Devine Scripture

Luke 24:1

What does Luke 24:1 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 24:1 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 24:1 means

Luke notes that the women came to the tomb at early dawn on the first day of the week, carrying the spices they had prepared. This shows their devoted love and the reality of Jesus’ death—they expected to tend to a corpse, not to witness a miracle. They had rested on the Sabbath, honoring God’s law, and now resume their service as soon as possible. Their quiet faithfulness becomes the means by which the first testimony of the resurrection is received. God often meets His people on the path of ordinary obedience. The timing—“the first day of the week”—also hints that a new creation is dawning through the risen Christ.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came unto the tomb, bringing the spices which they had prepared.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came unto the tomb, bringing the spices which they had prepared.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

But on the first day of the week, at dawn, they came to the place where his body had been put, taking the spices which they had got ready.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And on the first of the sabbaths, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, bearing the spices they made ready, and certain <FI>others<Fi> with them,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

But on the morrow of the sabbath, very early indeed in the morning, they came to the tomb, bringing the aromatic spices which they had prepared.

Context

This opening verse connects directly to the burial at the end of chapter 23, where the women noted the tomb’s location and prepared spices before resting on the Sabbath. The narrative resumes with movement at dawn, signaling transition from death’s stillness to the action of God. What follows will overturn the women’s expectations and become the foundation of apostolic preaching. Before angelic messages or appearances of Jesus, the scene sets the tone: witnesses arrive in humble duty and will soon encounter the surprising work of God. The next verses describe the stone’s removal and the empty tomb, leading to heavenly explanation.

v.1This passage

v.2And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb.

Cross references

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

  • 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 16:1

    And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, that they might come and anoint him.

  • 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.

  • John 20:1

    Now on the firstdayof the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, while it was yet dark, unto the tomb, and seeth the stone taken away from the tomb.

  • Matthew 27:55

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

  • 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 24

Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on Luke 24.

Keep exploring

Follow this verse across Scripture

Topics, devotionals, original-language word studies, and figures connected to Luke 24:1.

Browse every hub

BibleTopicsBible answersDevotionalsFamous passagesWord studiesPeoplePlacesVerses for…Reading plansCommentary