As Revised Standard Version intimates, for fear of him comes first in the Greek sentence, while the second element is the verb trembled (translated “was stirred” in 21.10 and “shook” in 27.51). These are the expected reactions to the sudden appearance of a divine being, and both are intended to emphasize the tremendous fear that came over the guards. Some translations will say “the guards were so afraid,” but others will have “… afraid of him,” as in the text.

Guards does not translate the same noun used in 27.65, 66; it is a noun made from the same stem as the verb “kept watch” in 27.36 and “keeping watch” in 27.54.

Became like dead men is perhaps an intended contrast to the “dead man” whose tomb they are guarding. He is alive, but they “lay there as dead men” (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). One vivid expression is “fell to the ground paralyzed with fear like dead men.” It is almost essential in many languages to make it explicit that they fell to the ground, since otherwise it would seem they stood in fear without moving.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .