John 20:15

Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

Jesus {G2424} saith {G3004} unto her {G846}, Woman {G1135}, why {G5101} weepest thou {G2799}? whom {G5101} seekest thou {G2212}? She {G1565}, supposing {G1380}{G3754} him to be {G2076} the gardener {G2780}, saith {G3004} unto him {G846}, Sir {G2962}, if {G1487} thou {G4771} have borne {G941} him {G846} hence {G941}, tell {G2036} me {G3427} where {G4226} thou hast laid {G5087} him {G846}, and I {G2504} will take {G142} him {G846} away {G142}.

Yeshua said to her, “Lady, why are you crying? Whom are you looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you’re the one who carried him away, just tell me where you put him; and I’ll go and get him myself.”

“Woman, why are you weeping?” Jesus asked. “Whom are you seeking?” Thinking He was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried Him off, tell me where you have put Him, and I will get Him.”

Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou hast borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

Commentary

Context

This verse is a pivotal moment in the resurrection narrative of Jesus Christ, specifically detailing Mary Magdalene's encounter at the empty tomb. Mary, having discovered the tomb open and the body of Jesus gone (John 20:1), is overcome with grief and confusion. She has just seen Peter and John leave, still bewildered, and is now alone, weeping outside the tomb. Her profound sorrow leads her to assume that the man speaking to her, whom she doesn't recognize, must be the gardener responsible for the grounds, perhaps having moved the body.

Key Themes

  • Profound Grief and Longing: Mary's tears highlight the deep emotional impact of losing Jesus, whom she loved and followed. Her sole desire is to find His body, even to retrieve it herself, demonstrating her unwavering devotion.
  • Unrecognized Presence: Jesus' initial appearance to Mary is veiled; she does not recognize Him. This theme of Jesus being present but not immediately recognized by His followers after the resurrection is common in the Gospels, perhaps due to His glorified state, divine concealment, or the emotional state of the beholder.
  • Human Misconception vs. Divine Reality: Mary's assumption that Jesus is the gardener who has "borne him hence" (moved the body) reflects a purely human, earthly understanding of the situation. She is searching for a dead body, unaware that she is speaking to the resurrected Lord of Life.
  • Compassionate Inquiry: Jesus' opening questions, "Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou?", are tender and direct. He immediately addresses her emotional state and the object of her search, setting the stage for His revelation.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "Woman" is Gunai (γύναι). While it might sound formal or distant in English, in the context of the New Testament, it was a common and respectful term of address, not impolite or dismissive. Jesus uses this term elsewhere, such as to His mother at the wedding in Cana (John 2:4) and from the cross (John 19:26). Mary's immediate, desperate response, "Sir, if thou have borne him hence...", shows her singular focus on finding Jesus' body, even if it meant physically carrying it away herself.

Practical Application

This verse offers powerful insights for believers today. Like Mary, we sometimes search for God in expected places or in ways that align with our human understanding, even when He is present in an unexpected form or circumstance. Mary's tears remind us that it is okay to grieve, but also that Jesus is attentive to our sorrow and meets us in our deepest need. Her ardent desire to find Jesus, despite her misunderstanding, highlights the importance of earnestly seeking Him. This interaction beautifully sets the stage for the intimate moment in the very next verse (John 20:16) where Jesus calls her by name, transforming her grief into joyous recognition.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • John 20:13

    And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.

  • John 18:7

    Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.

  • Mark 16:6

    And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.

  • 1 Samuel 1:16

    Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.

  • Song Of Solomon 3:2

    I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.

  • Matthew 28:5

    And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

  • John 1:38

    Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?
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