Lukas 23:27

23:27 A great number of the people followed him, among them women ¹  who were mourning ²  and wailing for him.

Lukas 8:52

8:52 Now they were all ³  wailing and mourning ⁴  for her, but he said, “Stop your weeping; she is not dead but asleep.”

[23:27]  ¹ sn The background of these women is disputed. Are they “official” mourners of Jesus’ death, appointed by custom to mourn death? If so, the mourning here would be more pro forma. However, the text seems to treat the mourning as sincere, so their tears and lamenting would have been genuine.

[23:27]  ² tn Or “who were beating their breasts,” implying a ritualized form of mourning employed in Jewish funerals. See the note on the term “women” earlier in this verse.

[8:52]  ³ sn This group probably includes outside or even professional mourners, not just family, because a large group seems to be present.

[8:52]  ⁴ tn Grk “beating the breasts” (in mourning); see L&N 52.1.