Matthew 27 · Verse 55

Matthew 27:55

And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:
Matthew 27:55, King James Version

Matthew 27:55 in other translations

BSBAnd many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to minister to Him.
WEBMany women were there watching from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, serving him.
ASVAnd many women were there beholding from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:
YLTAnd there were there many women beholding from afar, who did follow Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him,
DARBYAnd there were there many women beholding from afar off, who had followed Jesus from Galilee ministering to him,
BBEAnd a number of women were there, watching from a distance, who had come with Jesus from Galilee, waiting on his needs.
WebsterAnd many women were there (beholding at a distance) who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him:

What does Matthew 27:55 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
55. And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus--The sense here would be better brought out by the use of the pluperfect, "which had followed Jesus." from Galilee, ministering unto him--As these dear women had ministered to Him during His glorious missionary tours in Galilee (see on Lu 8:1-3), so from this statement it should seem that they accompanied him and ministered to His wants from Galilee on His final journey to Jerusalem.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 55. Beholding afar off. They were probably not suffered to come near the cross, because it was surrounded by soldiers. They witnessed, with intense feelings, his sufferings from some convenient place as near as they could approach.

Ministering unto him. Attending him, and providing for his wants. While multitudes of men joined in the cry, Crucify him, and forsook him in his trying moments, it does not appear that any of his female followers were thus unfaithful. In the midst of all his trials, and all the contempt poured upon him, they adhered to their Redeemer. Never did female constancy shine more brightly, and never was a happier example set for all who should afterwards believe on him.

(v) "which followed" Lk 8:2,3

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 55 Many women - To their everlasting honor, these women evidenced more courage, and affectionate attachment to their Lord and Master, than the disciples did, who had promised to die with him rather than forsake him. Beholding afar off - At a distance - απο μακροθεν. Though this expression may be understood to refer, rather to the distance from which they came, (viz. from Galilee), than the distance they stood from the cross; yet, as all malefactors were crucified naked, perhaps this may account for the distance at which these modest women stood.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 27:51-56

The rending of the veil signified that Christ, by his death, opened a way to God. We have an open way through Christ to the throne of grace, or mercy-seat now, and to the throne of glory hereafter. When we duly consider Christ's death, our hard and rocky hearts should be rent; the heart, and not the garments. That heart is harder than a rock that will not yield, that will not melt, where Jesus Christ is plainly set…

Read the full comment on Matthew 27:51-56 →

Matthew 27:55 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.

ἮσανĒsanThey wereG1510
δὲdenowG1161
ἐκεῖekeithereG1563
γυναῖκεςgunaikeswomenG1135
πολλαὶpollaimanyG4183
ἀπὸapofromG575
μακρόθενmakrothenafar offG3113
θεωροῦσαιtheōrousailooking onG2334
αἵτινεςaitineswhoG3748
ἠκολούθησανēkolouthēsanfollowedG190
τῷtō<the>G3588
ἸησοῦIēsouJesusG2424
ἀπὸapofromG575
τῆςtēs<the>G3588
ΓαλιλαίαςGalilaiasGalileeG1056
διακονοῦσαιdiakonousaiministeringG1247
αὐτῷ,autōto Him,G846

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

Cross references for Matthew 27:55

  • Luke 8:2-3

    And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.

  • Luke 23:48-49

    And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned. And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.

  • John 19:25-27

    Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

  • Luke 23:27-28

    And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him. But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
many.
Lu 23:27,28,48,49; Joh 19:25-27
ministering.
Lu 8:2,3

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

Context

  • Matthew 27:54

    Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

  • Matthew 27:55

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

  • Matthew 27:56

    Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s children.

Read all of Matthew 27

Matthew 27:55 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y estaban allí muchas mujeres mirando de lejos, las cuales habían seguido de Galilea á Jesús, sirviéndole:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et il y avait là plusieurs femmes qui regardaient de loin, qui avaient suivi Jésus depuis la Galilée, en le servant,
German
Elberfelder 1871		Es waren aber daselbst viele Weiber, die von ferne zusahen, welche Jesu von Galiläa nachgefolgt waren und ihm gedient hatten;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Erant autem ibi mulieres multæ a longe, quæ secutæ erant Jesum a Galilæa, ministrantes ei: