1And when the Sabbath had passed, Mary Magdalene and Mary the one of James and Salome purchased aromatic spices so that, having come, they might anoint him. [16:2] And very early on the first day of the week they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. [16:3] And they were saying among themselves, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?" [16:4] And having looked up, they see that the stone has been rolled away — for it was extremely large. [16:5] And having entered into the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, having clothed himself in a white robe, and they were greatly amazed. [16:6] And he says to them, "Do not be amazed. Jesus the Nazarene, the crucified one — he is risen! He is not here. Behold the place where they laid him. [16:7] But go, say to his disciples and to Peter that he goes before you into Galilee; there you will behold him, even as he said to you." [16:8] And having gone out, they fled from the tomb; for trembling and amazement had seized them, and they said nothing to no one, for they were afraid. And all the things instructed to those around Peter they reported promptly. And after these things Jesus himself also sent out through them from the east and to the west the sacred and imperishable preaching of eternal salvation. Amen.
MRK 16:1-8
The Resurrection
In the world it was spoken into
In the first-century Jewish context, the Sabbath was a day of strict rest, prohibiting work, including the preparation of spices for burial. Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome waited until the Sabbath ended at sundown to purchase aromatic spices , which were costly and used to honor the deceased by masking the odor of decay. The 'first day of the week' refers to Sunday, the day after the Sabbath, marking the beginning of a new week. The women’s concern about the large stone blocking the tomb reflects practical Jewish burial practices, where tombs were sealed with heavy stones to prevent desecration. The appearance of a young man clothed in a white robe evokes imagery of divine messengers, as white garments often symbolized purity or heavenly beings in Jewish and Greco-Roman traditions. Their reaction of being 'utterly astonished' underscores the shock and awe of encountering the supernatural in a space associated with death.
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How other translations render this
MRK 16:1
- KJV
- And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
- BSB
- When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so they could go and anoint the body of Jesus.
- Koinōnos
- And when the Sabbath had passed, Mary Magdalene and Mary the one of James and Salome purchased aromatic spices so that, having come, they might anoint him.
MRK 16:2
- KJV
- And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
- BSB
- Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they went to the tomb.
- Koinōnos
- And very early on the first day of the week they came to the tomb when the sun had risen.
MRK 16:3
- KJV
- And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?
- BSB
- They were asking one another, “Who will roll away the stone from the entrance of the tomb?”
- Koinōnos
- And they were saying among themselves, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?
MRK 16:4
- KJV
- And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
- BSB
- But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away, even though it was extremely large.
- Koinōnos
- And having looked up, they see that the stone has been rolled away — for it was extremely large.
MRK 16:5
- KJV
- And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.
- BSB
- When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
- Koinōnos
- And having entered into the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, having clothed himself in a white robe, and they were greatly amazed.
MRK 16:6
- KJV
- And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
- BSB
- But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here! See the place where they put Him.
- Koinōnos
- And he says to them, "Do not be amazed. Jesus the Nazarene, the crucified one — he is risen! He is not here. Behold the place where they laid him.
MRK 16:7
- KJV
- But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.
- BSB
- But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him, just as He told you.’”
- Koinōnos
- But go, say to his disciples and to Peter that he goes before you into Galilee; there you will behold him, even as he said to you.
MRK 16:8
- KJV
- And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.
- BSB
- So the women left the tomb and ran away, trembling and bewildered. And in their fear they did not say a word to anyone.
- Koinōnos
- And having gone out, they fled from the tomb; for trembling and amazement had seized them, and they said nothing to no one, for they were afraid. And all the things instructed to those around Peter they reported promptly. And after these things Jesus himself also sent out through them from the east and to the west the sacred and imperishable preaching of eternal salvation. Amen.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
MRK 16:1
- bought:The word translated 'bought' here refers to purchasing aromatic spices or perfumes, which were commonly used for anointing the dead in this culture.
MRK 16:2
- week:The term translated 'week' literally refers to the Sabbath, and in this context, it means the period of seven days beginning with the Sabbath.
MRK 16:5
- having clothed himself in:The phrase 'having clothed himself in' suggests a deliberate act of putting on garments, often implying a distinctive or formal attire.
- they were greatly amazed.:The word translated 'they were greatly amazed' describes a profound sense of shock, terror, and bewilderment, far beyond simple surprise.