The Empty Tomb
The tomb where Jesus lay was found empty after his resurrection.
The empty tomb is a central motif in the Christian narrative, referring to the discovery that Jesus' body was no longer in the tomb after his resurrection. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.' This verse emphasizes the absence of Jesus' body and the fulfillment of his prediction. Other passages in the list use the word 'empty' in various contexts—such as empty pits, empty vessels, or empty-handedness—but do not refer to the tomb itself.
Lore & Background
The only direct reference to the empty tomb in the provided passages is Matthew 28:6, which reports the angel's announcement that Jesus is not in the tomb because he has risen. This verse is part of the resurrection account and underscores the physical vacancy of the burial place. Other passages use the word 'empty' in unrelated settings: for example, Genesis 37:24 describes a pit with no water, and Judges 7:16 mentions empty pitchers used by Gideon's men. These do not pertain to the tomb. The empty tomb motif is unique to the resurrection narrative and is not developed elsewhere in the source passages.
Reader's Guide
The source passages portray the empty tomb exclusively through Matthew 28:6, which presents it as a factual, witnessed event. The angel's words 'He is not here' emphasize the tomb's vacancy, while 'for he is risen' provides the theological explanation. The invitation to 'come, see the place' suggests that the empty tomb was a verifiable location. No other passage in the list describes a tomb or burial site being empty, so the motif stands alone in this collection. The word 'empty' appears in many other contexts—such as empty sacks (Genesis 42:35), empty vessels (2 Kings 4:3), and empty-handed departures (Exodus 3:21)—but none relate to a tomb.
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