John 20:16

Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(16) Jesus saith unto her, Mary.—It is to that devoted love that the first words of the risen Lord are spoken. He who knew her whole past, and knew that her devotion to Him had sprung from the freedom from the thraldom of evil which He had wrought for her, is near to that woman weeping by the grave-side, while Apostles, even the true-hearted Peter and the loving John, have gone to their own homes. The voice of God is always most quickly heard by the hearts that love Him; the presence of God is never so truly felt as in the utter helplessness of human woe.

Saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.—The better reading is, saith unto Him in Hebrew, Rabboni . . .—Comp. Notes on John 19:13, and on Mark 10:51, which is the only other passage in the New Testament where “Rabboni” occurs. She had heard in the well-known voice her own name, and it has brought back to her all the old associations. It is the “Master,” or, as the Hebrew word means, “My Master,” and she falls at His feet to embrace Him.

Benson Commentary

John 20:16-17. Jesus saith unto her, Mary — Expressing himself with an emphasis, and that air of kindness and freedom, with which he had been wont to speak to her. This one word, Mary, was like that to the disciples, in the storm, It is I. She turned herself directly toward him, and, eagerly fixing her eyes upon him, instantly discovered who it was; and transported with a mixture of unutterable passions, she cried, Rabboni, which is to say, Master — And so much was her heart affected, that she could say no more, but immediately prostrated herself at his feet to embrace them; according to that modesty and reverence with which the women of the East saluted the men, 2 Kings 4:27; Luke 7:38. But Jesus refused this compliment, saying, Touch me not — Do not embrace me, either to pay thine homage to me, or to confirm thy faith; or do not cling to me; for it seems she held him by the feet, Matthew 28:9. Or, Do not detain me now, or waste time in embracing me; for I am not yet ascended to my Father — I have not yet left, and am not immediately to leave, the world; thou wilt, therefore, have many other opportunities of testifying thy regard to me. “The word απτεσθαι, (says Dr. Campbell, here rendered to touch,) in the use of the LXX., denotes also to lay hold on, and to cleave to, as in Job 31:7; Ezekiel 41:6, and other places.” The sense here plainly is, “Do not detain me at present. The time is precious. Lose not a moment, therefore, in carrying the joyful tidings of my resurrection to my disciples.” Accordingly it follows, Go to my brethren, &c. — Thus does he intimate in the strongest manner the forgiveness of their fault, even without ever mentioning it. These exquisite touches, which everywhere abound in the evangelical writings, show how perfectly Christ knew our frame. And say unto them, I ascend — He anticipates his ascension in his thoughts, and so speaks of it as a thing already present; to my Father and your Father; my God and your God — This uncommon expression shows, that the only- begotten Son has every kind of fellowship with his Father. And a fellowship with God, some way resembling his own, he bestows upon his brethren. Yet he does not say our God, (for no creature can be raised to an equality with him,) but my God, and your God: intimating that the Father is his, in a singular and incommunicable manner, and ours through him, in such a kind as a creature is capable of.

According to Mr. West, this text, I am not yet ascended, &c., comprehends, in a few words, a variety of very important hints, which have not commonly been taken notice of in them; particularly that our Lord intended by them to recall to the minds of his disciples the discourse he had with them three nights before, in which he explained what he meant by going to the Father, (John 16:28,) and by twice using the word ascend, designed to intimate that he was to go up to heaven, not merely in spirit, as the pious dead do, but by a corporeal motion and translation, and that it would be some time before he took his final leave of earth, by this intended ascension. All which expressions and predictions concur, with a great many other circumstances, to show how impossible it was that such an apprehended appearance should have been merely the result of a disordered imagination, which Mr. West illustrates at large, as he also does the mistaken apprehension of those disciples, who, when some of their companions, whose veracity they could not suspect, testified they had seen the Lord, thought his body was not risen, but that it was only his spirit which appeared to them.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

20:11-18 We are likely to seek and find, when we seek with affection, and seek in tears. But many believers complain of the clouds and darkness they are under, which are methods of grace for humbling their souls, mortifying their sins, and endearing Christ to them. A sight of angels and their smiles, will not suffice, without a sight of Jesus, and God's smiles in him. None know, but those who have tasted it, the sorrows of a deserted soul, which has had comfortable evidences of the love of God in Christ, and hopes of heaven, but has now lost them, and walks in darkness; such a wounded spirit who can bear? Christ, in manifesting himself to those that seek him, often outdoes their expectations. See how Mary's heart was in earnest to find Jesus. Christ's way of making himself known to his people is by his word; his word applied to their souls, speaking to them in particular. It might be read, Is it my Master? See with what pleasure those who love Jesus speak of his authority over them. He forbids her to expect that his bodily presence look further, than the present state of things. Observe the relation to God, from union with Christ. We, partaking of a Divine nature, Christ's Father is our Father; and he, partaking of the human nature, our God is his God. Christ's ascension into heaven, there to plead for us, is likewise an unspeakable comfort. Let them not think this earth is to be their home and rest; their eye and aim, and earnest desires, must be upon another world, and this ever upon their hearts, I ascend, therefore I must seek the things which are above. And let those who know the word of Christ, endeavour that others should get good from their knowledge.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Jesus saith unto her, Mary - This was spoken, doubtless, in a tone of voice that at once recalled him to her recollection.

