προσκυλίω

I roll to

Definition

The verb προσκυλίω means 'to roll to' or 'to roll up against' something. In its two New Testament occurrences, it specifically describes the action of rolling a large stone to the entrance of a tomb. In Matthew 27:60, Joseph of Arimathea rolls (προσκυλίσας) a great stone to the door of the tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Similarly, in Mark 15:46, the same action is described with the same verb. The word emphasizes the deliberate, physical act of sealing a tomb entrance with a heavy, rolled stone.

Biblical Usage

This verb is used only twice in the New Testament, both in the Synoptic Gospels' passion narratives. It appears in identical contexts: describing Joseph of Arimathea's act of securing Jesus' tomb after the burial (Matthew 27:60, Mark 15:46). The usage is purely narrative and descriptive, focusing on a specific, tangible action within the burial customs of the time.

Etymology

Προσκυλίω is a compound verb formed from the preposition πρό (pro), meaning 'before' or 'to,' and the root verb κυλίω (kyliō), which means 'to roll.' Thus, it literally means 'to roll to' or 'to roll toward' something. It is a straightforward descriptive term for a physical action.

Semantic Range

While the word itself describes a simple physical action, its context is profoundly theological. The act of rolling the stone to seal the tomb (Matthew 27:60, Mark 15:46) sets the stage for the resurrection narrative. The sealed tomb becomes the powerful symbol of death's finality, which is then miraculously overcome by Jesus' resurrection. Understanding this action highlights the tangible, historical reality of the burial, making the empty tomb and the rolled-away stone (using a different verb, ἀποκυλίω, in Matthew 28:2) all the more significant as evidence of divine intervention.

In first-century Judea, tombs were often sealed with large, disk-shaped stones rolled in a groove to block the entrance. This was a practical security measure against animals and grave robbers. Προσκυλίω precisely describes this culturally specific action. The modern reader might simply think of 'closing' a tomb, but the Greek term evokes the specific image of a heavy, rolled stone, emphasizing the effort involved and the intended permanence of the seal.

κυλίω (kyliō, G2947) — The simpler root verb meaning 'to roll,' without the directional prefix 'to' or 'against.' ἀποκυλίω (apokyliō, G617) — Means 'to roll away' or 'roll back,' as in the angel rolling the stone from the tomb's entrance (Matthew 28:2).

Word Details

Scripture References