New Testament · Gospel

Matthew 27:56

The Crucifixion

Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons. Matthew 27:56 · Berean Standard Bible

What It Means

Matthew 27:56, in plain English

Among them are Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of James and John.

Why it's here

These women are named because they matter. They will be the first to see the empty tomb. Their faithfulness at the cross earns them a front-row seat at the resurrection.

Who's speaking

The narrator identifies three women by name, establishing them as key witnesses.

Where it sits in the story

Remember these names. The women who stayed at the cross will be the first to hear the greatest news in history: He is risen.

A Closer Look

The scholarly reading

Matthew names three women: Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee's sons (Salome) — establishing witnesses for the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection accounts.

Language and setting

These named witnesses provide the legal testimony chain required by Jewish law. Their identification here prepares for their role as the first witnesses of the resurrection in chapter 28.

Voice

The narrator identifies the key women present at the cross by name.

Significance

Matthew names these women as witnesses — they will be the first to see the empty tomb, and their testimony begins here at the cross.

In context

Matthew 27:54–58

54When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified and said, “Truly this was the Son of God.”

55And many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to minister to Him.

56Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.

57When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who himself was a disciple of Jesus.

58He went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him.

Read all of Matthew 27 — The climax of the story. Every thread — sacrifice, covenant, prophecy, promise — converges at a cross outside Jerusalem.

Understand every verse, not just this one

This page covers one. BibleKey does all 31,102 — tap any verse for its meaning, any word for its Hebrew or Greek root, and keep reading without leaving the chapter.

Get BibleKey

Understand every verse.

Not just the famous ones. BibleKey is free on iPhone and iPad.

Download on the App Store

Free on iPhone & iPad