Mark 15:47 kjv
And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.
Mark 15:47 nkjv
And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses observed where He was laid.
Mark 15:47 niv
Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid.
Mark 15:47 esv
Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.
Mark 15:47 nlt
Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where Jesus' body was laid.
Mark 15 47 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mt 27:61 | "Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there, facing the tomb." | Confirms same eyewitnesses to burial. |
| Lk 23:55 | "The women who had come with Him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how His body was laid." | Broader group of women witnessing the burial. |
| Mk 15:40-41 | "There were also women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome... they ministered to Him when He was in Galilee." | Identifies the women, their prior devotion. |
| Mt 27:55-56 | "Many women were there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee and ministered to Him, among whom were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee." | Identifies the women as faithful followers. |
| Jn 19:25 | "Standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene." | Women's enduring presence at the cross. |
| Mk 16:1-8 | "When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint Him... And when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away..." | The women return to the tomb, find it empty. |
| Mt 28:1-8 | "Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb." | The women are the first to visit the tomb. |
| Lk 24:1-10 | "On the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away..." | The women discover the empty tomb. |
| Jn 20:1-2 | "Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb." | Mary Magdalene first to realize empty tomb. |
| Jn 20:11-18 | "But Mary stood outside the tomb weeping... She turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus." | Mary Magdalene is the first to see the risen Lord. |
| Mk 15:43-46 | "Joseph of Arimathea... went in boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus... And he bought a linen shroud... and laid Him in a tomb which had been cut out of the rock." | The immediate context of Jesus' burial. |
| Mt 27:57-60 | "Joseph of Arimathea... went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus... And he laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock." | Joseph's role in providing the tomb. |
| Lk 23:50-54 | "Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and righteous man... who had not consented to their decision and action; he was from Arimathea, a town of the Jews, and he was waiting for the kingdom of God... He asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a tomb that was cut out of the rock, where no one had ever lain." | Detailed account of Joseph's actions. |
| Jn 19:38-42 | "Joseph of Arimathea, a disciple of Jesus... asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus... Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes... They took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices..." | Further details on Jesus' burial. |
| Isa 53:9 | "And they made His grave with the wicked, And with a rich man in His death, Although He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth." | Prophecy of burial with the rich fulfilled by Joseph. |
| 1 Cor 15:3-4 | "For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures." | Paul emphasizes the historical burial as crucial. |
| Acts 2:31 | "He foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption." | The burial was temporary, not final. |
| Rom 6:4 | "We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." | Spiritual identification with Christ's burial and resurrection. |
| Col 2:12 | "Having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised Him from the dead." | Believers' identification with burial in baptism. |
| Heb 13:12-13 | "So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through His own blood. Therefore let us go to Him outside the camp and bear the reproach He endured." | Link to Jesus suffering outside the city. |
| Lk 8:2 | "and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out," | Identifies Mary Magdalene's background. |
Mark 15 verses
Mark 15 47 Meaning
This verse states that two devoted followers of Jesus, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses, observed the exact place where Jesus' body was laid after His crucifixion. Their sustained watchfulness provided a vital eyewitness account of His burial site, establishing the foundation for the discovery of the empty tomb and the subsequent resurrection appearances.
Mark 15 47 Context
Mark 15:47 is part of the climactic passion narrative in Mark's Gospel. It immediately follows the account of Jesus' death on the cross and the hasty, yet proper, burial of His body by Joseph of Arimathea. In the verses preceding, Jesus dies, the temple curtain is torn, and a centurion acknowledges His divine identity. Joseph, a respected member of the Jewish Council, courageously requests Jesus' body from Pilate and lays it in a new tomb before the Sabbath begins.
Historically and culturally, Jewish burial customs mandated that bodies be interred quickly, especially before the start of a Sabbath, which was fast approaching on that Friday afternoon. The presence of the women observing the burial served a critical function, verifying the location of the tomb. In a society where women's testimony might not be given legal weight, the Gospels nevertheless highlight their crucial role as eyewitnesses. Their diligent observation countered any future claim that the body was merely lost or that the wrong tomb was later visited, firmly establishing the historical location from which Jesus would rise. The detailed account of the burial also disproves any suggestion that Jesus merely swooned and revived; His death and subsequent burial were definite.
