The “Five Marys” of the Gospels

The English name “Mary” is a translation of the Greek Μαρια (Maria), which is a derivative of the
Hebrew ‫( מרים‬Miriam). The name was probably a popular one in Judea during New Testament times:
Seven women in the NT have this name, five of whom are in the Gospels.

References marked with an asterisk (*) indicate the woman is mentioned in the passage, but not named.

New Testament References

Mary the mother of Jesus is mentioned by name in the Synoptic Gospels, although Matthew 1:16, 18–25; 2:9–23;
she also appears, unnamed, in the Gospel John. 13:55.
She is most prominent in Luke and Matthew’s infancy narratives, but is also present Mark 3:31–32*; 6:3.
during Jesus’ ministry (John 2:1–5; Mark 3:31). She was at the foot of the cross, where Luke 1:26–56; 2:4–52.
Jesus committed her to the care of the beloved disciple (John 19:25–27).
John 2:1–12*; 19:25–27*.
Her final mention in New Testament is with the disciples and other early believers after
Jesus’ ascension into heaven (Acts 1:14). Acts 1:14.

Mary Magdalene was one of the most prominent of the Galilean women who followed Matthew 26:6–13;
Jesus (Mark 15:40–41), and the first person to whom Jesus revealed himself after his 27:55–56, 61; 28:1–10.
resurrection (John 20:11–18). Mark 15:40–41, 47; 16:1–11.
She had formerly been possessed by seven devils, whom Jesus had exorcised (Mark 16:9; Luke 8:1–3; 23:49*;
Luke 8:2). 23:55–24:11.
(There has been much speculation about Mary Magdalene—for example, that she was a John 19:25; 20:1–2, 11–18.
repentant prostitute, or that she was Jesus’ wife—but these ideas do not have any basis in
scripture.)
Mary of Bethany, a disciple of Jesus and the sister of Martha and Lazarus (the man Luke 10:38–42.
whom Jesus raised from the dead in John 11). John 11:1–45; 12:1–8.
This Mary sat and listened to Jesus teach while Martha worked (Luke 10:38–42).
In John’s gospel, she anointed Jesus’ feet with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair
(John 12:1–8). Luke has a similar account of a woman “which was a sinner” who washed
Jesus’ feet with her tears, wiped them with her hair, and anointed them with ointment,
after which Jesus told her, “Thy sins are forgiven” (Luke 7:36–50). Matthew (26:6–13)
and Mark (14:3–9) also have their own account of an unnamed woman of Bethany
anointing Jesus’ head with ointment. It’s not certain if these are all based on the same
account, or if they are two (or three) separate stories. If John and Luke are the same
story, then Mary was apparently a repentant sinner whom Jesus had forgiven.
Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, also called by Matthew “the other Matthew 27:55–56, 61;
Mary” (27:61; 28:1). 28:1–10.
Mark identifies her, along with Mary Magdalene, as one of the Galilean women who Mark 15:40–41, 47; 16:1–8.
followed Jesus to Jerusalem (15:40–41). Luke 24:10.
She was one of the women planning to anoint Jesus’ body, but who instead discovered the
empty tomb and the angelic message of his resurrection (Mark 16:1–8).
Mary of Cleophas, a follower of Jesus who is mentioned only once, standing with other John 19:25.
women at the foot of Jesus’ cross. The phrase in John 19:25—“his mother, and his
mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene”—is difficult; it could
indicate that there were four separate women, or that there were three women and that
this Mary was the sister of Jesus’ mother (who was also named Mary).
Her name is simply given as “Mary of Cleophas” (or “Clopas”), which probably indicates
that she was Cleophas’ wife, but could also indicate his sister or mother. (This Cleophas
could be the same as Cleopas, the disciple mentioned in Luke 24:18.)
Some scholars believe that Mary of Cleophas is the same as Mary the mother James and
Joses.

Other women named Mary in the New Testament:

Mary, the mother of John Mark and a notable early believer whose home in Jerusalem Acts 12:12.
was one of the earliest church houses where Christians would meet to worship.
Mary, a Christian in Rome who received greetings from Paul. Romans 16:6.