John 20:15
What does John 20:15 mean?
A plain-English look at John 20:15 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 20:15 means
Jesus asked Mary the same question the angels did: "Woman, why weepest thou?" He then added, "whom seekest thou?" Still not recognizing Him, Mary, in her intense grief and focus on the missing body, mistakenly believed Him to be the gardener. She pleaded with Him, assuming He might have moved Jesus' body and could tell her where it was so she could retrieve it. Her misunderstanding underscores her devotion and her limited earthly perception, preparing for Jesus' personal revelation.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou hast borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou hast borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Jesus said to her, Woman, why are you weeping? who are you looking for? She, taking him for the gardener, said to him, Sir, if you have taken him away from here, say where you have put him and I will take him away.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Jesus saith to her, `Woman, why dost thou weep? whom dost thou seek;' she, supposing that he is the gardener, saith to him, `Sir, if thou didst carry him away, tell me where thou didst lay him, and I will take him away;'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Jesus saith to her: Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou? She, thinking that it was the gardener, saith to him: Sir, if thou hast taken him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him: and I will take him away.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Jesus says to her, Woman, why dost thou weep? Whom seekest thou? She, supposing that it was the gardener, says to him, Sir, if thou hast borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
Context
This verse continues Jesus' interaction with Mary, directly following her seeing Him but not recognizing Him. His questions mirror the angels', yet He adds an inquiry about whom she seeks. Her mistaken identity of Him as the gardener emphasizes her profound sorrow and illustrates the human difficulty in grasping the supernatural, setting the stage for Jesus' direct and personal revelation in the very next verse.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Luke 24:5
and as they were affrighted and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
- Mark 16:6
And he saith unto them, Be not amazed: ye seek Jesus, the Nazarene, who hath been crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold, the place where they laid him!
- Song of Solomon 6:1
Whither is thy beloved gone, O thou fairest among women? Whither hath thy beloved turned him, That we may seek him with thee?
- 1 Samuel 1:16
Count not thy handmaid for a wicked woman; for out of the abundance of my complaint and my provocation have I spoken hitherto.
- Song of Solomon 3:2
I said, I will rise now, and go about the city; In the streets and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.
- John 20:13
And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.
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