Matthew 27:47 - Some of them who stood there, when they heard it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.”
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Matthew 27:47" mean?
Matthew 27:47 describes the reaction of some bystanders to Jesus' cry from the cross. Let's break down the potential meanings:
Jesus' Cry: The verse refers back to Jesus' utterance, which is recorded in Matthew 27:46 as "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" (My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?). This is a quote from Psalm 22:1.
Misunderstanding: The bystanders misheard or misunderstood Jesus. They likely thought they heard Him call out "Elijah."
"Eli" (My God) sounded similar to "Elijah" in Aramaic.
Elijah's Role: Elijah was a significant prophet in the Old Testament. He was known for performing miracles, confronting idolatry, and ultimately being taken up to heaven in a whirlwind. A popular Jewish belief at the time was that Elijah would return to help those in distress, especially during times of great suffering.
Possible Interpretations of the Bystanders' Remark:
Literal Belief: They genuinely thought Jesus was calling for Elijah to come and rescue Him from the cross.
Mockery: Knowing Jesus believed himself to be the messiah, they were sarcastically suggesting He was now reduced to calling for Elijah, implying his powerlessness. This would have been a way to further humiliate him.
A Combination: Some may have genuinely wondered if Elijah would appear, while others used it as an opportunity to mock him.
In essence, the verse highlights a misunderstanding of Jesus' words, and the reaction of the bystanders reflects either their naive belief in Elijah's return or their cruel mockery of Jesus in his suffering. The verse contributes to the overall narrative of Jesus' crucifixion, emphasizing the confusion, doubt, and hostility surrounding his death.
Matthew 27:47 - Some of them who stood there, when they heard it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.”
What does "Matthew 27:47" mean?
Matthew 27:47 describes the reaction of some bystanders to Jesus' cry from the cross. Let's break down the potential meanings:
Jesus' Cry: The verse refers back to Jesus' utterance, which is recorded in Matthew 27:46 as "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" (My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?). This is a quote from Psalm 22:1.
Misunderstanding: The bystanders misheard or misunderstood Jesus. They likely thought they heard Him call out "Elijah."
"Eli" (My God) sounded similar to "Elijah" in Aramaic.
Elijah's Role: Elijah was a significant prophet in the Old Testament. He was known for performing miracles, confronting idolatry, and ultimately being taken up to heaven in a whirlwind. A popular Jewish belief at the time was that Elijah would return to help those in distress, especially during times of great suffering.
Possible Interpretations of the Bystanders' Remark:
Literal Belief: They genuinely thought Jesus was calling for Elijah to come and rescue Him from the cross.
Mockery: Knowing Jesus believed himself to be the messiah, they were sarcastically suggesting He was now reduced to calling for Elijah, implying his powerlessness. This would have been a way to further humiliate him.
A Combination: Some may have genuinely wondered if Elijah would appear, while others used it as an opportunity to mock him.
In essence, the verse highlights a misunderstanding of Jesus' words, and the reaction of the bystanders reflects either their naive belief in Elijah's return or their cruel mockery of Jesus in his suffering. The verse contributes to the overall narrative of Jesus' crucifixion, emphasizing the confusion, doubt, and hostility surrounding his death.