μνημεῖον
mnēmeion
grave
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Greek word μνημεῖον (mnēmeion) is a noun that translates to "grave." It is used 41 times in the Bible, indicating its significance in the ancient Greek culture and the biblical narrative. The word is part of the semantic domain of Death & Life, suggesting its connection to the human experience of mortality and the afterlife. In its range of usage, μνημεῖον refers to a physical tomb or burial site, often associated with notable individuals or events. This can include the tombs of biblical figures, such as the women who anointed Jesus' body (Matthew 27:61, Mark 15:47), or the tomb of Lazarus (John 11:38). The word also implies a sense of remembrance and commemoration, as seen in the phrase "tomb of David" (Acts 2:29), where the apostle Peter refers to the grave of the biblical king. The significance of μνημεῖον lies in its connection to the human experience of death and the afterlife. By referencing tombs and burial sites, the word highlights the reality of mortality and the importance of remembering and honoring the deceased. In the biblical context, μνημεῖον often serves as a metaphor for the spiritual significance of death and the hope of resurrection, as seen in Jesus' own resurrection from the tomb (Matthew 28:6, Mark 16:6).
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
41 total occurrences across the text
When he came to the other side, into the country of the Gergesenes, two people possessed by demons met him there, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that nobody could pass that way.
Matthew 23:29“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and decorate the tombs of the righteous,
Matthew 27:52The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised;
Matthew 27:53and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection, they entered into the holy city and appeared to many.
Matthew 27:60and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut out in the rock, and he rolled a great stone against the door of the tomb, and departed.
Matthew 27:60and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut out in the rock, and he rolled a great stone against the door of the tomb, and departed.
Matthew 28:8They departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring his disciples word.
Mark 5:2When he had come out of the boat, immediately a man with an unclean spirit met him out of the tombs.
Mark 15:46He bought a linen cloth, and taking him down, wound him in the linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb which had been cut out of a rock. He rolled a stone against the door of the tomb.
Mark 15:46He bought a linen cloth, and taking him down, wound him in the linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb which had been cut out of a rock. He rolled a stone against the door of the tomb.
Mark 6:29When his disciples heard this, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.
Mark 16:2Very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen.
Mark 16:3They were saying among themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?”
Mark 16:5Entering into the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were amazed.
Mark 16:8They went out, and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had come on them. They said nothing to anyone; for they were afraid.
Luke 11:44Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like hidden graves, and the men who walk over them don’t know it.”
Luke 11:47Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them.
Luke 11:48So you testify and consent to the works of your fathers. For they killed them, and you build their tombs.
Luke 23:55The women, who had come with him out of Galilee, followed after, and saw the tomb, and how his body was laid.
Luke 24:2They found the stone rolled away from the tomb.
Luke 24:9returned from the tomb, and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.
Luke 24:12But Peter got up and ran to the tomb. Stooping and looking in, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he departed to his home, wondering what had happened.
Luke 24:22Also, certain women of our company amazed us, having arrived early at the tomb;
Luke 24:24Some of us went to the tomb, and found it just like the women had said, but they didn’t see him.”
John 5:28Don’t marvel at this, for the hour comes in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice,
John 11:17So when Jesus came, he found that he had been in the tomb four days already.
John 11:31Then the Jews who were with her in the house and were consoling her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying, “She is going to the tomb to weep there.”
John 11:38Jesus therefore, again groaning in himself, came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone lay against it.
John 12:17The multitude therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead was testifying about it.
John 19:41Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden. In the garden was a new tomb in which no man had ever yet been laid.
John 19:42Then because of the Jews’ Preparation Day (for the tomb was near at hand) they laid Jesus there.
John 20:1Now on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene went early, while it was still dark, to the tomb, and saw the stone taken away from the tomb.
John 20:1Now on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene went early, while it was still dark, to the tomb, and saw the stone taken away from the tomb.
John 20:2Therefore she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have laid him!”
John 20:3Therefore Peter and the other disciple went out, and they went toward the tomb.
John 20:4They both ran together. The other disciple outran Peter, and came to the tomb first.
John 20:6Then Simon Peter came, following him, and entered into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying,
John 20:8So then the other disciple who came first to the tomb also entered in, and he saw and believed.
John 20:11But Mary was standing outside at the tomb weeping. So as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb,
John 20:11But Mary was standing outside at the tomb weeping. So as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb,
Acts 13:29When they had fulfilled all things that were written about him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a tomb.