And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not 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.
- BSB When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there; but she did not recognize 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 holden that they should not know him.
- Mark 16:9Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
- Song 3:3–4The watchmen that go about the city found me: to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?
- John 21:4But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
- Matt 28:9And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
- John 8:59Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
- Luke 24:31And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
- Mark 16:12After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.
- Luke 4:30But he passing through the midst of them went 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.