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.

LUKE 24:1KJV
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Luke 24:1 (KJV)

What does Luke 24:1 mean?

Luke 24:1 describes how, very early on the first day of the week, a group of women came to Jesus’ tomb bringing spices they had prepared. They intended to honor Jesus’ body according to burial customs, not expecting to find the tomb empty.

This verse is set just after Jesus’ crucifixion and burial. The women, followers of Jesus, are acting out of devotion and respect, coming at dawn after the Sabbath had ended. The mention of “the first day of the week” signals Sunday, which becomes significant in Christian tradition as the day of Jesus’ resurrection.

The Greek behind Luke 24:1

  • ἡμέρα (hēmera, “day”) and σαββάτων (sabbatōn, “week”): The phrase “first day of the week” uses the Greek word for “one” or “first” (μία, mia) and “week” (σαββάτων, sabbatōn), which literally means “one of the Sabbaths,” a way of referring to Sunday in Jewish reckoning.
  • ὄρθρου βαθέως (orthrou batheōs, “very early in the morning”): This phrase emphasizes how early the women came, likely just before sunrise, showing their eagerness and devotion.
  • ἦλθον (ēlthon, “they came”): The verb here is plural, confirming that more than one woman was present, which matches the mention of “certain others with them.”
  • ἀρώματα (arōmata, “spices”): These were aromatic substances used to anoint a body, showing the women’s intent to care for Jesus’ body according to Jewish burial practices.

Why Luke 24:1 matters

  • Luke 24:1 sets the stage for the discovery of the empty tomb, which is central to the resurrection story.
  • The verse highlights the devotion and faithfulness of the women, who come prepared to honor Jesus even after his death.
  • By specifying “the first day of the week,” Luke connects this event to the Christian practice of gathering on Sunday, underlining its importance in Christian tradition.

Where else these words appear

“morning” Greek G3722 · used in 3 verses

  • John 8:2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.
  • Acts 5:21 And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.

“morning” Greek G901 · used in 3 verses

  • John 4:11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?
  • Acts 20:9 And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.

“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 23:56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.
  • 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.

“sepulchre” Greek G3418 · used in 7 verses

  • Mark 5:5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.
  • Luke 23:53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.
  • Acts 7:16 And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem.