Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias.
Parallel translations
- WEB Some of them who stood there, when they heard it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.”
- BSB When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He is calling Elijah.”
- NKJV Some of those who stood there, when they heard that, said, “This Man is calling for Elijah!”
- NASB And some of those who were standing there, when they heard it, said, “This man is calling for Elijah.”
- NLT Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought he was calling for the prophet Elijah.
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
Some bystanders misunderstand and think Jesus is calling for Elijah. They mistake His cry to God.
Overview
Hearing 'Eli,' some onlookers suppose Jesus is summoning the prophet Elijah, perhaps mockingly. Their confusion shows their distance from the truth of what is happening before them. The misunderstanding adds to the scene of a suffering Savior surrounded by those who fail to grasp the redemption unfolding at the cross.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- Mal 4:5Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
- Mark 15:35–36And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias.
- Matt 11:14And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 27:47 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
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