Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
Parallel translations
- WEB But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they and some others came to the tomb, bringing the spices which they had prepared.
- BSB On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared.
- NKJV Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared.
- NASB But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared.
- NLT But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared.
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
At early dawn on the first day of the week, the women came to the tomb with spices. Their faithful errand led to the discovery of the resurrection.
Overview
On Sunday morning the women arrive to anoint Jesus' body, expecting to find Him dead. Luke's note of the first day of the week marks the dawn of the new creation in Christ's resurrection. Their devotion, though aimed at honoring a corpse, positions them to become the first witnesses of the risen Lord.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- John 20:1–2The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
- Mark 16:1–8And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
- Matt 28:1–8In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
- Luke 24:10It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.
- Luke 23:55–56And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.
- Mark 15:40There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;
- Luke 8:2–3And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,
- Matt 27:55–56And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 24:1 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.