Mary, wife of Clopas
the one who stood by the cross
Who was Mary, wife of Clopas?
- She stood by the cross of Jesus, with the mother of Jesus and with Mary Magdalene. John 19:25
- John names her right after “his mother’s sister”; they may be the same woman. John 19:25; NAB note on Jn 19, 25
- In the Gospel her name is “Mary of Clopas”: it is almost always understood that she was the wife of Clopas. John 19:25; Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), “Cleophas”
- Also called
- Mary, the mother of James and Joses (traditional identification) Mark 15:40; Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), “Mary of Cleophas” · “The other Mary” (traditional identification) Matthew 27:61; Matthew 28:1; Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), “Mary of Cleophas”
What the Bible says
John 19:25
Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalen.
John 19:25; NAB note on Jn 19, 25
Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalen.
John 19:25; Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), “Cleophas”
Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalen.
Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.
The path of Mary, wife of Clopas
- With Jesus. She stood by the cross of Jesus, with the mother of Jesus and with Mary Magdalene. John 19:25
- With Jesus. She was there when Jesus entrusted his mother to the disciple whom he loved. John 19:25-27
- With Jesus. In that same scene, Jesus said he was thirsty. Then he said it was finished, bowed his head, and handed over his spirit. John 19:28-30
- Afterward. According to Tradition: Many identify her with “Mary the mother of James and Joses,” who watched the cross from a distance. Mark 15:40; Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), “Mary of Cleophas”
- Afterward. According to Tradition: If it is she, she saw where Jesus was laid and went to the tomb on Sunday with Mary Magdalene. Mark 15:47; Mark 16:1; Matthew 28:1; Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), “Mary of Cleophas”
- Afterward. This is an interpretation: if she is “Mary the mother of James,” she was at the empty tomb. There a young man dressed in white told the women that Jesus had risen. Mark 16:1-6
- Afterward. This too is an interpretation: Luke says that “Mary the mother of James” went with other women to tell the apostles. The apostles did not believe them. Luke 24:10-11
Words of Mary, wife of Clopas
The Gospels do not record any words of hers.
What they were like
- Faithful to the end: she stood by the cross of Jesus. John 19:25
Not to be confused with
- Mary: Mary, the mother of Jesus, was with her at the foot of the cross. They are two different women with the same name. John 19:25
- Mary Magdalene: Mary Magdalene was also by the cross. John names the two of them, one right after the other. John 19:25
What people ask
Was she the sister of the Virgin Mary?
John names “his mother's sister” and “Mary the wife of Clopas.” We do not know if they are the same woman; if they are, “sister” means a relative. John 19:25; NAB note on Jn 19, 25; Catechism 500
How many women were by the cross?
Two, three, or four, depending on how you read John's sentence. That is how the NAB note explains it. John 19:25; NAB note on Jn 19, 25
Was she the mother of James and Joses?
Many think so, comparing the lists of women; the Bible does not say. The Catechism speaks of that Mary as a disciple of Christ. Mark 15:40; Catechism 500; Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), “Mary of Cleophas”
Is her Clopas the Cleopas of Emmaus?
We do not know. In Greek the names are spelled differently, though some think he is the same man. Luke 24:18; John 19:25; Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), “Cleophas”
What did she do by the cross?
The Gospel only says she was there, beside the mother of Jesus. It does not say what she felt or what she said. John 19:25
Is she “the other Mary”?
Matthew gives that name to a Mary who stayed sitting facing the tomb with Mary Magdalene. Many think it is she, but this is an interpretation. Matthew 27:61; Catholic Encyclopedia, “Mary of Cleophas”
Little known John names her between the mother of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. John 19:25 Her name, “Mary the wife of Clopas,” appears only in the Gospel of John. John…
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See the mapWho Mary, wife of Clopas is connected to
- Cleopas · her husband?
- Jesus · by the cross
- Mary · his mother’s “sister”?
- Mary Magdalene · together by the cross
More people
All the people of the Bible · The Twelve Apostles · Women of the Bible