“Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou?”
The full verse · John 20:15 · KJV
unto , , weepest ? seekest ? , him to the , unto , , have , thou hast , and will .
Asked by
Jesus: the risen Lord, standing behind Mary at the sepulchre, though she did not know that it was Jesus (John 20:14)
Asked to
Mary Magdalene: a follower of Jesus out of whom went seven devils (Luke 8:2), who came to the sepulchre early and stayed there weeping after the disciples went home (John 20:1, 10-11)
The Scene
Early on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene stands weeping outside the empty sepulchre in the garden where Jesus was buried (John 19:41; John 20:1, 11). She has just told two angels that someone has taken away her Lord, and she turns and sees Jesus standing there without knowing it is He (John 20:13-14).
Why It Was Asked
The purpose behind the questionJesus already knew why Mary was weeping and whom she was looking for. His questions invited her to say it. The first question repeats the angels' words (John 20:13). Gill says that when the angels asked it, they signified that she had no reason to weep, "but to rejoice and be glad," since her Lord was alive. The second question, Gill notes, recognized that she was "not only weeping for the loss of him, but was inquiring after him." Matthew Henry sees in the two questions Christ taking notice of His people's griefs and of what they are seeking.
The Response
What Scripture recordsMary did not answer either question directly. "Supposing him to be the gardener," she said, "Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away" (John 20:15). She never even said whom she meant. Then Jesus spoke one word: "Mary." She turned and said, "Rabboni; which is to say, Master" (John 20:16). Jesus sent her to His brethren, and she told the disciples "that she had seen the LORD" (John 20:17-18).
Historical Context
The world behind the wordsThe sepulchre was new and stood in a garden near the place where Jesus was crucified (John 19:41-42). That is why Mary took the stranger for the gardener. The Greek word, kēpouros, means a keeper of a garden, and Thayer's lexicon lists this verse as its only use in the New Testament. Gill reasons that she could not imagine Joseph, who had buried Jesus, would be there so early in the morning, but might reasonably think the gardener was.
Why didn't she know Him? Barnes says she was not expecting to see Him, and it was still twilight. Gill adds that her eyes were "filled with tears." The address "Woman" is the same one Jesus used for His own mother from the cross (John 19:26).
The Bigger Picture
Where this fits in God's storyIn John's Gospel, the risen Jesus opens His first recorded conversation with a question. He knew her tears and her search, yet He asked anyway, inviting a grieving woman to put her sorrow into words. Matthew Henry writes, "Christ takes cognizance, 1. Of his people's griefs." Mark records that the risen Jesus "appeared first to Mary Magdalene" (Mark 16:9).
Mary was looking for a dead body; she found a living Lord. She did not know Him by sight, but she knew Him the moment He called her by name (John 20:16). Barnes says it was spoken "in a tone of voice that at once recalled him to her recollection." Her question about where He had been laid was answered by the One she was seeking.
Look Closer
What did Mary think had happened when she saw the empty sepulchre?
Carry the question into prayer and conversation.
Lord Jesus, You asked Mary why she was weeping and whom she was seeking; what am I really looking for in my sorrow today?
A prayer to carry into the day.
- Mary was so focused on finding a body that she did not recognize the living Lord beside her. What expectations might keep you from noticing Jesus at work?
- Mary knew Jesus when He spoke her name. Tell about a time God met you personally in a season of grief.
For you, a small group, a friend, or the dinner table.
Jesus did not scold Mary for weeping. He asked her about it. You can tell Him plainly why you are sad and what you are looking for, even if your words come out confused, as Mary's did.
Grief can make it hard to recognize Him. Mary looked right at Jesus and thought He was the gardener. Matthew Henry observes, "Troubled spirits, in a cloudy and dark day, are apt to misrepresent Christ to themselves." When sorrow is heavy, keep listening for His voice in His Word.
This does not mean tears are a sign of weak faith. Mary's love kept her at the tomb after others went home (John 20:10-11), and that is where Jesus met her.
Built from the biblical text and checked against trusted commentaries and lexicons. References & Sources
Keep questioning
“Woman, why weepest thou?”
“What seek ye? Where dwellest thou?”
“Whom seek ye?”
“Why seek ye the living among the dead?”