Chapter
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Verse

John 20:15

ESV Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”
NIV He asked her, 'Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?' Thinking he was the gardener, she said, 'Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.'
NASB Jesus *said to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?' Thinking that He was the gardener, she *said to Him, 'Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you put Him, and I will take Him away.'
CSB "Woman," Jesus said to her, "why are you crying? Who is it that you're seeking? "Supposing he was the gardener, she replied, "Sir, if you've carried him away, tell me where you've put him, and I will take him away."
NLT Dear woman, why are you crying?' Jesus asked her. 'Who are you looking for?' She thought he was the gardener. 'Sir,' she said, 'if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him.'
KJV 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.

What does John 20:15 mean?

The last time Mary Magdalene saw Jesus, it was in the form of a beaten, murdered, skewered corpse (John 19:1–4, 18, 34) wrapped in linen and quickly buried (Matthew 27:60–61). Days later, she saw His grave open and empty, and ran to get a few of the disciples (John 20:1–10), who see the empty linens but leave without saying much. She is sobbing (John 20:11–14), and the light is still dim. She probably doesn't give Jesus a second look as she turns to leave.

Even when Jesus speaks, Mary does not fully realize it is Him. His question makes sense from a stranger, and she doesn't realize it's one of Christ's probing, challenging remarks (Matthew 9:4, 15; 15:16; Mark 8:17; 10:18; John 4:16; 6:67; 21:22). For the moment, her thoughts are locked to the idea that someone has taken Jesus body. She assumes this is the person tending the grave area (John 19:40–42). Her response is something like saying "I just want to know where His body is, please."

Jesus will call her by name, however. Something in His voice, or the fact that He uses her name, will trigger her recognition (John 20:16).
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