Mattityahu 28:4

4 And the shomrim (guards) shook for fear of him and became like dead men.

Mattityahu 28:4 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 28:4

And for fear of him the keepers did shake
Though they were soldiers, Roman soldiers and veterans, who had been used to terrible sights in the field of battle; were men of courage, and fearless of danger; and yet were seized with a panic, and every limb of them shook and trembled at the sight of the angel, for fear he was come as an executioner of divine vengeance upon them; who had been concerned in the crucifixion of Christ, had watched him as he hung upon the cross, and now his body in the sepulchre: and even supposing no consciousness of guilt in them, or dread of punishment from him; yet such was the glory and majesty in which he appeared, of which they had never seen the like before, that it had this effect upon them:

and became as dead men:
they turned pale, as dead men, and had scarce any life, or spirit, left in them.

Mattityahu 28:4 In-Context

2 And hinei! a great earthquake had occurred, for a malach Adonoi (an angel of Hashem) descended from Shomayim and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it.

3 And his appearance was like lightning and his garment as white as snow.

4 And the shomrim (guards) shook for fear of him and became like dead men.

5 And the malach, in reply, said to the nashim, Do not be afraid, for I know that you are seeking Yehoshua, who has been hanged on HaEtz.

6 He is not here. To him has come the Techiyas HaMesim, just as he said. Come, see the place where HaAdon was lying.