Matthew 27:47

47 Some bystanders who heard him said, "He's calling for Elijah."

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 to three, the whole earth was dark.

46 Around mid-afternoon Jesus groaned out of the depths, crying loudly, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?"

47 Some bystanders who heard him said, "He's calling for Elijah."

48 One of them ran and got a sponge soaked in sour wine and lifted it on a stick so he could drink.

49 The others joked, "Don't be in such a hurry. Let's see if Elijah comes and saves him."