Mark 15:40

40 And there were also women beholding from afar, among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary, the mother of James the less, and of Joseph, and of Salome [among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary, the mother of James the less, and Joseph, and Salome].

Mark 15:40 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 15:40

There were also women looking on afar off
At some distance from the cross, observing what was said and done;

among whom was Mary Magdalene;
who had received great favours from Christ:

and Mary the mother of James the less;
or "little", so called to distinguish him from James the son of Zebedee, and because he might be little of stature: nor was it unusual with the Jews to distinguish persons after this manner: so we read ^F26 of R. Jesa, (aryez) , "the little", and of Samuel, (Nwjqh) , "the little" ^F1, which some have thought to be the Apostle Paul, so called from the littleness of his stature:

and of Joses;
or "Joseph", as the Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions read;

and Salome;
the mother of Zebedee's children, James and John; (See Gill on Matthew 27:56). This was a common name among the Jews; Herod had a sister and a daughter of this name; and the daughter of Herodias, who demanded the head of John, the Baptist, was of this name; and it is the same with Shalom: we read ^F2 of one Imme Shalom, or mother Shalom, wife of R. Eliezer, and sister to Rabban Gamaliel. Salome, with the Ethiopians ^F3, is said to be Mary's midwife, and to accompany Christ, with Mary, and Joseph, when they fled into Egypt.

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FOOTNOTES:

F26 Zohar in Exod. fol. 63. 2. & passim.
F1 T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 28. 2. & 29. 1.
F2 T. Bab. Sabbat, fol. 116. 1.
F3 Ludolph. Lex. Ethiop. p. 525, & Castell. Lex. Polyglot, col. 3767.

Mark 15:40 In-Context

38 And the veil of the temple was rent atwo from the highest to beneath. [And the veil of the temple was cut into twain from the highest, till to down, or beneath.]

39 But the centurion that stood over against saw, that he so crying had died, and he said, Verily, this man was God's Son [and said, Verily, this man was the Son of God].

40 And there were also women beholding from afar, among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary, the mother of James the less, and of Joseph, and of Salome [among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary, the mother of James the less, and Joseph, and Salome].

41 And when Jesus was in Galilee, they followed him, and ministered to him, and many other women, that came up together with him to Jerusalem [and many other women, which had ascended together with him to Jerusalem].

42 And when the eventide was come, for it was the eventide that is before the sabbath, [+And when even was now made, for it was the making ready, either vigil, which is before the sabbath,]