Matthew 27:47

47 On hearing this, some of the bystanders said, "He's calling for Eliyahu."

Matthew 27:47 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 27:47

Some of them that stood there
Near the cross, looking on, and mocking at him,

when they heard that;
the words, "Eli, Eli", spoken by Christ,

said, this man calleth for Elias.
These could not be the Roman soldiers that said so, who had no notion of Elias; rather the Hellenistic Jews, who not so well understanding the Hebrew language, hearing the above words, and having some notion of the prophet Elias, fancied he was calling for him; though it seems most likely to be the Jews, who either through the nearness of the sound of the words, and mistake of them, and not near enough to hear and distinguish them, really thought he called for that prophet; or rather wilfully mistook him, with an intent to banter and ridicule him.

Matthew 27:47 In-Context

45 From noon until three o'clock in the afternoon, all the Land was covered with darkness.

46 At about three, Yeshua uttered a loud cry, "Eli! Eli! L'mah sh'vaktani? (My God! My God! Why have you deserted me?)"

47 On hearing this, some of the bystanders said, "He's calling for Eliyahu."

48 Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, soaked it in vinegar, put it on a stick and gave it to him to drink.

49 The rest said, "Wait! Let's see if Eliyahu comes and rescues him."