Matthew 27:61

What does Matthew 27:61 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 27:61 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 27:61 means

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary sit opposite the tomb. Their presence signals vigilant mourning and faithful witness. Sitting ‘over against the sepulchre’ suggests watchfulness and grief, anticipating the need to know where Jesus is laid. Their vigil will later be crucial in witnessing the resurrection. Matthew highlights their patient loyalty despite sorrow and danger, portraying them as the first recipients of the resurrection news and trustworthy witnesses to the final acts surrounding Jesus’ burial and rising.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, seated by the place of the dead.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and there were there Mary the Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over-against the sepulchre.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And there was there Mary Magdalen and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

But Mary of Magdala was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the sepulchre.

Context

This verse follows the completed burial (v. 60) and records the women who remain at the tomb. Their presence links the burial to the later discovery of the empty tomb and the resurrection proclamation. It also marks continuity of witness from crucifixion (vv. 55–56) to entombment and beyond.

v.60and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb, and departed.

v.61This passage

v.62Now on the morrow, which is the day after the Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees were gathered together unto Pilate,

Cross references

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

  • Matthew 28:1

    Now late on the sabbath day, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

  • Matthew 27:56

    among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

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