Matthew 28 9

Matthew 28:9 kjv

And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.

Matthew 28:9 nkjv

And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, "Rejoice!" So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him.

Matthew 28:9 niv

Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.

Matthew 28:9 esv

And behold, Jesus met them and said, "Greetings!" And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him.

Matthew 28:9 nlt

And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him.

Matthew 28 verses

Matthew 28 9 Meaning

Matthew 28:9 describes the initial appearance of the resurrected Jesus to the two Marys (Mary Magdalene and the other Mary) as they departed from the empty tomb, obediently going to inform His disciples. In this pivotal encounter, Jesus greets them with "All hail" or "Rejoice," allowing them to physically grasp His feet, an action confirming His bodily resurrection and their profound worship of Him. This verse is the first post-resurrection appearance recorded in Matthew's Gospel, confirming the angelic proclamation and providing immediate, tangible evidence of Christ's triumph over death to His earliest human witnesses.

Matthew 28 9 Context

Matthew 28:9 unfolds immediately after the women, Mary Magdalene and the "other Mary," have visited Jesus' tomb on the first day of the week, finding it empty. An angel of the Lord had descended, rolled back the stone, and declared Jesus' resurrection, commanding them to tell His disciples that Jesus would meet them in Galilee. The women are depicted as departing the tomb with "fear and great joy" (Mt 28:8) to fulfill this instruction. This verse describes Jesus' first appearance in Matthew’s account following His resurrection, not in a controlled setting, but as the women are actively obeying the divine mandate. In a culture where women's testimony held less legal weight, Matthew uniquely emphasizes their crucial role as the primary human witnesses to both the empty tomb and the risen Christ. This setting establishes the authority of the resurrection message and the beginning of its global dissemination.

Matthew 28 9 Word analysis

• And as they went: Marks the immediate sequence of events following the angelic announcement. "They" refers to the two Marys (Mary Magdalene and the other Mary), highlighting their swift obedience to the angel's instruction.

• to tell his disciples: Their purpose and mission, directly in response to the heavenly directive given by the angel at the tomb (Mt 28:7). This act signifies the commencement of the spreading of the resurrection news.

• behold (Greek: idou - ἰδοὺ): An interjection used frequently in the Gospels, acting as an exclamation to draw attention to something unexpected, significant, or divinely initiated. It signals a dramatic and crucial moment in the narrative.

• Jesus met them: Signifies Jesus’ initiative in revealing Himself. This is a deliberate, personal encounter that validates the angelic message and provides a direct, unmediated witness to His resurrection.

• saying, All hail (Greek: chairete - χαίρετε): A common Greek greeting, but here laden with profound theological significance. It translates literally as "Rejoice!" and fits perfectly with the "great joy" mentioned in Mt 28:8. It transforms the "fear" into joy and announces the triumphant reality of the resurrection, replacing sorrow with victory.

• And they came: Their movement towards Jesus, an immediate and responsive approach upon recognizing Him.

• and held him by the feet (Greek: ekratēsan autou tous podas - ἐκράτησαν αὐτοῦ τοὺς πόδας): "Held" (ekratēsan) implies a firm grasp, not just a casual touch.

  • Verification: This physical act is crucial proof of Jesus' bodily resurrection, demonstrating He was not a phantom or spirit, but truly physically alive. It counters any Gnostic-like (or docetic) belief that His body was not real.
  • Reverence and submission: Holding someone by the feet or falling at their feet was a common posture of supplication, reverence, or intense devotion in the ancient Near East, often indicating submission to a superior or divine being.

• and worshiped him (Greek: prosekynēsan autō - προσεκύνησαν αὐτῷ):

  • Proskyneō means "to prostrate oneself," "to do homage," or "to worship." This is a deep act of adoration.
  • Divine Recognition: This action explicitly identifies Jesus as worthy of divine worship, a tribute typically reserved for God alone. It solidifies the women’s immediate understanding of Jesus' deity, particularly in light of His victory over death.
  • Fulfillment: Throughout Matthew's Gospel, various individuals worship Jesus (Magi in Mt 2:11, leper in Mt 8:2, ruler in Mt 9:18, disciples in Mt 14:33, Canaanite woman in Mt 15:25), often implying His unique status or deity. Here, after the resurrection, it is the ultimate affirmation.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them": Highlights divine intervention disrupting a human mission. The women's obedience leads them directly into Christ's presence, showing that service to God often brings an immediate encounter with God.
  • "saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshiped him": Captures the emotional and spiritual climax. Jesus' word of peace and joy elicits a twofold, profound response: physical verification through touch, and spiritual adoration through worship. This combination underscores the truth of the bodily resurrection and the recognition of His divine lordship.

Matthew 28 9 Bonus section

• The order of events in Matthew (angel announces, women see, women worship, Jesus gives command) logically builds the resurrection narrative, establishing belief through eyewitness testimony, divine revelation, and personal encounter before the ultimate commission.
• The detail of "held Him by the feet" has been historically important in Christian theology, serving as a specific prooftext against heresies like Docetism, which denied the real human body of Christ after the resurrection.
• The choice of women as the first witnesses, despite cultural skepticism of their testimony, emphasizes God's sovereign choice and His reversal of human standards for divine purposes. This choice empowers the marginalized.
• This immediate physical encounter contrasts with other resurrection appearances where initial recognition was sometimes delayed (e.g., Lk 24:16, Jn 20:14). Here, the reality of His person is instant and unmistakable through physical touch.

Matthew 28 9 Commentary

Matthew 28:9 is a profoundly significant verse in the narrative of Christ's resurrection. It is not merely a recounting of an event, but a powerful theological statement. Firstly, it emphatically confirms the bodily resurrection of Jesus, leaving no room for interpretations of a merely spiritual or symbolic resurrection. The women's physical grasp of His feet provides an indisputable, tactile proof, directly countering any potential doubt or misbelief. Secondly, the interaction reveals Jesus' initiative ("Jesus met them") and His compassionate reassurance ("All hail," or "Rejoice!"). This divine greeting transforms the women's "fear" from the tomb into holy joy and wonder in His presence, demonstrating the peace and victory of His triumph over death. Finally, the women's spontaneous act of worship (proskyneō) is the pinnacle of their response, indicating their immediate recognition of His divine authority and lordship as the conqueror of death. This scene, with women as the first witnesses and recipients of Christ's post-resurrection presence and command, subverts conventional societal norms, showcasing the kingdom's radical inclusivity and commissioning the marginalized to carry the most vital message in history. It underscores that true worship flows naturally from recognizing the risen Christ, Who has truly triumphed over all.