Matthew 27:47

47 And some of those who stood there, when they heard [it], said, This [man] calls for 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 Now from [the] sixth hour there was darkness over the whole land until [the] ninth hour;

46 but about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

47 And some of those who stood there, when they heard [it], said, This [man] calls for Elias.

48 And immediately one of them running and getting a sponge, having filled [it] with vinegar and fixed [it] on a reed, gave him to drink.

49 But the rest said, Let be; let us see if Elias comes to save him.