Matthew 27:47

47 And some men that stood there [Soothly some standing there], and hearing, said, This calleth Elias.

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 But from the sixth hour darknesses were made on [upon] all the earth, till the ninth hour. [+Soothly from the sixth hour darknesses were made on all the land, unto the ninth hour.]

46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a great voice, and said [saying], Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani, that is, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

47 And some men that stood there [Soothly some standing there], and hearing, said, This calleth Elias.

48 And at once [And anon] one of them running, took and filled a sponge with vinegar, and put [it] on a reed, and gave to him to drink.

49 But others said, Suffer thou; see we whether Elias come to deliver him.