Lexical Summary asphalizó: To secure, to make safe, to fasten Original Word: ἀσφαλίζω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance make fast, secure. From asphales; to render secure -- make fast (sure). see GREEK asphales HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 805 asphalízō – properly, make safe (fast); used of securely fixing a prisoner's feet in wooden stocks (Ac 16:24). See 804 (asphalēs). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom asphalés Definition to make firm, secure NASB Translation fastened (1), made...secure (1), made secure (1), make...secure (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 805: ἀσφαλίζωἀσφαλίζω: 1 aorist passive infinitive ἀσφαλισθῆναι; 1 aorist middle ἠσφαλισάμην; (ἀσφαλής); especially frequent from Polybius down; "to make firm: to make secure against harm; passive to be made secure": Matthew 27:64 (ὁ τάφος) (Buttmann, 52 (46)); middle, properly, to make secure for oneself or for one's own advantage (often in Polybius): Matthew 27:65f; to make fast τούς πόδας εἰς τό ξύλον, Acts 16:24 (Winers Grammar, § 66, 2 d.; Buttmann, § 147, 8). Topical Lexicon Semantic Range and Core Idea ἀσφαλίζω expresses the act of making something secure, safe, or guaranteed against interference. In the New Testament it describes deliberate human efforts—military, judicial, or custodial—to prevent escape, tampering, or deception. The term therefore speaks to physical security while at the same time inviting reflection on God’s ultimate sovereignty over what humans attempt to lock down. Occurrences in Scripture 1. Matthew 27:64 – The chief priests and Pharisees petition Pilate: “So give the order that the tomb be secured until the third day…”. Historical Background • Roman military practice: Sealing and guarding burial sites or prison cells reflected Roman administrative precision. A seal bore official authority; breaking it invited severe penalties. Theological Significance • Proof of the Resurrection. The triple use of ἀσφαλίζω in Matthew accentuates the futility of human resistance to God’s plan. The very measures meant to disprove resurrection became part of the divine evidence trail: the sealed, guarded tomb was found empty (Matthew 28:11–15). Ministry and Pastoral Implications • Proclamation: Preaching on Matthew 27 highlights the historicity of the resurrection and answers skeptical claims; the stronger the human precautions, the stronger the evidential value of the empty tomb. Related Biblical Concepts • Seals and authority: Compare Daniel 6:17 (the lions’ den sealed with the king’s signet) and Revelation 5:1–9 (the sealed scroll opened by the Lamb). Summary Strong’s Greek 805 portrays determined human efforts to lock down tombs and prisoners. Scripture uses these moments to display the triumph of God’s redemptive power: the sealed tomb could not hold Jesus, and the secured prison could not silence His servants. Human security measures, however formidable, serve ultimately to magnify divine deliverance and to assure believers of an unshakable hope. Forms and Transliterations ασφαλιζέσθωσαν ασφαλισασθε ασφαλίσασθε ἀσφαλίσασθε ασφαλισθηναι ασφαλισθήναι ἀσφαλισθῆναι ασφαλτοπίσση άσφαλτος ασφάλτου ασφάλτω ασφαλτώσεις ησφαλισάμην ησφαλισαντο ησφαλίσαντο ἠσφαλίσαντο ησφαλισατο ησφαλίσατο ἠσφαλίσατο asphalisasthe asphalísasthe asphalisthenai asphalisthênai asphalisthēnai asphalisthē̂nai esphalisanto esphalísanto ēsphalisanto ēsphalísanto esphalisato esphalísato ēsphalisato ēsphalísatoLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 27:64 V-ANPGRK: κέλευσον οὖν ἀσφαλισθῆναι τὸν τάφον NAS: for the grave to be made secure until KJV: that the sepulchre be made sure until INT: Command therefore to be secured the tomb Matthew 27:65 V-AMM-2P Matthew 27:66 V-AIM-3P Acts 16:24 V-AIM-3S Strong's Greek 805 |
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