Luke 24 3

Luke 24:3 kjv

And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

Luke 24:3 nkjv

Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

Luke 24:3 niv

but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

Luke 24:3 esv

but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

Luke 24:3 nlt

So they went in, but they didn't find the body of the Lord Jesus.

Luke 24 verses

Luke 24 3 Meaning

Luke 24:3 describes the crucial discovery by the women who came to Jesus' tomb early on the first day of the week. After entering the burial site, they found the tomb empty, as the physical body of the Lord Jesus was not present. This unexpected absence defied their purpose of anointing a deceased body and immediately raised questions, setting the stage for the miraculous revelation of Jesus' resurrection. It signals the transition from mourning to the dawning comprehension of life's triumph over death.

Luke 24 3 Context

Luke 24 begins early on Sunday morning following the crucifixion of Jesus on Friday. A group of women, including Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James (Lk 24:10), proceeded to the tomb to perform a final act of devotion: anointing Jesus' body with spices they had prepared (Lk 23:56). Their intent reveals they fully expected to find a deceased, decaying body. Upon arrival, they discovered the massive stone sealing the tomb had been miraculously rolled away (Lk 24:2), a significant sign itself. The subsequent entry into the tomb, as described in verse 3, directly leads to the central mystery and profound revelation: the absence of the body. Historically, Jewish burial customs involved embalming or anointing the dead body shortly after death and placing it in a tomb, often a carved cave, which would then be sealed. The women's actions align with these traditions. Their discovery of an empty tomb defied all human expectations and customary practices regarding the dead, setting the stage for the angelic announcement of Jesus' resurrection (Lk 24:4-7).

Luke 24 3 Word analysis

• And: (καὶ - kai) Connects this event to the preceding discovery of the rolled-away stone. It emphasizes the direct, logical sequence of their actions after finding the entrance open.
• they: Refers to the specific women mentioned in Luke 23:55-56 and Luke 24:10 (Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and other women). Their identity as initial witnesses is significant because, in that culture, women's testimony was often discounted, yet God chose them to be the first heralds of the resurrection.
• entered in: (εἰσελθοῦσαι - eiselthousai from εἰσέρχομαι - eiserchomai, to go in, enter). This implies a deliberate action. They physically stepped into the tomb, intending to complete their somber duty. Their entry demonstrates a concrete, physical interaction with the burial site, verifying its contents directly.
• and: (καὶ - kai) Links the act of entering with the subsequent finding. It highlights the immediate outcome of their physical investigation.
• found: (εὗρον - heuron from εὑρίσκω - heuriskō, to discover, to come upon, to meet with). This term signifies a definitive, undeniable discovery. It was not a suspicion or an assumption but a verifiable observation. The use of this word implies an objective, empirical finding by the witnesses.
• not: (οὐχ - ouch). This is a strong negative particle in Greek, emphatically denying the presence of what they expected. It underscores the complete absence and unexpected nature of their discovery. It directly counters any idea of a partial presence or a misconception.
• the body: (τὸ σῶμα - to sōma). Sōma refers to the physical, material, corporeal form. The explicit mention of "the body" is crucial. It underscores that what was missing was Jesus' physical, deceased remains. This is fundamental for affirming a literal, physical resurrection, directly countering later Gnostic-like beliefs that the resurrection was merely spiritual or illusory, and immediate ancient theories that His body was stolen or that He didn't truly die.
• of the Lord: (τοῦ Κυρίου - tou Kyriou from Κύριος - Kyrios). Kyrios is a profound title. While it can mean 'master' or 'sir', in the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament), it often translates YHWH, God's personal name. Here, combined with "Jesus," it conveys Jesus' divine authority, sovereign rule, and messianic identity. The title implies that the one whose body was absent was not merely a good man but the divine Lord over all. His resurrection validates this exalted status.
• Jesus: (Ἰησοῦ - Iēsou). The personal, human name of Christ. Its inclusion ensures that the empty tomb refers to the specific individual who was crucified. Combining "Lord" and "Jesus" links His divine sovereignty with His earthly ministry and identity. This union is central to Christian doctrine: the crucified man is the risen Lord.

Words-group analysis

• "And they entered in, and found not...": This sequence of actions and discovery emphasizes the investigative nature of their visit. They didn't just look from afar; they went inside and conducted a search, providing strong testimonial weight to their finding.
• "found not the body": This precise negative statement highlights the physical absence of the corporeal remains. It's not that they found a transformed body, but no body at all. This creates the undeniable proof needed for the resurrection claims. The lack of the body forces a radical rethinking of Jesus' death.
• "the body of the Lord Jesus": This full title affirms the subject of the resurrection. It explicitly states that it was the physical body of the crucified and divine Son of God that was absent. This combination of titles strengthens the identity of the one whose resurrection is attested by the empty tomb.

Luke 24 3 Bonus section

The empty tomb is often referred to as "proof by default." Because there was no body, and no one claimed to have it, and no body was ever produced to counter the Christian proclamation, the most logical conclusion (especially coupled with later appearances) is the resurrection. The fact that the first witnesses were women also subverts cultural norms, lending credibility to the narrative; if fabricating a story, one would typically use more credible (male) witnesses by societal standards. The initial disorientation and fear of the women upon finding the empty tomb further indicate they were not expecting or creating this outcome, reinforcing the genuineness of their shock and discovery. This verse lays the physical groundwork for understanding the later theological implications of Christ's resurrection.

Luke 24 3 Commentary

Luke 24:3 serves as the pivotal point of factual discovery in the resurrection narrative. The women's expectation of finding a deceased body for anointing is radically disrupted by the reality of an empty tomb. This verse, deceptively simple, establishes the essential historical cornerstone of the resurrection: the physical absence of Jesus' body from its burial place. It's the moment when human efforts to care for the dead are confronted by divine action demonstrating victory over death itself. The empty tomb acts as indisputable physical evidence that something extraordinary has occurred. It directly contradicts the common first-century theories of the time concerning a messiah (who would establish an earthly kingdom), by showing that God's plan transcended earthly understanding and expectations. This discovery prepares the women, and subsequently the disciples and all believers, for the radical new reality proclaimed by the angels: "He is not here, but is risen!"