Matthew 27:56 kjv
Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedees children.
Matthew 27:56 nkjv
among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's sons.
Matthew 27:56 niv
Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee's sons.
Matthew 27:56 esv
among whom were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
Matthew 27:56 nlt
Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of James and Joseph), and the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee.
Matthew 27 56 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Direct Parallels / Women at the Cross | ||
| Mk 15:40 | There were also women looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene... Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joses, and Salome. | Names these women at the cross. |
| 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. | Lists a slightly different group near the cross. |
| Lk 23:49 | And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things. | Mentions unnamed women observing from afar. |
| Women as Witnesses to Burial and Resurrection | ||
| Mt 27:61 | Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there facing the tomb. | Witnesses at the tomb after burial. |
| Mt 28:1 | 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. | First at the tomb on resurrection morning. |
| Mt 28:5-7 | But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen...” | Angels reveal resurrection to these women. |
| Mt 28:9-10 | And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!”... Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee...” | Jesus appears to and commissions them. |
| Mk 16:1-2 | When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. | Prepared spices for burial, went to tomb. |
| Mk 16:5-8 | And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe... He said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen...” | Angel instructs women at the tomb. |
| Lk 24:1-5 | But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared... two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. | Unnamed women find empty tomb, see angels. |
| Lk 24:9-10 | and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and other women with them who told these things to the apostles. | The specific women delivered the news to the disciples. |
| Jn 20:1-2 | Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early... she saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb... | Mary Magdalene discovers the empty tomb. |
| Jn 20:11-18 | But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb... Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). | Mary Magdalene is first to see risen Jesus. |
| Acts 10:40-41 | God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. | General principle of chosen witnesses for resurrection. |
| Women Supporting Jesus' Ministry | ||
| Lk 8:2-3 | Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their own means. | Women supported Jesus financially and with service. |
| Loyalty and Discipleship in Contrast | ||
| Mt 26:56 | Then all the disciples left him and fled. | Contrasts the women's loyalty with male disciples' flight. |
| Ps 38:11 | My friends and companions stand aloof from my affliction, and my kinsmen stand afar off. | Echoes the 'watching from afar' theme during suffering. |
| Mk 14:50 | And they all left him and fled. | Another parallel to disciples abandoning Jesus. |
| Specific Women's Past Involvement | ||
| Mt 20:20-21 | Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. He said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” | The mother of James and John previously sought status for her sons. |
Matthew 27 verses
Matthew 27 56 Meaning
Matthew 27:56 lists three specific women present at the crucifixion, standing with many other women mentioned in the previous verse: Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. Their presence underscores their profound loyalty, courageous faithfulness, and unwavering devotion to Jesus, even as most male disciples had scattered or stood afar off. They serve as key witnesses to the pivotal event of Jesus' death, preceding their crucial role as witnesses to His resurrection.
Matthew 27 56 Context
Matthew 27:56 immediately follows Matthew 27:55, which states, "There were also many women there, looking on from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him." This sets the scene for the verse by establishing that a larger group of women were present and devoted. The larger narrative context is the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. This event is the climax of Jesus' earthly ministry and central to Christian faith, marking the moment of atonement. The inclusion of these specific women highlights their faithful endurance through the deepest suffering and shame associated with crucifixion, in contrast to most of Jesus' male disciples who had fled or denied Him. Historically and culturally, crucifixion was a public, gruesome, and humiliating spectacle. For women to be present, particularly so close to a condemned man, demonstrated exceptional courage and devotion, as their presence would have risked their own reputation and safety.
Matthew 27 56 Word analysis
among whom (ἐν αἷς - en hais): A Greek feminine plural pronoun and prepositional phrase, literally "in whom" or "among these." It directly links this verse back to the "many women" mentioned in the preceding Matthew 27:55. This signifies that these named women were prominent figures within that larger group of faithful followers.
were (ἦσαν - ēsan): The simple past tense form of "to be." It indicates a direct statement of fact about the presence of these women at that moment.
