John 19:25

εἱστηκ. δέ. But there were standing. The δέ answers to the previous μέν, and these two particles mark the contrast between the two groups. On the one hand, the four plundering soldiers with the centurion; on the other, the four ministering women with the beloved disciple. It is not improbable that the women had provided (Matthew 27:55; Luke 8:2-3) the very clothing which the soldiers had taken away.

ἡ�. τ. μ. αὐ., Μ. ἡ. τ. Κ. We are left in doubt whether we here have two women or one, whether altogether there are four women or three. The former is much the more probable alternative. (1) It avoids the very improbable supposition of two sisters having the same name. (2) S. John is fond of parallel expressions; ‘His mother and His mother’s sister, Mary of Clopas and Mary Magdalene’ are two pairs set one against the other. (3) S. Mark (Mark 15:40) mentions Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less, and Salome. Mary Magdalene is common to both narratives, ‘Mary the mother of James the Less’ is the same as ‘Mary of Clopas:’ the natural inference is that Salome is the same as ‘His mother’s sister.’ If this is correct, (4) S. John’s silence about the name of ‘His mother’s sister’ is explained: she was his own mother, and he is habitually reserved about all closely connected with himself. We have seen already that he never mentions either his own name, or his brother’s, or the Virgin’s. (5) The very ancient Peshito or Syriac Version adopts this view by inserting ‘and’ before ‘Mary the (wife) of Clopas.’ Ἡ τοῦ Κλωπᾶ may mean the daughter, mother, or even sister of Clopas; but the wife is more probable: comp. ἐκ τῆς τοῦ Οὐρίου (Matthew 1:6); τὴν Σμικυθίωνος (Arist. Eccles. 46); Verania Pisonis (Plin. Ep. II. 20). There is no reason for identifying Clopas here with Cleopas in Luke 24:18 : Clopas is Aramaic, Cleopas is Greek. The spelling Cleophas is a mistake derived from Latin MSS. All Greek authorities have Cleopas. If ‘wife’ is rightly inserted, and she is the mother of James the Less, Clopas is the same as Alphaeus (Matthew 10:3; comp. Matthew 27:56). It is said that Clopas and Alphaeus may be different forms of the same Aramaic name. For Μαρία ἡ Μαγδ. see on John 6:67; Matthew 27:56; Luke 8:2.