And there were also women watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome.
Parallel translations
- WEB There were also women watching from afar, among whom were both Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;
- KJV There 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;
- NKJV There were also women looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joses, and Salome,
- NASB Now there were also some women watching from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and Joses, and Salome.
- NLT Some women were there, watching from a distance, including Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of James the younger and of Joseph), and Salome.
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
Faithful women watch the crucifixion from a distance, including Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and Salome. Their presence makes them key witnesses.
Overview
When most of the male disciples had fled, these women remain near, watching the death of their Lord. Mark names them carefully because they will also witness the burial and the empty tomb, anchoring the resurrection account in eyewitness testimony. Their steadfast devotion models faithful discipleship in the darkest hour.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Matt 27:55–56And many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to minister to Him.
- Luke 8:2–3as well as some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,
- Luke 23:49But all those who knew Jesus, including the women who had followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching these things.
- 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.
- Matt 28:1After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.
- Matt 27:61Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.
- Mark 15:47Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where His body was placed.
- Matt 13:55“Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t His mother’s name Mary, and aren’t His brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?
- 1 Cor 9:5Have we no right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas?
- John 19:25–27Near the cross of Jesus stood His mother and her sister, as well as Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary Magdalene.
- Ps 38:11My beloved and friends shun my disease, and my kinsmen stand at a distance.
- Jas 1:1James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes of the Dispersion: Greetings.
- John 20:11–18But Mary stood outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent down to look into the tomb,
- Gal 1:19But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
How Mark 15:40 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.