Luke 23 55

Luke 23:55 kjv

And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.

Luke 23:55 nkjv

And the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after, and they observed the tomb and how His body was laid.

Luke 23:55 niv

The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it.

Luke 23:55 esv

The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid.

Luke 23:55 nlt

As his body was taken away, the women from Galilee followed and saw the tomb where his body was placed.

Luke 23 verses

Luke 23 55 Meaning

Luke 23:55 records the precise observation of a specific group of faithful women, who had journeyed with Jesus from Galilee. These women meticulously followed the burial party and witnessed both the location of Jesus’ tomb and the exact manner in which His body was laid to rest. This act of careful observation serves as crucial eyewitness testimony, establishing a foundational link between Jesus’ death, burial, and the impending discovery of His empty tomb, solidifying the reality of His physical death and placement in the sepulcher.

Luke 23 55 Context

Luke 23:55 is situated at the conclusion of the pivotal events surrounding Jesus' death. Following Jesus' crucifixion, a centurion proclaimed Him as righteous (Lk 23:47), and the crowds departed, beating their breasts (Lk 23:48). Immediately prior to this verse, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the Jewish council and a secret disciple, obtained permission from Pilate to take Jesus' body. He carefully took the body down from the cross, wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a new, rock-hewn tomb that had not yet been used (Lk 23:50-54). This swift burial was necessitated by the impending Sabbath, which commenced at sundown on Friday. Culturally, Jewish law dictated that a body could not remain unburied overnight, especially not into the Sabbath, to maintain ceremonial purity and respect for the dead. The verse functions as a critical bridge between Jesus' death and the subsequent resurrection account, confirming the exact placement of the body and setting the stage for the women's return to the tomb on Sunday morning.

Luke 23 55 Word analysis

• The women (Greek: αἱ γυναῖκες - hai gynaikes): Specifically refers to the group of faithful female followers of Jesus, many of whom are consistently identified throughout His ministry and at key events (Lk 8:1-3). Their identity is significant as primary witnesses.
• who had come with Him from Galilee (Greek: αἱ συνελθοῦσαι αὐτῷ ἐκ τῆς Γαλιλαίας - hai synelthousai autō ek tēs Galilaias): This phrase emphasizes their sustained loyalty and long-standing discipleship from the beginning of Jesus' public ministry. It validates their testimony by establishing them as established followers, not casual onlookers.
• followed after (Greek: παρακολουθήσασαι - parakolouthēsasai): Implies not merely physical pursuit but careful, attentive observation. They intentionally positioned themselves to witness the events, demonstrating their dedication and courageous commitment in a moment of great grief and potential danger.
• and they saw (Greek: ἐθεάσαντο - etheasanto): A strong verb indicating deliberate, scrutinizing observation. It signifies more than a passing glance, conveying that they attentively fixed their gaze upon the scene, meticulously noting details for accurate recollection. This underscores their role as credible eyewitnesses.
• the tomb (Greek: τὸ μνημεῖον - to mnēmeion): The sepulchre, specifically identified as a new, rock-hewn tomb belonging to Joseph of Arimathea (Lk 23:53). Their observation of the exact location was critical for their return.
• and how (Greek: καὶ πῶς - kai pōs): This conjunction and adverb emphasize their observation extended to the method or manner of the burial, not just the fact of it. This detail is important for confirming the integrity of the burial process.
• His body (Greek: τὸ σῶμα αὐτοῦ - to sōma autou): Explicitly refers to the physical corpse of Jesus. Luke, consistent with other Gospels, emphasizes the physical reality of Jesus’ death and burial as foundational to the bodily resurrection.
• was laid (Greek: ἐτέθη - etethē): A passive verb indicating the action was performed by others (Joseph of Arimathea, possibly Nicodemus). It implies the careful placement of the body within the tomb, observing general Jewish burial customs, though perhaps hastily due to the approaching Sabbath.

Word Group Analysis:

• "The women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after": This highlights their profound loyalty and active participation in Jesus' life and death. They were not distant observers but deeply committed disciples who stayed close even when male disciples had mostly scattered, providing critical continuity of witness.
• "and they saw the tomb and how His body was laid": This phrase emphasizes the precision and detail of their observation. They knew the exact location of the tomb and observed the manner of burial. This critical information ensured they would return to the correct place and would be able to confirm the state of the tomb on the morning of the resurrection, thus counteracting any claims of the wrong tomb being visited or the body having been disturbed in an unknown manner.

Luke 23 55 Bonus section

• The Power of Witnessing: This verse implicitly upholds the biblical principle of testimony, specifically emphasizing careful, firsthand observation. The women's direct witnessing provides incontrovertible proof regarding the initial state of the tomb before the resurrection.
• Jewish Custom and the Sabbath: The urgency of Jesus' burial, as detailed in the preceding verses, and the women's action here, clearly reflect the observance of Jewish burial customs before the Sabbath (sunset Friday). The "how" His body was laid suggests a quick but respectful placement, leading directly to their intent to complete the full anointing rites after the Sabbath, as mentioned in Lk 23:56 and Lk 24:1.
• Reversal of Societal Norms: In ancient Jewish society, women’s testimony was often not considered legally valid in court. However, the Gospel accounts consistently feature these faithful women as the primary eyewitnesses to the crucifixion, burial, empty tomb, and the first to announce the resurrection. This highlights God’s choice to use those often marginalized by society to bear the most significant message in human history.

Luke 23 55 Commentary

Luke 23:55 functions as a vital anchor point in the resurrection narrative. It affirms the undeniable reality of Jesus’ death and physical burial through the reliable testimony of devoted eyewitnesses. These women, long-term followers from Galilee, exhibit remarkable steadfastness by closely attending Jesus' burial even as others fled. Their careful observation of the tomb's precise location and the manner in which Jesus' body was interred served a critical purpose: it eliminated any future doubt about where Jesus was laid to rest, or whether the body found (or rather, not found) belonged to the correct individual. Their immediate plan to return after the Sabbath (Lk 23:56) underscores the depth of their devotion and their role as the first, highly credible witnesses to the empty tomb and, subsequently, the resurrection. This meticulous detail grounds the resurrection in historical fact, paving the way for the profound theological implications of the empty tomb and Jesus' triumph over death.