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

LUKE 23:56KJV
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Luke 23:56 (KJV)

What does Luke 23:56 mean?

Luke 23:56 describes how, after Jesus’ death, the women who had followed Him returned home, prepared spices and ointments for His body, and then rested on the Sabbath day in obedience to the Jewish commandment. This verse highlights both their devotion to Jesus and their commitment to following the Sabbath law.

The setting is just after Jesus’ crucifixion. The women, who had witnessed His death, wanted to honor Him by preparing burial spices and ointments, a common Jewish practice. However, because the Sabbath was beginning, they paused their preparations and observed the day of rest, showing respect for the commandment given in the Jewish law.

The Greek behind Luke 23:56

  • ἀνέστρεψαν (anestrepsan, "returned") and ἡτοίμασαν (hētoimasan, "prepared") both show deliberate, purposeful actions by the women, emphasizing their intention to care for Jesus’ body.
  • ἀρώματα (arōmata, "spices") and μύρα (myra, "ointments") refer to the materials used for burial, underlining the women’s respect and care for Jesus even after His death.
  • ἡσύχασαν (hēsychasan, "rested") is used here for resting on the Sabbath, carrying the sense of ceasing from work, in line with Jewish tradition.
  • κατὰ τὴν ἐντολήν (kata tēn entolēn, "according to the commandment") points directly to their obedience to the Mosaic Law, making clear that their actions were shaped by religious duty.

Why Luke 23:56 matters

  • Luke 23:56 clarifies that the women did not break Sabbath law, but waited until after the Sabbath to finish preparing Jesus’ body, showing their respect for both Jesus and their faith.
  • This verse connects the events of Jesus’ burial with Jewish customs, grounding the story in its historical and religious context.
  • The verse sets up the narrative for the resurrection by explaining why the women returned to the tomb after the Sabbath, providing continuity in the story.

Where else these words appear

“spices” Greek G759 · used in 4 verses

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • John 19:40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.

“rested” Greek G2270 · used in 5 verses

  • Luke 14:4 And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go;
  • Acts 11:18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
  • Acts 21:14 And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.

“ointments” Greek G3464 · used in 13 verses

  • Matthew 26:7 There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.
  • Mark 14:4 And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?
  • John 11:2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)

“returned” Greek G5290 · used in 35 verses

  • Mark 14:40 And when he returned, he found them asleep again,(for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him.
  • Luke 9:10 And the apostles, when they were returned, told him all that they had done. And he took them, and went aside privately into a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida.
  • Acts 8:25 And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.