And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
Parallel translations
- WEB The angel answered the women, “Don’t be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, who has been 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 1:14Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
- Isa 41:10Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
- Rev 1:17–18And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
- Luke 24:5And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
- Luke 1:30And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
- Dan 10:12Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.
- Luke 1:12–13And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
- Ps 105:3–4Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.
- Matt 28:10Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.
- Matt 14:27But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
- Dan 10:19And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me.
- Isa 41:14Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
- Isa 35:4Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.
- Mark 16:6And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
- John 20:13–15And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my LORD, and I know not 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.