The "watch" in Greek is «κουστωδίας» which was a word borrowed from Latin "custodibus" and from which we get the word "custodian".

• The Latin word "custodio" ≈ "monitor, supervise, guard" and is the source of English words such as "custodian", "custody", etc.

After the resurrection, some of the custodians went to tell the chief priests what had happened.

More: Ignorance of agnostic lack of belief

The religious establishment came to Pilate the "day after" the day of "preparation" to make a request to Pilate.

• If the crucifixion were Thursday, this would be the traditional "High Sabbath" (Friday) and not the regular "Sabbath" (Saturday).
• If the crucifixion were Friday , this would be the traditional "High Sabbath" (Saturday) and the regular "Sabbath" (Saturday).

Was it appropriate for the religious establishment to seek a meeting with Pilate on the regular "Sabbath"?

More: Matthew 27:57-66 Pilate, body, tomb, custodians

The religious establishment does not have a good record for being accurate in how they reason and what they say.

They say, "after" "three" "days". Where is the starting point?

Some will try to use these verses to support the church tradition of a Friday crucifixion.

[Abraham seeing the day of Jesus, no prophet from Galilee, etc.]

More: Matthew 27:57-66 Pilate, body, tomb, custodians

The religious elite requests that the "tomb" be made "safe" until the "third" "day". Some who try to defend the church tradition of a Friday crucifixion will use this verse that the "tomb" need only be "secure" "until" the "third" "day".

This assumes that the starting point is the crucifixion and they are asking for a guard until before the end of the "three" "days" and "nights".

More: Matthew 27:57-66 Pilate, body, tomb, custodians

Which makes more sense for a request to Pilate?

• We would like a guard for the tomb from yesterday until the third day from yesterday. Does this request even make sense? That is what is often assumed without thinking through the logic of what one is saying.
• We would like a guard for the tomb from now until the third day from now. This would go beyond the "three" "days" and "three" "nights".

The Greek for "watch" is the word from Latin that is today the English word "custodian".

The "go your way" is the same word used for Jesus telling Satan to "get out of here".

How did Matthew know about this conversation of the religious elite with Pilate?

More: Matthew 27:57-66 Pilate, body, tomb, custodians

The "watch" in Greek is «κουστωδίας» which was a word borrowed from Latin "custodibus" and from which we get the word "custodian".

After the resurrection, some of the custodians went to tell the chief priests what had happened.

The Old English word "wearden" ≈ "watch, guard" and is the second part of the English word "lord" as, originally, "load guarder" or "bread guarder".

More: Matthew 27:57-66 Pilate, body, tomb, custodians

The ancient Greek word "μίλιον" ≈ "mile" is from the Latin word "mille" ≈ "mile" and is the source of the English word "mile" . The Roman mile was 1,000 paces or 5,000 feet. The modern day mile, for various reasons, was standardized at 5,280 feet.

Since the word translated as "compel" is that of "press into service as a messenger", one would apparently need to take the "message" "one" "mile".

The ancient Greek word "ἑν" ≈ "one". The "one" is translated as "a" and placed after the word for "mile". Word order:

• Greek: "mile" "one"
• English: "a" as on "one" "mile".

It appears that smaller numbers were often put before the object counted while larger numbers were often put after the object counted.

More: Matthew 5:41 Walk a mile for a camel

Go with "him" or "it" "two". To what does "two" refer?

The ancient Greek word "δύο" ≈ "two". Here are possible play on words.

• "θεού" ≈ "of god" (genitive) where "θεός" ≈ "god" (nominative)
• "θείου" ≈ "of the gods" (genitive) where "θεῖος" ≈ "godly" (nominative)
• "δέω" ≈ "bind, lack".
• "δύω" ≈ "cause to sink, plunge".

The Latin word "deo" ≈ "god" (dative singular). Yes, Jesus appears to, at times, use Latin play on words in addition to using certain Aramaic words. The Aramaic words appear to help keep the temple spies off track and later theologians, commentators, pastors, etc., off track as well.

However, there is another interesting pair of words five verses earlier in verse 36.

More: Matthew 5:41 Walk a mile for a camel

Of the ten Greek words in this verse, four of the words have corresponding words or play on words in Latin.


Jesus appears to, at times, use Latin play on words in addition to using certain Aramaic words.

More: Matthew 5:41 Walk a mile for a camel