Devine Scripture

Luke 23:27

What does Luke 23:27 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 23:27 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 23:27 means

A great multitude follows, and many women lament and wail for Jesus. Their grief is real, though not all are His disciples. Public mourning attends the unjust suffering of the One who did good among them. The presence of the women highlights those who remained faithful observers when many others fled. Yet Jesus will soon redirect their tears, teaching that greater sorrows are coming upon the city. Compassion toward His sufferings is right, but He wants them to see the deeper issue: judgment approaching because of persistent unbelief.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And there followed him a great multitude of the people, and of women who bewailed and lamented him.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And there followed him a great multitude of the people, and of women who bewailed and lamented him.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And a great band of people went after him, and of women making signs of grief and weeping for him.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And there was following him a great multitude of the people, and of women, who also were beating themselves and lamenting him,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And there followed him a great multitude of people and of women, who bewailed and lamented him.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And a great multitude of the people, and of women who wailed and lamented him, followed him.

Context

On the way to the crucifixion, Luke draws attention to the crowd and especially to the women’s lament. This sets up Jesus’ surprising response in the next verses, where He tells them not to weep for Him but for themselves and their children. He then describes coming days when people will long for cover from catastrophic judgment. This prophecy frames the crucifixion within a wider story: Jerusalem’s fate in light of its rejection of the Messiah.

v.26And when they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country, and laid on him the cross, to bear it after Jesus.

v.27This passage

v.28But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Luke 8:52

    And all were weeping, and bewailing her: but he said, Weep not; for she is not dead, but sleepeth.

  • Luke 23:55

    And the women, who had come with him out of Galilee, followed after, and beheld the tomb, and how his body was laid.

  • Matthew 27:55

    And many women were there beholding from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:

  • Luke 8:2

    and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary that was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,

  • Mark 15:40

    And there were also women beholding from afar: among whom were both Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;

Related questions readers ask

Keep reading

Want to dig deeper? Explore Luke 23

Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on Luke 23.

Keep exploring

Follow this verse across Scripture

Topics, devotionals, original-language word studies, and figures connected to Luke 23:27.

Browse every hub

BibleTopicsBible answersDevotionalsFamous passagesWord studiesPeoplePlacesVerses for…Reading plansCommentary