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;
Parallel translations
- 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;
- BSB 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.
- 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 27:55–56Many women were there watching from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, serving him.
- Luke 8:2–3and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out;
- Luke 23:49All his acquaintances, and the women who followed with him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
- Mark 16:9Now when he had risen early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.
- Matt 28:1Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.
- Matt 27:61Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb.
- Mark 15:47Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of Joses, saw where he was laid.
- Matt 13:55Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother called Mary, and his brothers, James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?
- 1 Cor 9:5Have we no right to take along a wife who is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?
- John 19:25–27But there were standing by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
- Ps 38:11My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my plague. My kinsmen stand far away.
- Jas 1:1James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are in the Dispersion: Greetings.
- John 20:11–18But Mary was standing outside at the tomb weeping. So, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb,
- Gal 1:19But of the other apostles I saw no one, except James, the Lord’s brother.
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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.