Rabboni - This is a Hebrew word denoting, literally, my great master. If was one of the titles given to Jewish teachers. This title was given under three forms:

(a) Rab, or master - the lowest degree of honor.

(b) Rabbi, my master - a title of higher dignity.

(c) Rabboni, my great master the most honorable of all.

This title, among the Jews, was only given to seven persons, all persons of great eminence. As given by Mary to the Saviour, it was at once an expression of her joy, and an acknowledgment of him, as her Lord and Master. It is not improbable that she, filled with joy, was about to cast herself at his feet.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

16, 17. Jesus saith unto her, Mary—It is not now the distant, though respectful, "Woman." It is the oft-repeated name, uttered, no doubt, with all the wonted manner, and bringing a rush of unutterable and overpowering associations with it.

She turned herself, and saith to him, Rabboni!—But that single word of transported recognition was not enough for woman's full heart. Not knowing the change which had passed upon Him, she hastens to express by her action what words failed to clothe; but she is checked.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Christ calleth her by name, making such a sound as he certainly knew she understood. She calleth him Rabboni, which is as much as to say: My Master.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Jesus saith unto her, Mary,.... He might alter the tone of his voice, and speak unto her as he used to do, calling her by her name in his usual manner: so Christ has personal knowledge of all his people, and can call them by name; he knows them, and makes himself known to them, before they can know him; and though he may absent himself from them for a while, yet not always:

she turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni, which is to say, Master; it seems, as if she had dropped her conversation with the supposed gardener at once, and scarce waited for an answer from him, but turns herself to the angels again, if she could hear any tidings from them; acting like a person in the utmost distress, hurry and confusion; looking this way and that way, to this or the other person: and now upon Christ's speaking to her, in this plain, familiar manner, she turns herself again; when fully knowing him, she addresses him with the greatest faith and affection, reverence and humility; calling him her Lord and master, and throws herself at his feet: thus when Christ is pleased to manifest himself to his people, there goes a power along with his word, making himself known; and a word from Christ, attended with divine power, will give a soul a turn to him from the most excellent creatures, even angels; and when Christ is known, he will be acknowledged with all love, humility, and obedience. The word Rabboni, is of the Chaldee and Syriac form, and signifies "my Lord, or master"; and is commonly applied to one that has a despotic power over another; though all the Oriental versions say, that she spoke to him in Hebrew. The Syriac and Ethiopic, "Rabboni", but the Arabic and Persic, "Rabbi". The titles of Rab, Rabbi, and Rabban, are frequent with the Jewish doctors; who say (m), that Rabbi is greater than Rab, and Rabban is greater than Rabbi; and a man's own name greater than Rabban: but the word in the form here used Rabbon, I do not remember ever to have observed applied to any of the doctors; but is frequently used of the Divine Being, who, in their prayers, is often addressed in this manner, "Lord of the world" (n). I conjecture therefore, that Mary used this word, as expressive of her faith in his power and Godhead, seeing him alive from the dead; though it might be a name she was used to call him by before, being convinced from what he had done to her, and by the miracles she had observed performed by him on others, of his proper deity; as the poor blind man expresses his faith in the power of Christ to cure him, by addressing him in the same language, using the same word, Mark 10:51.

(m) Halichot Olam Tract. 1. c. 3. p. 25. (n) T. Bab. Taanith, fol. 20. 1. Sanhedrin, fol. 94. 1. Abot R. Nathan, c. 9. Bereshit Rabba, sect. 8. fol. 6. 4.

Geneva Study Bible

Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Meyer's NT Commentary

John 20:16. Jesus now calls her by name. Nothing more. By the voice, and by this voice, which utters aloud her name, she was to recognise Him.

στραφεῖσα] She had therefore, after John 20:14, again turned towards the grave.

ῥαββουνί] See on Mark 10:51.

