Luke 23 · Verse 56

Luke 23:56

And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.
Luke 23:56, King James Version

Luke 23:56 in other translations

BSBThen they returned to prepare spices and perfumes. And they rested on the Sabbath, according to the commandment.
WEBThey returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
ASVAnd they returned, and prepared spices and ointments. And on the sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
YLTand having turned back, they made ready spices and ointments, and on the sabbath, indeed, they rested, according to the command.
DARBYAnd having returned they prepared aromatic spices and ointments, and remained quiet on the sabbath, according to the commandment.
BBEAnd they went back and got ready spices and perfumes; and on the Sabbath they took their rest, in agreement with the law.
WebsterAnd they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested on the sabbath, according to the commandment.

What does Luke 23:56 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Verse 56.

(t) "prepared spices" Mar 16:1 (u) "according to" Ex 20:8-10

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 56 Prepared spices and ointments - This was in order to embalm him; which sufficiently proves that they had no hope of his resurrection the third day. And rested the Sabbath day - For though the Jewish canons allowed all works, necessary for the dead, to be done, even on the Sabbath, such as washing and anointing, provided they moved not a limb of the dead person, yet, as the Jews had put Christ to death under the pretense of his being a malefactor, it would not have been either prudent or safe to appear too forward in the present business; and therefore they rested on the Sabbath. Certain copies of the Itala have some remarkable additions in these concluding verses. The conclusion of the 48th verse, in one of them, is read thus: Beating their breasts and their foreheads, and saying, Wo to us because of what is done this day, on account of our sins; for the desolation of Jerusalem is at hand. To Luk 23:52, another adds: And when Pilate heard that he was dead, he glorified God and gave the body to Joseph. On the circumstances of the crucifixion, see the observations at the end of Matthew 27 (note), and consider how heinous sin must be in the sight of God, when it required such a sacrifice!

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Luke 23:50-56

Many, though they do not make any show in outward profession, yet, like Joseph of Arimathea, will be far more ready to do real service, when there is occasion, than others who make a greater noise. Christ was buried in haste, because the sabbath drew on. Weeping must not hinder sowing. Though they were in tears for the death of their Lord, yet they must prepare to keep holy the sabbath. When the sabbath draws on…

Read the full comment on Luke 23:50-56 →

Luke 23:56 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ὑποστρέψασαιhupostrepsasaiHaving returnedG5290
δὲdethenG1161
ἡτοίμασανhētoimasanthey preparedG2090
ἀρώματαarōmataspicesG759
καὶkaiandG2532
μύραmuraanointing oilsG3464
καὶkaiAndG2532
τὸtoon theG3588
μὲνmenindeedG3303
σάββατονsabbatonSabbathG4521
ἡσύχασανhēsuchasanthey restedG2270
κατὰkataaccording toG2596
τὴνtēntheG3588
ἐντολήν.¶entolēncommandment.G1785

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Luke 23:56

  • Luke 24:1

    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.

  • Mark 16:1

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

  • Deuteronomy 5:14

    But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou.

  • Exodus 20:8-10

    Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

  • Jeremiah 17:24-25

    And it shall come to pass, if ye diligently hearken unto me, saith the Lord, to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the sabbath day, but hallow the sabbath day, to do no work therein; Then shall there enter into the gates of this city kings and princes sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they, and their princes, the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: and this city shall remain for ever.

  • Isaiah 58:13-14

    If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

  • Exodus 31:14

    Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.

  • Exodus 35:2-3

    Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the Lord: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death. Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the sabbath day.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
prepared.
24:1; 2Ch 16:14; Mr 16:1
rested.
Ex 20:8-10; 31:14; 35:2,3; Isa 58:13,14; Jer 17:24,25

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Luke 23:55

    And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.

  • Luke 23:56

    And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

Read all of Luke 23

Luke 23:56 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y vueltas, aparejaron drogas aromáticas y ungüentos; y reposaron el sábado, conforme al mandamiento.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et s’en étant retournées, elles préparèrent des aromates et des parfums; et, le sabbat, elles se tinrent en repos, selon le commandement.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Als sie aber zurückgekehrt waren, bereiteten sie Spezereien und Salben; und den Sabbath über ruhten sie nach dem Gebot.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et revertentes paraverunt aromata, et unguenta: et sabbato quidem siluerunt secundum mandatum.