Sacred Rest: ταφή (Strong’s G5027: taphē) Points to Messiah’s Victory

Strong’s G5027: A feminine noun referring to burial or the act of burying, particularly significant in the context of Jesus’ death and burial. Its usage in Matthew’s gospel connects prophetic fulfillment with the Messiah’s burial, emphasizing both human dignity and divine purpose.

U- Unveiling the Word

Ταφή carries deep significance in biblical context, representing not just the physical act of burial but the honor and dignity accorded to the dead. In Jewish culture, proper burial was considered a sacred duty and final act of love. The word appears at a crucial moment in Matthew’s gospel regarding the burial of strangers, prophetically connecting to the Messiah’s burial. Early church fathers saw profound significance in this word, noting how it connected the fulfillment of prophecy with Christ’s burial and anticipated resurrection. Today, it reminds us of both the reality of death and the hope of resurrection through the Messiah’s victory over the grave.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: ταφή, taphē, /ta-FAY/
• Detailed Pronunciation: ta (as in “father”) – FAY (as in “day”)
• Part of Speech: Noun

Etymology:

• From root θάπτω (thaptō) meaning “to bury”
• Related to Indo-European *dhembh- meaning “to bury”
• Feminine suffix -η indicating abstract concept or action

D – Defining Meanings

• Burial
• Act of burying
• Place of burial
• Funeral rites

For compound words: Not applicable as this is a simple noun

Translation Options:

• Burial – Most direct translation
• Burial place – Emphasizes location aspect
• Burial rites – Captures ceremonial aspect

E – Exploring Similar Words

• μνημεῖον (mnēmeion) /mnay-MAY-on/ – Tomb or memorial
  See G3419
• θάπτω (thaptō) /THAP-toh/ – To bury
  See G2290
• τάφος (taphos) /TAF-os/ – Tomb or sepulcher
  See G5028

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

As a feminine noun, ταφή exhibits:

• Case: Nominative, Genitive, Dative, Accusative
• Number: Singular and Plural
• Gender: Feminine
• Declension: First declension

Examples of case usage:

• Nominative (ταφή) – subject
• Genitive (ταφῆς) – of burial
• Dative (ταφῇ) – for burial
• Accusative (ταφήν) – direct object

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

Lexical authorities provide rich insights into ταφή’s significance. BDAG emphasizes its connection to both the act and place of burial. Thayer’s notes its usage in contexts of honorable burial practices. LSJ documents its classical usage in funeral customs. Vine’s highlights its significance in prophetic fulfillment regarding Christ’s burial. Strong’s connects it to the concept of burial as a dignified ceremony. Moulton and Milligan cite papyri showing its use in funeral arrangements. LEH discusses its appearance in Septuagint passages dealing with proper burial practices, particularly emphasizing the importance of dignified burial in Jewish culture.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
Matthew 27:7: “So they decided to use the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners.”

Additional References:
This is the only occurrence in the New Testament.

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

Ταφή powerfully connects the prophetic preparations for the Messiah’s burial with the fulfillment in His death and resurrection. Its appearance in the context of providing burial for strangers foreshadows how Jesus would be buried in another’s tomb. The good news shines through as we see how even in death, God’s sovereign plan was at work, preparing for the greatest victory when the grave could not hold our King. This word reminds us that death, though real, is not final for those in the Messiah.

D – Did You Know?

1. The potter’s field purchased for burial became known as the “Field of Blood”
2. The word occurs frequently in ancient Jewish burial contracts
3. It was used in Greek literature to distinguish honorable burial from mere disposal of bodies

Strong’s G5027: A feminine noun referring to burial or the act of burying, particularly significant in the context of Jesus’ death and burial. Its usage in Matthew’s gospel connects prophetic fulfillment with the Messiah’s burial, emphasizing both human dignity and divine purpose.

Part of speech: Noun

Tags: burial, death, resurrection, prophecy, dignity, burial-customs, messiah, tomb, jewish-culture, funeral, hope​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​