Hope and Prophecy

What Does 'Today Thou Shalt Be With Me in Paradise' Mean?

This statement by Jesus to the repentant thief on the cross is understood, in light of the rest of Scripture's teaching on death as sleep, as a promise of certain future presence in paradise rather than an immediate arrival that same day, since Jesus Himself did not enter paradise until after His resurrection.

Published 2026-09-13 · Updated 2026-09-27

Written and reviewed by the Word Oasis Editorial Team. Read our editorial policy.

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State of the Dead

Biblical explanation

Jesus told the repentant thief, “Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise” (), a promise of profound grace and assurance to a dying man. Notably, Jesus told Mary Magdalene after His resurrection, three days later, that He had “not yet ascended to my Father” (), indicating He had not yet entered paradise in the sense of heaven's full presence at the time of His own death, making a same-day arrival for the thief unlikely if paradise refers to heaven itself. Ancient Greek manuscripts had no punctuation, allowing this verse to be read as “Verily I say unto thee today, thou shalt be with me in paradise,” emphasizing the immediacy and certainty of the promise rather than specifying the exact day of its fulfillment, consistent with the Bible's broader teaching that the dead await the future resurrection.

In brief

Jesus told the repentant thief, “Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise” (), a promise of profound grace and assurance to a dying man.

Bible references

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Editorial note

This answer is written and reviewed by the Word Oasis Editorial Team, and is presented with supporting references so you can examine each passage in context. If you notice an error or unclear statement, please suggest a correction.