15:40a

And there were also women: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible literally translates as And there were also women refers to the women who were present, three of whom are mentioned in verse 15:40b. Verse 15:41b says that there were “many others.” Use a term that can include all of these women.

watching from a distance: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as watching from a distance also means “watching from far away.” The women were not standing near the cross and watching.

In some languages there are specific verbs for observing or viewing an event. There may also be specific verbs for looking at something from a distance. Use a verb or phrase that is natural in your language.

15:40b–d

Mark mentioned the names of three women here. The first two were named Mary. The third woman was Salome.

15:40b

Mary Magdalene: The first Mary in 15:40b was called Mary Magdalene because she was probably from the town of Magdala. Mary was a common name in Israel. So calling her Mary Magdalene distinguished her from the other Marys who are mentioned in Mark and the other Gospels.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

Mary of Magdala (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Mary from Magdala (God’s Word)
-or-
Mary who was from the town of Magdala

15:40c–d

Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome: Mark referred to the second Mary as the mother of James…and of Joses. James and Joses are the names of her two sons.

Mark may have mentioned the names of James and Joses because they were known in the churches to which he was writing.

Be careful in the way you translate this list. People should not think that James is the only son and Joses is another woman. Be careful too that Salome will not be confused as another child of Mary. Salome is another woman who was there watching at a distance.

James: James is an English form of the name Jacob. You can follow the form of this name found in a major language Bible version. Or you can transliterate it on the basis of either the Greek or Hebrew form Iacob/Yacob.

the younger: James was probably called James the younger to distinguish him from another James. (Other men with this name are James the son of Zebedee and James the brother of Jesus). In some languages, it may not be natural to call him “younger” when it is not clear whom he was younger than. If that is true in your language, then you could simply call him “the young James” (as in the God’s Word).

Joses: In Greek, this name is Ioses. It was probably an alternative Greek form for “Joseph” (see Matthew 27:56, which has the name “Joseph”). You can follow the form of this name found in a major language Bible version. Or you can transliterate it as either “Joses/Ioses” or “Joseph.”

If you follow the form “Joses/Ioses,” it may help to avoid confusion with the name “Joseph of Arimathea” in 15:43. If you follow the form “Joseph,” that would make the name in this verse the same as the name in Matthew 27:56.

General Comment on 14:40b–d

In some languages, it may be more natural to change the order in which the women are named. For example:

40bAmong these were three women. 40dOne was named Salome 40band two were named Mary. The first Mary was from Magdala. 40cThe second Mary was the mother of James (called “Younger James”) and Joses.

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