Matthew 27:56

56 Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary, the mother of James, and of Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee's sons.

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 And the centurion and they that were with him keeping Jesus, when they saw the earth-shaking, and those things that were done, they dreaded greatly, and said [saying], Verily this was God's Son.

55 And there were there many women afar, that followed Jesus from Galilee, and ministered to him. [Forsooth many women were there afar, that followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him.]

56 Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary, the mother of James, and of Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee's sons.

57 But when the evening was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, Joseph by name, and he was a disciple of Jesus [there came a rich man from Arimathaea, Joseph by name, the which and he was disciple of Jesus].

58 He went to Pilate, and asked the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given [Then Pilate commanded the body to be yielded].