Luke 24:5
New International Version
In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?

New Living Translation
The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive?

English Standard Version
And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?

Berean Standard Bible
As the women bowed their faces to the ground in terror, the two men asked them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?

Berean Literal Bible
and of them having become terrified and bowing the faces to the ground, they said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?

King James Bible
And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?

New King James Version
Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?

New American Standard Bible
and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why are you seeking the living One among the dead?

NASB 1995
and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living One among the dead?

NASB 1977
and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living One among the dead?

Legacy Standard Bible
and when the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living One among the dead?

Amplified Bible
and as the women were terrified and were bowing their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why are you looking for the living One among the dead?

Christian Standard Bible
So the women were terrified and bowed down to the ground. “Why are you looking for the living among the dead? ” asked the men.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So the women were terrified and bowed down to the ground.” Why are you looking for the living among the dead?” asked the men. “

American Standard Version
and as they were affrighted and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?

Contemporary English Version
The women were afraid and bowed to the ground. But the men said, "Why are you looking in the place of the dead for someone who is alive?

English Revised Version
and as they were affrighted, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The women were terrified and bowed to the ground. The men asked the women, "Why are you looking among the dead for the living one?

Good News Translation
Full of fear, the women bowed down to the ground, as the men said to them, "Why are you looking among the dead for one who is alive?

International Standard Version
While the women remained terrified, bowing their faces to the ground, the men asked them, "Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is living?

Majority Standard Bible
As the women bowed their faces to the ground in terror, the two men asked them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?

NET Bible
The women were terribly frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead?

New Heart English Bible
Becoming terrified, they bowed their faces down to the earth. They said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?

Webster's Bible Translation
And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said to them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?

Weymouth New Testament
The women were terrified; but, as they stood with their faces bowed to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you search among the dead for Him who is living?

World English Bible
Becoming terrified, they bowed their faces down to the earth. The men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and on their having become afraid, and having inclined the face to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living with the dead?

Berean Literal Bible
and of them having become terrified and bowing the faces to the ground, they said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?

Young's Literal Translation
and on their having become afraid, and having inclined the face to the earth, they said to them, 'Why do ye seek the living with the dead?

Smith's Literal Translation
And they having, been afraid, and bending the face to the earth, they said to them, Why seek ye the living with the dead.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And as they were afraid, and bowed down their countenance towards the ground, they said unto them: Why seek you the living with the dead?

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then, since they were afraid and were turning their faces toward the ground, these two said to them: “Why do you seek the living with the dead?

New American Bible
They were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground. They said to them, “Why do you seek the living one among the dead?

New Revised Standard Version
The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And they were afraid, and bowed their faces to the ground; and they said to them, Why do you seek the living among the dead?

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And they were in fear and they bowed their faces to the ground, and they were saying to them, “Why are you seeking The Life among the dead?
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And while they feared and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them: Why seek you among the dead for him that lives?

Godbey New Testament
and they being afraid, and turning their face towards the ground, they said to them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?

Haweis New Testament
and when they were exceedingly terrified, and inclined their face to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?

Mace New Testament
upon which they were frightned, and bowed themselves to the very ground: but the men said to them, why do you look among the dead for one that is alive?

Weymouth New Testament
The women were terrified; but, as they stood with their faces bowed to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you search among the dead for Him who is living?

Worrell New Testament
And, as they became afraid, and were bowing their faces to the earth, they said to them, "Why are ye seeking the Living among the dead?

Worsley New Testament
And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the ground, the men said unto them, Why do ye seek the living among the dead?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Resurrection
4While they were puzzling over this, suddenly two men in radiant apparel stood beside them. 5As the women bowed their faces to the ground in terror, the two men asked them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you while He was still in Galilee:…

Cross References
Matthew 28:5-6
But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. / He is not here; He has risen, just as He said! Come, see the place where He lay.

Mark 16:6
But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here! See the place where they put Him.

John 20:12-13
and she saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and the other at the feet. / “Woman, why are you weeping?” they asked. “Because they have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I do not know where they have put Him.”

Acts 2:24
But God raised Him from the dead, releasing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep Him in its grip.

Romans 6:9
For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, He cannot die again; death no longer has dominion over Him.

1 Corinthians 15:20
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

Revelation 1:18
the Living One. I was dead, and behold, now I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of Death and of Hades.

Acts 3:15
You killed the Author of life, but God raised Him from the dead, and we are witnesses of this fact.

Acts 4:10
then let this be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.

Acts 10:40
God raised Him up on the third day and caused Him to be seen—

Acts 13:30
But God raised Him from the dead,

1 Peter 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Isaiah 53:10-12
Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush Him and to cause Him to suffer; and when His soul is made a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand. / After the anguish of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities. / Therefore I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He has poured out His life unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors. Yet He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.

