Matthew 27:47 Meaning: Why Did They Say Jesus Called Elijah?
Some of them who stood there, when they heard it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.”
Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias.
And some of them that stood there, when they heard it, said, This man calleth Elijah.
And certain of those standing there having heard, said--`Elijah he doth call;'
And some of those who stood there, when they heard [it], said, This [man] calls for Elias.
Meaning in one sentence
When Jesus cried out from the cross, some thought He called Elijah. Was it a mistake or mockery? Learn the meaning of Matthew 27:47.
Context
Matthew 27 places us at the cross. For three hours, darkness covered the land. Then Jesus cried out in Aramaic, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?”, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Some bystanders who heard this mistook His words. They declared, “This man is calling Elijah.” The crowd included chief priests, scribes, elders, Roman soldiers, and passersby. Earlier they had taunted Him to save Himself from the cross. Now they twist His prayer into one more insult. The moment drips with cruelty, suffering layered upon misunderstanding.
Key Words
Three words in the Greek text open the scene. Phōneō (to call aloud) is a strong verb, not a quiet murmur but a cry that carries. Jesus is not whispering; He is shouting in agony. The bystanders could not miss it. Hēlias is the Greek form of Elijah, the prophet who never died and whom many Jews expected to return before the Messiah (Malachi 4:5). Every devout person knew that name. And akousantes (from akouō, to hear) describes people who listened but apparently did so carelessly or willfully. They heard the sounds but not the meaning. The word reminds us that hearing is not the same as understanding, especially when pain fills the voice.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians read this verse with two lenses. Some commentators, like Adam Clarke and John Gill, suggest the bystanders were Hellenistic Jews, Aramaic was not their first language, so they genuinely misheard “Eli” as “Elijah.” Others, like John Calvin and Albert Barnes, argue the mockery was deliberate. The crowd knew the sound of the words and twisted them to deride Jesus, using the popular hope of Elijah’s return to add insult. Both traditions agree on one thing: whether through ignorance or cruelty, the bystanders turned Jesus’s cry into a taunt.
A common misunderstanding
People often think this was just a simple language mix-up, like mishearing a word in a noisy room. In fact, many commentators believe it was intentional mockery. The bystanders likely recognized “Eli” and deliberately twisted it into a taunt about Elijah, knowing that Jews expected the prophet to come before the Messiah. Their words were meant to wound, not to clarify.
Living This Out
This week, you may find yourself in a situation where someone misinterprets your cry to God. Maybe you share a struggle and someone dismisses it or jokes about it. Or maybe you are the one standing by, hearing another person’s pain. The bystanders at the cross remind us how easy it is to twist someone’s suffering. Instead, you can choose to listen carefully, resist the urge to mock or minimize, and be the one who brings comfort, even if all you can do is stay quietly present.
Main takeaway: Even in His deepest agony, Jesus's words were twisted by onlookers, showing how easily suffering can be misunderstood.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Jesus was on the cross and said something in a different language. Some people nearby thought He was calling for a helper named Elijah. But Jesus was really talking to God.
For ages 9, 12
When Jesus cried out, “My God, why have you forsaken me?” some people nearby thought He was calling Elijah, a prophet from long ago who went to heaven without dying. Many Jews believed Elijah would return before the Messiah came. The bystanders either didn’t understand Jesus’s words or pretended not to, just to make fun of Him. Either way, they missed the real meaning of His prayer.
Questions People Ask
Why did the bystanders think Jesus was calling Elijah?
Jesus cried out ‘Eli, Eli,’ which sounds like the beginning of the name Elijah. Many Jews expected Elijah to return before the Messiah (Malachi 4:5). So some bystanders thought Jesus was calling for the prophet to help Him.
Was this a genuine misunderstanding or intentional mockery?
Commentators disagree. Some say Hellenistic Jews who were not fluent in Aramaic genuinely misheard. Others, like Calvin and Barnes, argue it was deliberate mockery to increase Jesus’s suffering, using the popular expectation of Elijah to taunt Him.
What does the name Elijah mean?
Elijah means ‘My God is Yahweh.’ He was a major prophet who went to heaven without dying, so many Jews expected him to come back as a forerunner of the Messiah.
How is this verse recorded in other Gospels?
Mark 15:35 has a parallel: ‘Some of those who stood by, when they heard it, said, “Behold, he is calling Elijah.”’ The accounts are very similar, differing only in minor details.
What is the significance of Elijah in Jewish expectation at that time?
Malachi 4:5 promised God would send Elijah before the great day of the Lord. By Jesus’s time, this hope was widespread, so the bystanders might have used this belief to mock Jesus for appearing abandoned by God.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study