KJV: And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:
YLT: And there were there many women beholding from afar, who did follow Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him,
Darby: And there were there many women beholding from afar off, who had followed Jesus from Galilee ministering to him,
ASV: And many women were there beholding from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:
| Ἦσαν | They were |
|
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural Root: εἰμί Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present. |
|
| δὲ | now |
|
Parse: Conjunction Root: δέ Sense: but, moreover, and, etc. |
|
| γυναῖκες | women |
|
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Plural Root: γυνή Sense: a woman of any age, whether a virgin, or married, or a widow. |
|
| πολλαὶ | many |
|
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Feminine Plural Root: πολύς Sense: many, much, large. |
|
| μακρόθεν | afar off |
|
Parse: Adverb Root: μακρόθεν Sense: from afar, afar. |
|
| θεωροῦσαι | looking on |
|
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Feminine Plural Root: θεωρέω Sense: to be a spectator, look at, behold. |
|
| ἠκολούθησαν | followed |
|
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural Root: ἀκολουθέω Sense: to follow one who precedes, join him as his attendant, accompany him. |
|
| τῷ | - |
|
Parse: Article, Dative Masculine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
|
| Ἰησοῦ | Jesus |
|
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular Root: Ἰησοῦς Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor. |
|
| τῆς | - |
|
Parse: Article, Genitive Feminine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
|
| Γαλιλαίας | Galilee |
|
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular Root: Γαλιλαία Sense: the name of a region of northern Palestine, bounded on the north by Syria, on the west by Sidon, Tyre, Ptolemais and their territories and the promontory of Carmel, on the south by Samaria and on the east by the Jordan. |
|
| διακονοῦσαι | ministering |
|
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Feminine Plural Root: διακονέω Sense: to be a servant, attendant, domestic, to serve, wait upon. |
|
| αὐτῷ | to Him |
|
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular Root: αὐτός Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself. |
|
Greek Commentary for Matthew 27:55
We have come to expect the women from Galilee to be faithful, last at the Cross and first at the tomb. Luke (Luke 23:49) says that “all his acquaintance” Matthew names three of the group by name. Mary Magdalene is mentioned as a well-known person though not previously named in Matthew‘s Gospel. Certainly she is not the sinful woman of Luke 7 nor Mary of Bethany. There is another Mary, the mother of James and Joseph (Joses) not otherwise known to us. And then there is the mother of the sons of Zebedee (James and John), usually identified with Salome (Mark 15:40). These noble and faithful women were “beholding from afar” These three women may have drawn nearer to the Cross for Mary the Mother of Jesus stood beside the Cross (παρα τωι σταυρωι para tōi staurōi) with Mary of Clopas and Mary Magdalene (John 19:25) before she left. They had once ministered unto Jesus (διακονουσαι αυτωι diakonousai autōi) and now he is dead. Matthew does not try to picture the anguish of heart of these noble women nor does he say as Luke (Luke 23:48) does that “they returned smiting their breasts.” He drops the curtain on that saddest of all tragedies as the loyal band stood and looked at the dead Christ on Golgotha. What hope did life now hold for them? [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 27:55
Two imperfects describing the long Galilean ministry of these three women and many other women in Galilee (Luke 8:1-3) who came up with him (αι συναναβασαι αυτωι hai sunanabāsai autōi) to Jerusalem. This summary description in Mark is paralleled in Matthew 27:55. and Luke 23:49. These faithful women were last at the Cross as they stood afar and saw the dreadful end to all their hopes. [source]
Lit., followed with ( σύν ). So Rev. See on Matthew 27:55. [source]
Perfect of ιστημι histēmi to place, used as imperfect (intransitive) with παρα para (beside) and the locative case. Vivid contrast this to the rude gambling of the soldiers. This group of four (or three) women interests us more. Matthew (Matthew 27:55.) spoke of women beholding from afar and names three (Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee). Mark also (Mark 15:40) names three (Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome). They have clearly drawn near the Cross by now. John alone mentions the mother of Jesus in the group. It is not clear whether the sister of the mother of Jesus is Salome the mother of the sons of Zebedee or the wife of Clopas. If so, two sisters have the name Mary and James and John are cousins of Jesus. The point cannot be settled with our present knowledge. [source]
Periphrastic imperfect active of προσκαρτερεω proskartereō old verb from προς pros (perfective use) and καρτερεω kartereō from καρτερος karteros strong, steadfast, like the English “carry on.” Already in Mark 3:9 which see and several times in Acts and Paul‘s Epistles. They “stuck to” the praying Associative instrumental case plural of γυνη gunē after συν sun As one would expect when praying was the chief work on hand. More women certainly included than in Luke 8:2; Mark 15:40.; Matthew 27:55.; Luke 23:49; Mark 15:47; Matthew 27:61; Luke 23:55.; Mark 16:1; Matthew 28:1; Luke 24:1.; John 20:1, John 20:11-18; Matthew 28:9. There were probably other women also whose testimony was no longer scouted as it had been at first. Codex Bezae adds here “and children.” And Mary the mother of Jesus A delicate touch by Luke that shows Mary with her crown of glory at last. She had come out of the shadow of death with the song in her heart and with the realization of the angel‘s promise and the prophecy of Simeon. It was a blessed time for Mary. With his brethren (συν τοις αδελποις αυτου sun tois adelphois autou). With his brothers, it should be translated. They had once disbelieved in him (John 7:5). Jesus had appeared to James (1 Corinthians 15:7) and now it is a happy family of believers including the mother and brothers (half-brothers, literally) of Jesus. They continue in prayer for the power from on high. [source]
Associative instrumental case plural of γυνη gunē after συν sun As one would expect when praying was the chief work on hand. More women certainly included than in Luke 8:2; Mark 15:40.; Matthew 27:55.; Luke 23:49; Mark 15:47; Matthew 27:61; Luke 23:55.; Mark 16:1; Matthew 28:1; Luke 24:1.; John 20:1, John 20:11-18; Matthew 28:9. There were probably other women also whose testimony was no longer scouted as it had been at first. Codex Bezae adds here “and children.” [source]