Mark 15 47 Word analysis
- And (Greek: kai - καὶ): A simple conjunction, connecting this observation to the preceding events of Jesus' burial by Joseph. It highlights the seamless flow of events.
- Mary (Greek: Maria - Μαρία): A common Hebrew name (Miriam), appearing prominently in the New Testament. In this verse, the name specifically points to two distinct women vital to the resurrection narrative.
- Magdalene (Greek: hē Magdalēnē - ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ): A qualifier for the first Mary, indicating her origin from Magdala, a town on the Sea of Galilee. Mary Magdalene is identified elsewhere as a prominent follower of Jesus, from whom seven demons had been cast out (Lk 8:2), and she plays a preeminent role as the first witness to the resurrected Christ.
- and (Greek: kai - καὶ): Another conjunction, indicating the presence of a second person.
- Mary (Greek: Maria - Μαρία): The second distinct woman, also named Mary.
- the mother of Joses (Greek: hē Iōsētos - ἡ Ἰωσῆτος): This phrase identifies the second Mary. She is distinct from Mary Magdalene and also from Jesus' mother. She is mentioned in Mark 15:40 as "Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses," signifying her relationship through her children, a common ancient custom for identification. Her connection to "James the younger" suggests she might have been a notable figure among early believers.
- saw (Greek: eblepon - ἔβλεπον): An imperfect indicative verb from blepō, meaning "to see," "to look," or "to observe." The imperfect tense here is crucial: it denotes continuous action or sustained observation. They were not merely glancing; they were "watching carefully" or "kept watching" the entire process of the burial and the placement of the body. This active, ongoing observation validates their testimony.
- where (Greek: pou - ποῦ): An interrogative/relative adverb indicating a specific location or place. It emphasizes the women's focus on the precise site.
- He was laid (Greek: tithetai - τίθεται): This verb, from tithēmi, means "to place," "to put," or "to lay down." While describing a past action (the laying of Jesus' body), it is in the Greek present tense (historic present). The historic present is a common Greek stylistic device that renders past events more vivid, immediate, and impactful to the reader, as if unfolding before their eyes. It highlights the decisive act of Jesus' body being placed in the tomb.
Words-group analysis:
- Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses: The specific naming of these two women underscores their identity as credible and devoted witnesses. Their joint observation adds strength to the eyewitness account, demonstrating shared verification of the tomb's location. These women consistently appear in Mark as faithful followers, providing continuity of witness from the cross to the tomb, and then to the resurrection. Their loyalty is particularly highlighted compared to the male disciples who had mostly fled.
- saw where He was laid: This phrase signifies direct, eyewitness testimony. It negates any ambiguity about the location of Jesus' body or any suggestion that the tomb was later misidentified. The active, careful observation (eblepon) of the specific site (pou) where the body was placed (tithetai) establishes the factual basis for the resurrection account, firmly grounding the event in physical reality.
Mark 15 47 Bonus section
- The fact that women were the primary eyewitnesses to Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection is significant. In ancient Jewish society, women's legal testimony was often not admissible in court. However, the Gospel accounts consistently emphasize their unwavering loyalty and make them the initial, crucial witnesses, thus elevating their spiritual importance and providing undeniable historical evidence for Jesus' passion.
- This verse indirectly challenges early theories or skeptical claims (even nascent ones) that might suggest the disciples did not know where Jesus was buried, or that the wrong tomb was visited. The meticulous detail in the Gospel ensures the historicity of the burial location.
- The narrative here prepares the reader for the radical claim of the empty tomb and resurrection. Without precise knowledge of where Jesus was laid, the impact of His absence would be diminished.
Mark 15 47 Commentary
Mark 15:47 serves as a vital bridge in the Gospel narrative, connecting the crucifixion to the resurrection. It underscores the historical certainty of Jesus' burial by providing crucial eyewitnesses: two women known for their deep devotion and faithfulness to Jesus. Their presence ensures that the exact location of the tomb was known and remembered, setting the stage for the dramatic discovery of the empty tomb on Sunday morning. This careful detailing counters any claims that Jesus' body was stolen, misplaced, or that the resurrection account was based on speculation. The women's consistent loyalty, contrasted with the scattering of male disciples, also highlights their spiritual significance in God's plan.