Mary Magdalene (Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνή - Maria hē Magdalēnē): "Magdalene" identifies Mary as coming from Magdala, a town on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. She is a profoundly significant figure in the Gospels, particularly due to her deliverance from seven demons by Jesus (Lk 8:2) and her pivotal role as the first witness to the resurrected Christ (Jn 20:11-18, Mt 28:9-10). Her consistent naming first among the women suggests her preeminent standing among Jesus' female followers.
and Mary the mother of James and Joseph (Μαρία ἡ τοῦ Ἰακώβου καὶ Ἰωσὴφ μήτηρ - Maria hē tou Iakōbou kai Iōsēph mētēr): This Mary is identified in Mark's parallel account (Mk 15:40) as "Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joses." She is distinct from Mary, the mother of Jesus. "James" here is generally understood to be James the Less, a prominent early church figure or even one of Jesus' half-brothers, along with Joseph (Joses). This designation links this Mary to her influential sons, adding weight to her identity.
and the mother of the sons of Zebedee (καὶ ἡ μήτηρ τῶν υἱῶν Ζεβεδαίου - kai hē mētēr tōn huiōn Zebedaiou): While Matthew does not explicitly name her, Mark's Gospel identifies her as Salome (Mk 15:40). She was the mother of James and John, two of Jesus' most intimate apostles, often referred to as "Sons of Thunder." Her previous appearance in Matthew's Gospel involves her ambitious request for her sons to sit at Jesus' right and left in His kingdom (Mt 20:20-21). Her presence here, standing faithfully by the cross, reveals a deep transformation in her understanding of discipleship, moving from earthly ambition to sacrificial devotion.
"Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee": This specific enumeration serves several purposes. Firstly, it lends authenticity and eyewitness credibility to Matthew's narrative, providing specific names rather than generic descriptions. Secondly, it highlights the unwavering and courageous loyalty of these particular women. At a moment when many of Jesus' closest male followers had deserted Him out of fear, these women remained, enduring the horror and shame of the crucifixion. Thirdly, it underscores their integral role as the foundational witnesses to Christ's suffering and ultimately, His resurrection, thus elevating the importance of female discipleship in early Christianity.
Matthew 27 56 Bonus section
- The emphasis on women as the primary witnesses to the crucifixion and subsequently the empty tomb is significant. In Jewish society of that era, women's testimony was often considered less valid in legal settings. The Gospel accounts, by foregrounding these women, elevate their status and underline the veracity of their witness, suggesting divine ordination rather than adherence to human cultural norms.
- The diverse backgrounds implied by these named women (Magdalene with a past of affliction, a Mary likely tied to a lesser-known family of early believers, and the mother of the influential Zebedee sons) suggest that true loyalty to Christ transcends social standing or past struggles.
- These women, through their persistent following and ministry, foreshadow the active and indispensable role of women throughout Christian history in serving and spreading the Gospel, often enduring persecution and scorn where others would not.
- While John's Gospel names Jesus' mother at the cross (Jn 19:25), Matthew does not list her here among this specific group, likely indicating a focus on women who followed Jesus specifically in His Galilean ministry and supported Him. This variation between Gospels is a common feature highlighting the different theological focuses and reporting methods of the Evangelists.
Matthew 27 56 Commentary
Matthew 27:56 serves as a powerful testament to faithful discipleship, portraying three specific women—Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee (traditionally Salome)—who remained loyal to Jesus even at the foot of the cross. Their presence stands in stark contrast to the flight and denial of most of the male apostles. This unwavering dedication demonstrates remarkable courage in a culture where witnessing a crucifixion was public and shameful. These women, who had often ministered to Jesus out of their own means throughout His public life, now continued to minister by their devoted presence in His final agony. Their faithfulness ensured they would also be the first witnesses to His resurrection, becoming the primary heralds of the Gospel. Their example calls believers to steadfastness and loyalty to Christ even in the most challenging and discouraging circumstances, demonstrating that true devotion is often found where least expected and perseveres beyond outward appearances of triumph.