And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.
LUKE 23:55KJVWhat does Luke 23:55 mean?
Luke 23:55 describes how the women who had traveled with Jesus from Galilee followed after his body and carefully observed the tomb and the way his body was laid there. These women were witnesses to exactly where and how Jesus was buried.
The verse takes place after Jesus’ crucifixion, as his body is being placed in the tomb. The women mentioned are followers of Jesus who had come with him from Galilee, and they are quietly watching to see where his body is laid. This detail sets up their return after the Sabbath to anoint his body, showing their devotion and ensuring they knew the exact location of the tomb.
The Greek behind Luke 23:55
- γυναῖκες (gynaikes, "women"): This word refers specifically to adult women, highlighting that it was the female followers of Jesus who were present and attentive at his burial.
- ἐθεάσαντο (etheasanto, "beheld"): This Greek word carries the sense of looking carefully or observing attentively, not just a casual glance. The women were paying close attention to both the tomb and how Jesus’ body was placed.
- μνημεῖον (mnēmeion, "sepulchre"): This word means a tomb or burial place, clarifying that Jesus was placed in a proper burial site, not left exposed.
Why Luke 23:55 matters
- Luke 23:55 makes clear that the women were eyewitnesses to Jesus’ burial, which is important for the credibility of the resurrection account—they knew exactly where he was laid.
- The verse emphasizes the faithfulness and devotion of the women, who stayed with Jesus even after his death when many others had left.
- By noting how the body was laid, Luke sets up the following events, showing that the women were prepared to return after the Sabbath to care for Jesus’ body, connecting this verse directly to the resurrection story.