Matthew 28:9

And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.

And {G1161} as {G5613} they went {G4198} to tell {G518} his {G846} disciples {G3101},{G2532} behold {G2400}, Jesus {G2424} met {G528} them {G846}, saying {G3004}, All hail {G5463}. And {G1161} they came {G4334} and held {G2902} him {G846} by the feet {G4228}, and {G2532} worshipped {G4352} him {G846}.

Suddenly Yeshua met them and said, "Shalom!" They came up and took hold of his feet as they fell down in front of him.

Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” They came to Him, grasped His feet, and worshiped Him.

And behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and took hold of his feet, and worshipped him.

Commentary

Matthew 28:9 describes a pivotal moment immediately following the discovery of the empty tomb: Jesus' first post-resurrection appearance to His faithful followers. This verse provides crucial validation of the resurrection event and sets the stage for the disciples' future mission.

Context

This verse occurs just after Mary Magdalene and "the other Mary" (mentioned in Matthew 28:1) have visited Jesus' tomb and found it empty. An angel had already appeared to them, declaring Jesus' resurrection and instructing them to tell the disciples to go to Galilee, where they would see Him (as recorded in Matthew 28:7). As the women hurried to obey this command, filled with both fear and great joy, Jesus Himself met them, confirming the angelic message and His triumph over death.

Key Themes

  • The Physical Reality of Jesus' Resurrection: The women's ability to "held him by the feet" unequivocally demonstrates that Jesus was not a phantom or a spirit, but physically resurrected. This tangibility is foundational to Christian belief, emphasizing Jesus' victory over death in both spirit and body, a theme underscored in 1 Corinthians 15:14.
  • Immediate Worship and Recognition: The women's spontaneous act of worshipping Jesus upon seeing Him signifies their immediate recognition of His divine identity and authority. Their humble posture of holding His feet reflects profound reverence and adoration for their resurrected Lord.
  • Jesus' Greeting of Joy: Jesus' greeting, "All hail," translates the Greek word chairete, which literally means "rejoice!" or "be glad!" This greeting is not merely a salutation but an invitation to share in the overwhelming joy of His resurrection, a proclamation of victory and new life.
  • Confirmation and Commissioning: This personal encounter confirms the angel's message and prepares the women, who were the first witnesses, to be messengers of this good news to the disciples, setting the stage for the Great Commission.

Linguistic Insight

The phrase "All hail" in the King James Version is a translation of the Greek word chairete (χαίρετε). This word is a plural imperative of chairō (χαίρω), meaning "to rejoice," "be glad," or "farewell." In this context, it functions as a joyful greeting, far more profound than a simple "hello." It encapsulates the triumph and gladness of the resurrection, inviting the women (and by extension, all believers) to participate in the profound joy of Christ's victory over sin and death.

Significance and Application

Matthew 28:9 is incredibly significant because it provides direct, eyewitness testimony to the physical resurrection of Jesus Christ, the cornerstone of Christian faith. The women's response—holding His feet and worshipping Him—serves as a timeless model for believers today. It calls us to respond to the living Christ with humble adoration, complete surrender, and profound joy.

For us, this verse highlights that our faith is not based on a myth or a distant historical figure, but on a resurrected Savior who is accessible and worthy of all worship. It reminds us that even amid fear or uncertainty, Jesus meets us, extends His grace, and calls us to share in His triumph. Just as the women were commissioned to tell the disciples, we too are called to be witnesses to the power of the resurrection and to share the Gospel message with the world.

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

  • Matthew 28:17

    And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.

  • John 20:14

    And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.

  • John 20:17

    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.

  • Matthew 14:33

    Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

  • John 20:28

    And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

  • Luke 24:52

    And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:

  • John 12:3

    Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
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