as ὡς ὁ μὲν αὖθι πεσὼν κοιμήσατο χάλκεον ὕπνον, Il. λ. 241. Cp. the beautiful lines of Moschus, Id. III. 109–111:

ἄμμες δʼ οἱ μεγάλοι καὶ καρτεροί ἢ σοφοὶ ἄνδρες

ὅπποτε πρᾶτα θάνωμες ἀνάκοοι ἐν χθονὶ κοίλᾳ

εὕδομες εὖ μάλα μακρὸν ἀτέρμονα νήγρετον ὕπνον.

and Verg. Æn. VII. 277, ‘et consanguineus leti sopor.’ With Christianity it became the usual word to express the sleep of death, see 1Co 15:6; 1Co 15:18; hence κοιμητήριον (cemetery), the resting-place of the dead.