Bible Strands
John 20:17
“Do not cling to Me,” Jesus said, “for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go and tell My brothers, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.’”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus speaks to Mary Magdalene in the garden, immediately after she has called Him "Rabboni" (v.16) and before she runs to the disciples (v.18). The moment sits between resurrection and ascension.
The words — ἅπτου (haptou), the imperative of ἅπτω, literally "seize, grasp, cling to" — the BSB's "cling" preserves the physicality of holding on. οὔπω (oupō), "not yet," marks the temporal boundary that makes the command necessary.
The thread — The Father-son language echoes John 16:28 ("I came from the Father... I will leave the world and go to the Father") and Galatians 4:6 ("crying out, Abba, Father"). Ephesians 4:8 picks up the ascension motif ("When He ascended on high").
Why it lands — Jesus redirects a personal encounter into a communal commission: "go and tell My brothers." The reader is asked to release the need to possess the risen Christ and instead carry the message outward.
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
Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
Cross-references
- John 16:28 I came from the Father and entered the world. In turn, I will leave the world and go to the Father.”
- Ephesians 4:8 This is why it says: “When He ascended on high, He led captives away, and gave gifts to men.”
- Galatians 4:6 And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”
- 1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
- John 17:11 I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, protect them by Your name, the name You gave Me, so that they may be one as We are one.
- Psalms 68:18 You have ascended on high; You have led captives away. You have received gifts from men, even from the rebellious, that the LORD God may dwell there.
- Mark 16:19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.
- Galatians 3:26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
- Ephesians 1:17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in your knowledge of Him.
- Hebrews 2:11 For both the One who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.