JHN 20:1-9

The Resurrection

1Now on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb while it was still deep dark, and saw the stone had been lifted away from the tomb. [20:2] She ran, therefore, and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus was fond of, and said to them: 'They have taken away the Lord from the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.' [20:3] Peter and the other disciple went out, therefore, and were coming to the tomb. [20:4] The two were running together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came first to the tomb. [20:5] Stooping to look in, he saw the linen wrappings lying there — yet he did not enter. [20:6] Simon Peter came, therefore, following him, and entered the tomb; and he carefully observed the linen wrappings lying there, [20:7] and the face-cloth that had been on his head — not lying with the linen wrappings, but folded up separately in one place. [20:8] Then the other disciple entered also, the one who came first to the tomb, and he saw and believed. [20:9] For they did not yet understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.

In the world it was spoken into

In the first-century Jewish context, the 'first day of the week' marked the day after the Sabbath, a time when Jewish law permitted travel and work. Mary Magdalene’s visit to the tomb at dawn aligns with Jewish burial customs, which emphasized visiting graves to mourn and honor the dead. The removal of the stone would have been shocking, as tombs were sealed to protect the body from desecration or theft. Mary’s assumption that 'they have taken away the Lord' reflects a common fear of grave robbery, a serious concern in Roman Palestine. Peter and the 'other disciple' (likely John) running to the tomb underscores the urgency and honor-bound duty to investigate such a claim. The use of (to observe carefully) for Peter’s examination suggests a deliberate, almost forensic scrutiny of the scene. The linen wrappings left behind would have been significant, as grave robbers would not have unwrapped the body. This detail hints at something extraordinary, challenging their understanding of death and burial practices.

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How other translations render this

JHN 20:1

KJV: The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
BSB: Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.
Koinōnos: Now on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb while it was still deep dark, and saw the stone had been lifted away from the tomb.

JHN 20:2

KJV: Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the LORD out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.
BSB: So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb,” she said, “and we do not know where they have put Him!”
Koinōnos: She ran, therefore, and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus was fond of, and said to them: 'They have taken away the Lord from the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.

JHN 20:3

KJV: Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.
BSB: Then Peter and the other disciple set out for the tomb.
Koinōnos: Peter and the other disciple went out, therefore, and were coming to the tomb.

JHN 20:4

KJV: So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.
BSB: The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.
Koinōnos: The two were running together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came first to the tomb.

JHN 20:5

KJV: And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.
BSB: He bent down and looked in at the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in.
Koinōnos: Stooping to look in, he saw the linen wrappings lying there — yet he did not enter.

JHN 20:6

KJV: Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,
BSB: Simon Peter arrived just after him. He entered the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying there.
Koinōnos: Simon Peter came, therefore, following him, and entered the tomb; and he carefully observed the linen wrappings lying there,

JHN 20:7

KJV: And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
BSB: The cloth that had been around Jesusʼ head was rolled up, lying separate from the linen cloths.
Koinōnos: and the face-cloth that had been on his head — not lying with the linen wrappings, but folded up separately in one place.

JHN 20:8

KJV: Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.
BSB: Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in. And he saw and believed.
Koinōnos: Then the other disciple entered also, the one who came first to the tomb, and he saw and believed.

JHN 20:9

KJV: For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
BSB: For they still did not understand from the Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.
Koinōnos: For they did not yet understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

JHN 20:1

week:The word translated 'week' here literally means 'Sabbath.' In this context, it refers to the period of seven days, with the first day of the week being the day after the Sabbath.
when dark:The term used here for 'when dark' emphasizes a deep, profound darkness, often carrying connotations of moral or spiritual obscurity, not just the absence of light.

JHN 20:2

was loving:The word translated 'was loving' describes an affection based on fondness, friendship, and personal attachment, distinct from a deeper, more sacrificial form of love.

JHN 20:6

sees:The word translated 'sees' implies a careful, observant, and often contemplative gaze, suggesting a more deliberate and analytical act of seeing than a mere glance.