The angel answered the women, “Don’t be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, who has been crucified.
Parallel translations
- KJV And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
- BSB But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.
- NKJV But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.
- NASB And the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified.
- NLT Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.
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
The angel reassures the women not to fear, acknowledging they seek the crucified Jesus. Fear gives way to a gracious announcement.
Overview
The angel's first word, 'Don't be afraid,' is a common biblical assurance when heaven breaks into human experience. He names Jesus as the one 'who has been crucified,' affirming that the same Jesus who truly died is the subject of the good news to follow. The women's earnest seeking is met with revelation rather than rebuke.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Heb 1:14Aren’t they all serving spirits, sent out to do service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?
- Isa 41:10Don’t you be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. Yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.
- Rev 1:17–18When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man. He laid his right hand on me, saying, “Don’t be afraid. I am the first and the last,
- Luke 24:5Becoming terrified, they bowed their faces down to the earth. They said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?
- Luke 1:30The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
- Dan 10:12Then he said to me, Don’t be afraid, Daniel; for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard: and I have come for your words’ sake.
- Luke 1:12–13Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.
- Ps 105:3–4Glory in his holy name. Let the heart of those who seek Yahweh rejoice.
- Matt 28:10Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Go tell my brothers that they should go into Galilee, and there they will see me.”
- Matt 14:27But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Cheer up! It is I! Don’t be afraid.”
- Dan 10:19He said, “Greatly beloved man, don’t be afraid: peace be to you, be strong, yes, be strong.” When he spoke to me, I was strengthened, and said, “Let my lord speak; for you have strengthened me.”
- Isa 41:14Don’t be afraid, you worm Jacob, and you men of Israel. I will help you,” says Yahweh, “and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.
- Isa 35:4Tell those who have a fearful heart, “Be strong. Don’t be afraid. Behold, your God will come with vengeance, God’s retribution. He will come and save you.
- Mark 16:6He said to them, “Don’t be amazed. You seek Jesus, the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen. He is not here. Behold, the place where they laid him!
- John 20:13–15They told her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I don’t know where they have laid him.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 28:5 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.