Psalm 16:10
For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay.

Hosea 6:2
After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His presence.


Treasury of Scripture

And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said to them, Why seek you the living among the dead?

they.

Luke 1:12,13,29
And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him…

Daniel 8:17,18
So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision…

Daniel 10:7-12,16,19
And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves…

the living.

Hebrews 7:8
And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.

Revelation 1:18
I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

Revelation 2:8
And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;

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Affrighted Afraid Bent Bowed Dead Earth Face Faces Fear Filled Fright Frightened Ground Inclined Search Seek Stood Terrified Women
Luke 24
1. Jesus' resurrection is declared by two angels to the women who come to the tomb.
9. They report it to others.
13. Jesus himself appears to the two disciples that went to Emmaus;
36. afterwards he appears to the apostles, and reproves their unbelief;
47. gives them a charge;
49. promises the Holy Spirit;
50. and so ascends into heaven.














As the women bowed their faces to the ground in terror
This phrase captures the immediate reaction of the women who came to the tomb. The Greek word for "bowed" is "klino," which implies a deep reverence or submission. In the context of the resurrection, this act of bowing signifies both fear and awe in the presence of divine messengers. Historically, bowing one's face to the ground was a common expression of humility and respect, especially in the presence of the divine or the supernatural. The women's terror is a natural human response to encountering the unexpected and the holy, reflecting the profound impact of the resurrection event.

the men asked them
The "men" referred to here are angels, as clarified in the surrounding verses. The Greek word "aner" is used, which can mean "man" but in this context refers to angelic beings. Angels often appear in human form in biblical narratives, serving as messengers of God. Their presence at the tomb underscores the divine nature of the resurrection and the fulfillment of Jesus' prophecies. The angels' role is to guide, inform, and comfort the women, redirecting their understanding from death to life.

Why do you look for the living among the dead?
This rhetorical question is profound and central to the resurrection narrative. The Greek word for "living" is "zao," which signifies not just physical life but a vibrant, eternal life. The angels challenge the women—and by extension, all believers—to shift their perspective from the finality of death to the reality of resurrection. This question invites reflection on the nature of Jesus' mission and the transformative power of His resurrection. It serves as a reminder that Jesus has conquered death, and His followers are called to seek Him in the realm of the living, not among the dead. This phrase encapsulates the hope and victory inherent in the Christian faith, emphasizing that Jesus is alive and active in the world today.

(5) Why seek ye the living among the dead?--Better, as in the margin, Him that liveth. The question was enough to change the whole current of their thoughts. The Lord whom they came to honour as dead was in very deed "living," was emphatically "He that liveth," alive for evermore (Revelation 1:18). The primary meaning of the words is, of course, limited to this; but like the parallel, "let the dead bury their dead" (see Note on Matthew 8:22), they suggest manifold applications. It is in vain that we seek "Him that liveth" in dead works, dead formulae, dead or dying institutions. The eternal life that is in Christ is not to be found by looking into the graves of the past in the world's history, or in those of our individual life. In both cases it is better to rise, as on the "stepping-stones of our dead selves," to "higher things."



Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
As
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

[the women]
αὐτῶν (autōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Feminine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

bowed
κλινουσῶν (klinousōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Feminine Plural
Strong's 2827: A primary verb; to slant or slope, i.e. Incline or recline.

[their]
τὰ (ta)
Article - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

faces
πρόσωπα (prosōpa)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 4383: From pros and ops; the front, i.e. The countenance, aspect, appearance, surface; by implication, presence, person.

to
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

the
τὴν (tēn)
Article - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

ground
γῆν (gēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1093: Contracted from a primary word; soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe.

in terror,
ἐμφόβων (emphobōn)
Adjective - Genitive Feminine Plural
Strong's 1719: Full of fear, terrified. From en and phobos; in fear, i.e. Alarmed.

[the two men] asked
εἶπαν (eipan)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

them,
αὐτάς (autas)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Feminine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

“Why
Τί (Ti)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5101: Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what.

do you look for
ζητεῖτε (zēteite)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 2212: To seek, search for, desire, require, demand. Of uncertain affinity; to seek; specially, to worship, or to plot.

the
τὸν (ton)
Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

living
ζῶντα (zōnta)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2198: To live, be alive. A primary verb; to live.

among
μετὰ (meta)
Preposition
Strong's 3326: (a) gen: with, in company with, (b) acc: (1) behind, beyond, after, of place, (2) after, of time, with nouns, neut. of adjectives.

the
τῶν (tōn)
Article - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

dead?
νεκρῶν (nekrōn)
Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3498: (a) adj: dead, lifeless, subject to death, mortal, (b) noun: a dead body, a corpse. From an apparently primary nekus; dead.


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NT Gospels: Luke 24:5 Becoming terrified they bowed their faces down (Luke Lu Lk)
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