When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there; but she did not recognize that it was Jesus.
Parallel translations
- WEB When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, and didn’t know that it was Jesus.
- KJV And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
- NKJV Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus.
- NASB When she had said this, she turned around and *saw Jesus standing there, and yet she did not know that it was Jesus.
- NLT She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Mary turns and sees Jesus but does not recognize him. The risen Lord stands before her unrecognized.
Overview
For reasons John leaves unstated, perhaps grief, tears, or divine restraint, Mary fails to recognize Jesus. The detail underscores that the resurrection was unexpected, not a wishful projection. It also sets up the tender moment when Jesus reveals himself by name.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Luke 24:16But their eyes were kept from recognizing Him.
- Mark 16:9Early on the first day of the week, after Jesus had risen, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had driven out seven demons.
- Song 3:3–4I encountered the watchmen on their rounds of the city: “Have you seen the one I love?”
- John 21:4Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not recognize that it was Jesus.
- Matt 28:9Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” They came to Him, grasped His feet, and worshiped Him.
- John 8:59At this, they picked up stones to throw at Him. But Jesus was hidden and went out of the temple area.
- Luke 24:31Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus—and He disappeared from their sight.
- Mark 16:12After this, Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them as they walked along in the country.
- Luke 4:30But Jesus passed through the crowd and went on His way.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.
How John 20:14 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.