Bible Strands
John 20:14
When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there. But she did not recognize that it was Jesus.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Mary stands at the tomb after answering the angels about the missing body. She turns around and sees Jesus standing there, though she does not recognize Him.
The words — ἐστράφη (estraphē) means "she turned," marking her physical reorientation after speaking. This action precedes her visual encounter but not her immediate recognition.
The thread — The motif of unrecognized divine presence appears in Luke 24:16, where eyes are kept from recognizing, and parallels the watchmen encounter in Song of Solomon 3:3. Similar post-resurrection meetings occur in Matthew 28:9.
Why it lands — The text demands acknowledgment that physical proximity to the risen Christ does not guarantee spiritual perception. A reader must examine what obscures recognition and prepare to respond when the familiar becomes newly revealed.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
Cross-references
- Luke 24:16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing Him.
- Song of Solomon 3:3 I encountered the watchmen on their rounds of the city: “Have you seen the one I love?”
- Matthew 28:9 Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” They came to Him, grasped His feet, and worshiped Him.
- Mark 16:9 Early on the first day of the week, after Jesus had risen, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had driven out seven demons.
- John 21:4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not recognize that it was Jesus.
- Luke 24:31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus—and He disappeared from their sight.
- John 8:59 At this, they picked up stones to throw at Him. But Jesus was hidden and went out of the temple area.
- Mark 16:12 After this, Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them as they walked along in the country.
- Luke 4:30 But Jesus passed through the crowd and went on His way.