Matthew 27:56

56 Among them was ¹Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and ²the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

Matthew 27:56 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 27:56

Among which was Mary Magdalene
Out of whom Christ had cast out seven devils; and who having received much from him, loved much, which she showed by her zealous and constant attachment to him. She was called Magdalene, either because she was an inhabitant of Magdala, ( Matthew 15:39 ) , so we read ^F5 of R. Isaac, (haldgm) , of "Magdala", or "Magdalene"; and the rather, because that Magdala was famous, or rather infamous, for whoredom; for which reason the Jews

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FOOTNOTES:

F6 say, it was destroyed: or else she was so called, because she was (tldg) , a "tonstrix", or plaiter of women's hair, as the word signifies ^F7; and so we often read of Mary, (ayyvn reyv aldgm) , "the plaiter of women's hair" ^F8; by whom the Jews seem to design Mary, the mother of Jesus, whom they confound with this Mary Magdalene. Jerom says ^F9, her name signifies "towered", or "fortified", because of her care and diligence, and the ardour of her faith; and "Migdal", in Hebrew, does signify a tower:

and Mary the mother of James and Joses:
the same with the wife of Cleophas, and sister to Mary, the mother of Jesus: instead of Joses, the Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions read Joseph: (yowy) "Jose", in Hebrew, is the same with "Joseph", the last letter being cut off; the Arabic version reads Mary, the mother of James, and the mother of Joses, ( John 19:25 ) .

And the mother of Zebedee's children:
that is, of James and John; her name was Salome, ( Mark 15:40 ) .

F5 Juchasin, fol. 96. 2.
F6 T. Hieros. Taaniot, fol. 69. 1. Echa Rabbati, fol. 52. 4.
F7 Maimon. & Bartenora in Misn. Kiddushin, c. 2. sect. 3.
F8 T. Bab. Sabbat, fol. 104. 2. Chagiga, fol. 4. 2. & Sanhedrin, fol. 67. 1.
F9 Ad Principiam, Tom. l. fol. 41.

Matthew 27:56 In-Context

54 Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!"

55 Many women were there looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee while ministering to Him.

56 Among them was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

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

58 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him.

Cross References

• 1. Matthew 28:1; Mark 15:40, 47; Mark 16:9; Luke 8:2; John 19:25; John 20:1, 18
• 2. Matthew 20:20