Luke 23:55
What does Luke 23:55 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 23:55 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 23:55 means
The women from Galilee follow and see the tomb and how Jesus’ body is laid. They are careful observers, ensuring they know the place and the method of burial. Their fidelity counters any later claim of confusion. Love keeps them near when others keep distance. Their watchfulness prepares them to honor Jesus with spices and to become first witnesses to the empty tomb. In God’s wisdom, these steadfast women secure the chain of testimony from cross to grave to resurrection. Their quiet attention is an act of devotion that will soon be rewarded with astonishing news.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And the women, who had come with him out of Galilee, followed after, and beheld the tomb, and how his body was laid.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And the women, who had come with him out of Galilee, followed after, and beheld the tomb, and how his body was laid.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And the women who had come with him from Galilee went after him and saw the place and how his body had been put to rest;
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and the women also who have come with him out of Galilee having followed after, beheld the tomb, and how his body was placed,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And the women that were come with him from Galilee, following after, saw the sepulchre and how his body was laid.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And women, who had come along with him out of Galilee, having followed, saw the sepulchre and how his body was placed.
Context
After the hurried burial, Luke spotlights the women’s role. Their detailed observation will support their return on the first day of the week. The next and final verse shows them going home to prepare spices and ointments, then resting on the Sabbath according to the commandment. Their obedience and preparation bridge the sorrow of Friday and Saturday to the surprise of Sunday, which the next chapter will unveil.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Luke 23:49
And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed with him from Galilee, stood afar off, seeing these things.
- 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 15:47
And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.
- Matthew 27:61
And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.
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