What Did Jesus’ Tomb Look Like?
For over 2,000 years, the followers of Jesus Christ have wondered about the details surrounding his burial after his crucifixion. If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Jesus was buried in a rock-cut tomb owned by a wealthy follower named Joseph of Arimathea.
The tomb was located just outside of Jerusalem and likely had a stone rolled in front to seal the entrance.
In this comprehensive article, we will examine what is known about the tomb where Jesus’ body was laid after his death based on biblical accounts and archaeological evidence. We’ll look at the Jewish burial customs of the time, the description of the tomb given in the gospels, its proposed location, and what archaeologists have uncovered about rock-cut tombs from the era.
Jewish Burial Practices in Jesus’ Time
Type of Tombs
In first-century Judea, the dead were often placed in tombs carved out of rock. These tombs consisted of one or more burial chambers with long niches cut into the sides of the rock to accommodate multiple bodies. The entrance was usually closed with a large stone.
Wealthier families possessed family tombs, while the poor were placed in simple trench graves or pits.
According to archaeological evidence, Jesus’ tomb was likely a rock-cut tomb typical of first-century Judean burial practices. His body would have been wrapped in linen cloths and placed in one of the long niches along the interior walls of the tomb.
The entrance was probably sealed with a disc-shaped stone weighing around 1-2 tons that rolled along a groove, blocking the door.
Treatment of the Body
After a person died, the Jews sought to bury the body before nightfall, often the same day. The dead body was washed and then wrapped tightly in long linen strips called swathes. A mix of myrrh and aloes was placed between the wrappings to help mask the smell of decay.
The arms and legs were also bound in linen strips with the head wrapped separately.
This mummification-like treatment was not intended for preservation, but to temporarily keep the body intact for burial. Once wrapped fully in the linen strips, the body was placed on a slab in a long niche within the tomb.
Jewish law prohibited elaborate preservation techniques like the ancient Egyptians used, which went against their belief in the resurrection of the dead.
Sealing the Tomb
Once the body was placed in the tomb, a flat stone was set against the entrance to seal it closed. The stone could weigh over a ton, which would require several people to move. It rolled along a groove and settled into place like a cork in a bottle.
This blocked the tomb’s entrance and deterred grave robbing and scavenging animals.
On the third day after Jesus’ crucifixion, women followers came to his tomb and found the stone rolled away and Jesus’ body missing, according to the Gospels. Christians believe he rose from the dead. His empty tomb symbolizes resurrection and is a core doctrine of Christianity.
The Biblical Accounts of Jesus’ Tomb
Joseph of Arimathea’s Donation of the Tomb
The Gospels tell us that after Jesus’ crucifixion, a man named Joseph of Arimathea obtained permission from Pilate to take Jesus’ body and place it in a tomb. Joseph was likely a member of the Sanhedrin council, but he had not consented to the council’s actions against Jesus (Luke 23:50-51).
Showing great courage and compassion, Joseph donated his own unused family tomb for Jesus’ burial (Matt. 27:57-60).
The Tomb’s Location and Features
The tomb was located near the crucifixion site outside Jerusalem’s city walls (John 19:20). Based on first-century Jewish burial customs, it was likely hewn out of rock, with a small entrance leading into the main chamber.
The Gospel of John notes that the tomb had never held anyone before Jesus (John 19:41).
Within the main chamber, a raised shelf would hold Jesus’ shrouded body. When visiting the tomb, the women who were present at Jesus’ burial noted the location of his body (Mark 16:5). The entrance may have been sealed with a large stone rolled in front of it, though the type of sealing stone is unclear (Matt 27:60).
Sealing the Tomb After Burial
After placing Jesus there, Joseph and the Jewish authorities sealed the tomb, likely with a heavy cord and wax stamped with a signet ring (Matt 27:66). However, God had other plans. When the women came to administer burial spices they found the tomb’s sealing cord and stone miraculously removed, and Jesus’ body no longer there (Mark 16:4)!
As the angel declared to them, “He is not here, for he has risen!” (Matt. 28:6).
Proposed Locations of Jesus’ Tomb in Jerusalem
The Garden Tomb
The Garden Tomb, located just outside the walls of Old Jerusalem, is one proposed site for the burial and resurrection of Jesus. First suggested in the 19th century, it contains a rock-cut tomb dating to the 8th-7th century BC.
Some features of the Garden Tomb match the Gospel descriptions – its location in a garden with a stone that could be rolled across the entrance. However, most scholars do not believe the Garden Tomb is the actual site of Jesus’ burial, since it is located over half a mile north of the Old City and there are no 1st century tombs nearby.
The Holy Sepulchre
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Christian Quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City is the site most commonly accepted as the location of Jesus’ tomb. Tradition holds that Helena, mother of Constantine, determined this was the site in the 4th century AD.
Archaeologists have confirmed it was outside the 2nd wall of Jerusalem and held a necropolis during the time of Jesus. The church, built on the site, encloses the remains of the burial bed and a tomb cut from rock, matching details from the Gospels.
Most scholars believe it is the authentic tomb, though some Protestants contest the site due to lack of archaeological evidence.
The Talpiot Tomb
In 1980, construction workers discovered an ancient tomb in Talpiot, over 2 miles south of the Old City. Ossuaries with names associated with Jesus’ family led to speculation this could be his family tomb. Defenders claim statistical analysis makes this highly probable.
However, most scholars disagree, noting the commonness of the names and lack of any definite evidence linking the ossuaries to Jesus of Nazareth. While intriguing, the Talpiot Tomb’s connection to Jesus remains speculative at best.
Archaeological Discoveries Related to First Century Jewish Tombs
Rock-Cut Tomb Construction
Archaeological discoveries have revealed much about the construction of rock-cut tombs in first century Jerusalem. These tombs were typically cut into stone hillsides outside the city walls. The tomb entrance would lead down a stairway to a central chamber surrounded by smaller burial niches called loculi and benches called arcosolia.
Burial was temporary, with the bones collected a year later into bone boxes called ossuaries stored in the niches. The tomb entrance could be sealed by a large circular rolling stone similar to the one at Jesus’ tomb.
Rolling Stone Covers
The Gospels describe Jesus’ tomb as being closed off by a large rolling stone (Matthew 27:60). Archaeological findings confirm this was a common feature for wealthy tombs of the time. The circular stone could weigh over a ton and run along a grooved track, sealing the tomb entrance.
Though exactly how the stone was rolled is uncertain, leverage devices may have been used. The immense stone and track effectively protected the tomb from graverobbers.
Burial Niches and Benches
Within the central chamber of rock-cut tombs, smaller hollows called loculi were cut into the walls to receive the initial burials. After a year when the flesh decomposed, families would collect the bones and store them in stone or wooden boxes called ossuaries kept in the loculi.
There were also masonry burial benches called arcosolia cut into the chamber walls that served a similar purpose. A typical tomb would have small tunnels leading to various adjoining chambers and niches.
As a wealthy Jew, Joseph of Arimathea likely owned an elaborate tomb like this for Jesus (Matthew 27:57-60).
Conclusion
While many details about Jesus’ tomb remain shrouded in mystery, the biblical accounts paired with archaeology give us important insights. The tomb was located just outside Jerusalem’s walls per Jewish custom and was carved out of stone with a rolling stone cover.
Jesus was wrapped in linen cloths and placed on a shelf or niche within the tomb, which was then sealed shut. Though we may never know the exact spot, the type of tomb structure reflects burial practices of the time. The tomb itself bears witness to the historicity of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
