New Testament · Gospel

Luke 23:27

The Innocent Condemned

A great number of people followed Him, including women who kept mourning and wailing for Him. Luke 23:27 · Berean Standard Bible

What It Means

Luke 23:27, in plain English

A large crowd follows Jesus, including women who are crying and mourning for Him. Not everyone in Jerusalem wanted this to happen.

Why it's here

In the midst of this terrible procession, these women's tears are a reminder that compassion still exists even in the darkest moments.

Who's speaking

Luke captures the humanity of this moment — real people weeping for a real man they've loved and followed.

Where it sits in the story

As Jesus stumbles toward His death, the sound of women weeping fills the streets. They're mourning openly, bravely, in a crowd that includes His executioners. Their tears are a beautiful, heartbreaking act of courage and love.

A Closer Look

The scholar's commentary

A poly plēthos tou laou (great multitude of the people) follows, including gynaikes (women) who ekoptonto (beat their breasts in mourning) and ethrēnoun (wailed/lamented) for Jesus. These public demonstrations of grief were culturally significant expressions of mourning.

Language and setting

This scene is unique to Luke and reveals that popular sympathy for Jesus still existed even after the crowd's cry for crucifixion. The mourning women represent the people's genuine grief, distinct from the leaders' hostility.

Voice

Luke narrates the procession to Calvary, highlighting the mourning women as a compassionate counterpoint to the hostile crowd.

Significance

Not everyone in Jerusalem wanted Jesus dead. A large crowd follows, and women weep openly for Him. These mourning women represent the remnant of compassion in a city that has just condemned its Savior. Their tears are the first human response that acknowledges the tragedy unfolding.

In context

Luke 23:25–29

25As they had requested, he released the one imprisoned for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over to their will.

26As the soldiers led Him away, they seized Simon of Cyrene on his way in from the country, and they put the cross on him to carry behind Jesus.

27A great number of people followed Him, including women who kept mourning and wailing for Him.

28But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.

29Look, the days are coming when people will say, ‘Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore, and breasts that never nursed!’

Read all of Luke 23 — Pilate finds no fault. Herod finds entertainment. The crowd demands blood. And on a cross between two criminals, Jesus forgives.

Understand every verse, not just this one

This page covers one. BibleKey does all 31,102 — tap any verse for its meaning, any word for its Hebrew or Greek root, and keep reading without leaving the chapter.

Get BibleKey

In the App

What's in the app that isn't here.

Seven translations

NIV, NLT, NKJV, KJV and the Berean — plus the Catholic NLT-CE and Douay-Rheims, with the full deuterocanon in the reading order.

Every verse, as you read

Tap any of the 31,102 for what it means, and any word for its Hebrew or Greek root, without leaving the chapter.

Selah

Start recording at church and put your phone away. You get the transcript, the key moments, and every verse referenced.

Prayer Maker

Say what's sitting on your heart and hear it back as a real prayer, in a warm voice. Keep the ones that land.

Every Word

The whole Bible in a year — five chapters a day, five days a week, weekends off. Built to be finished.

Today's Light

A verse each morning with its meaning, how it lands today, something to sit with, and a prayer to close it.

Understand every verse.

Not just the famous ones. BibleKey is free on iPhone and iPad.

Download on the App Store

Free on iPhone & iPad