The ʼΕβραϊστί is, indeed, matter of course, and in itself is superfluous; but in this circumstantiality there lies a certain solemnity in the delineation of the impressive moment. Note how, on the mention of her name, there follows nothing further on her side also, except that she utters the expressive Rabboni! More she cannot in all the throng of joyful surprise. Thus took place the ἐφάνη πρῶτον Μαρίᾳ τῇ Μαγδ., Mark 16:9.

Expositor's Greek Testament

John 20:16. λέγει … Διδάσκαλε. His uttering her name, Μαριάμ, revealed that He was a friend who knew her; and there was also that in the tone which made her instantly turn fully round to search Him with her gaze. Surprise, recognition, relief, joy, utter themselves in her exclamation, Ῥαββουνί, which Buxtorf renders “Domine mi”; but probably the pronominal suffix had ceased to have significance, as in “Monsieur,” etc. Lampe quotes the saying; “Majus est Rabbi quam Rabh, et majus est Rabban quam Rabbi,” cf. Mark 10:51. With the exclamation Mary made a forward movement as if to embrace Him. But this is forbidden.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

16. Mary] The term of general address, ‘Woman’ awoke no echo in her heart; the sign of personal knowledge and sympathy comes home to her at once. Thus ‘He calleth His own sheep by name’ (John 10:3).

saith unto him] We must add with the best authorities, in Hebrew. The insertion is of importance as indicating the language spoken between Christ and His disciples. S. John thinks it well to remind Greek readers that Greek was not the language used. Comp. Acts 22:2; Acts 26:14. The expression here used (Hebraïsti) occurs only in this Gospel (John 5:2, John 19:13; John 19:17; John 19:20) and in Revelation (John 9:11, John 16:16). See on John 19:37Rabboni] More exactly, Rabbuni. This precise form occurs also in Mark 10:51, but has been obliterated in the A. V. It is said to be Galilean, and if so natural in a woman of Magdala. Would any but a Jew of Palestine have preserved this detail?

Master] Or, Teacher. Its literal meaning is ‘my Master,’ but the pronominal portion of the word had lost almost all meaning. S. John’s translation shews that as yet her belief is very imperfect: she uses a mere human title.

Bengel's Gnomen

John 20:16. Λέγει, saith) with His wonted expression of countenance and accent. [A voice which, as we may suppose, poured such a flood of sweetness on her pious soul!—V. g.]—ἐκείνη, she) believing at once.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 16. - Jesus saith unto her, Mary. The more general expression, "woman" (ver. 15), makes her seem to us the representative of the whole of suffering humanity, weeping over the inability to find any link of fellowship between itself and the invisible God, feeling unconsciously after the Christ and haply not finding him, weeping because hostility had obliterated him or superstition had concealed him, while all the while he is near at hand. But now Jesus stirred the affection of the living, weeping person at his side by uttering her own name in tones that thrilled her to the heart, and created the new sublime conviction that he had risen, as he said. She turned herself, as though the previous glance had been momentary and partial, and now the vision and voice blended, and she knew him. And saith unto him in Hebrew, Rabbouni Ἑβραίστι is here introduced by modern editors, This word only occurs in this Gospel and the Apocalypse), a word (the evangelist adds) which is to say, Master. The Hebrew term - probably preserved in its Galilaean form, רַבּוּנִי, rabbouni, rather than in the ordinary form (see Authorized Version) רַבּרֹנִי, rabboni - if strictly translated, would be "my Teacher," or "my Master," yet the personal pronoun must not be pressed. It doubtless had lost its specialty as we find in many other languages (monsieur, mein herr, "my Lord," are familiar instances). Even if the full force of the pronoun were urged, Mary's faith had not gone beyond the ideal of her devotedly loved Teacher, Friend, Master, and fell far short of the insight which even the incredulous Thomas would soon exhibit, that the Lord had put on Divine glory, and filled all things. She apparently fell in speechless, passionate affection at his feet, as the other women did shortly afterwards (see Matthew 28:9); but with the idea that now the old relations between Teacher and loving disciples would be resumed. She was in no mood answering to the doubtfulness of the disciples who desired proof of his identity, of the fact of his corporeity, before they could understand his claim to be their perpetual Guide, and his promise to be with them "unto the end of the world;" but she thought at once of the old life in Galilee. Her joy knew no bounds, but her conception of the reality of that which was revealed to her was most imperfect. It was the realization of love rather than the perception of intellect. She rushed hastily to a very limited conclusion; and she suffered an obvious correction, if not repulse, which has been interpreted in many ways. John 20:16

Vincent's Word Studies

Saith unto Him, Rabboni

Insert, as Rev., after Him, in Hebrew.