John 20:10 kjv
Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.
John 20:10 nkjv
Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.
John 20:10 niv
Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.
John 20:10 esv
Then the disciples went back to their homes.
John 20:10 nlt
Then they went home.
John 20 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jn 20:1 | Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw... | Mary first discovers the empty tomb. |
| Jn 20:2 | So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple... "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb..." | Mary reports the initial finding to Peter and John. |
| Jn 20:3-4 | So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb... The other disciple outran Peter... | Peter and John immediately respond by running to the tomb. |
| Jn 20:8 | Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed. | John's immediate response to the empty tomb evidence, belief it was empty. |
| Jn 20:9 | (For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.) | Direct contextual verse explaining their incomplete understanding. |
| Jn 20:11 | But Mary stood outside the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. | Contrasts with disciples' departure; Mary's persistent search. |
| Lk 24:12 | But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves... | Luke's account confirms Peter's visit to the empty tomb. |
| Lk 24:24 | Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said... | Other disciples verify the empty tomb. |
| Mk 16:9 | [Jesus] appeared first to Mary Magdalene... | Mary is the first human witness to the risen Christ. |
| Mk 16:10 | She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. | Mary relays the news to the mourning disciples. |
| Mk 16:11 | But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it. | Disciples' initial skepticism, similar to Jn 20:9. |
| Lk 24:11 | But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. | Disciples struggled to believe the resurrection report. |
| Lk 24:25 | And he said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!" | Jesus later rebukes disciples for their slowness to believe Scripture. |
| Jn 16:32 | Indeed, the hour is coming, yes, has now come, when you will be scattered, each to his own place... | Jesus foretells His disciples' scattering and retreat. |
| Jn 20:19 | On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, when the doors were locked... Jesus came and stood among them. | Jesus appears to the fearful and hiding disciples later that day. |
| Lk 24:38 | He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?" | Jesus addresses the disciples' inner turmoil. |
| Jn 2:22 | When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this... | Their understanding deepens after the resurrection event. |
| Lk 24:44-45 | Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer..." | Jesus later explains prophecies and clarifies understanding. |
| 1 Cor 15:4 | That he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, | Affirmation of Christ's resurrection according to prophetic fulfillment. |
| Psa 16:10 | For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. | Old Testament prophecy hinting at resurrection. |
| Isa 53:10 | Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him... He shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days... | Old Testament prophecy alluding to Christ's continued existence and impact. |
John 20 verses
John 20 10 Meaning
John 20:10 states that after Peter and the other disciple (John) observed the empty tomb and the meticulously arranged grave clothes, they returned to their own dwellings. This verse marks their departure from the tomb, indicating a period of initial bewilderment and the incomplete processing of the monumental events they had just witnessed, especially compared to Mary Magdalene who remained at the tomb. It highlights their human reaction of retreating to a familiar space to grapple with the unprecedented evidence of Jesus' resurrection before its full implications dawned upon them.
John 20 10 Context
John 20:10 follows the dramatic discovery of the empty tomb on the morning of the first day of the week. Mary Magdalene, finding the tomb open, reports to Simon Peter and "the other disciple" (traditionally John). These two disciples then race to the tomb. Upon entering, John "saw and believed" (Jn 20:8) – an acknowledgment of the empty tomb and perhaps a nascent belief that something extraordinary had happened, given the orderly arrangement of the grave clothes. However, verse 9 immediately clarifies that they did "not yet understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead." Their belief was in the physical evidence of absence and the unusual state of the grave clothes, not yet the full theological truth of resurrection. Thus, their departure "to their own homes" reflects this state of processing and incomplete understanding, before the direct encounter with the risen Christ. Historically and culturally, returning to one's dwelling after a significant, bewildering event was a common response, seeking solace or a private space for reflection. The disciples, previously scattered during Jesus' arrest and crucifixion, were likely still fearful and hiding in Jerusalem.
John 20 10 Word analysis
- Then (Greek: οὖν, oun): A strong transitional particle indicating consequence or continuation. It marks the conclusion of Peter's and John's inspection of the tomb and immediately precedes their action of leaving. It connects their "seeing and believing" (John 20:8) about the empty tomb and the undisturbed cloths with their next step of departure, emphasizing a logical progression in the narrative.
- the disciples (Greek: οἱ μαθηταί, hoi mathētai): Specifically refers to Simon Peter and the other disciple (John), who were just described in the preceding verses (John 20:3-9). While plural, it points to these two prominent figures who had engaged directly with the empty tomb evidence.
- went away (Greek: ἀπῆλθον, apēlthon): A verb meaning "to depart, go away, leave." It describes their physical exit from the tomb area. This action contrasts sharply with Mary Magdalene, who remained, creating a pivotal narrative distinction that sets up her unique encounter with the Risen Christ. Their going away indicates a form of withdrawal, perhaps to process the bewildering sight they had just encountered.
- again (Greek: πάλιν, palin): Signifies a return to a previous state or place. It indicates a backward step in their physical location, from the site of astonishing discovery back to their ordinary dwelling. This suggests a movement from the extraordinary to the mundane, albeit temporarily.
- to their own homes (Greek: πρὸς ἑαυτούς, pros heautous): Literally "to their own [places]" or "to themselves." While it could metaphorically mean 'to their own company' or 'to their own business,' in context, it most strongly denotes returning to their dwelling places in Jerusalem, likely where they were lodging, seeking refuge or a private space after Jesus' crucifixion and the discovery of the empty tomb. It represents a retreat from the public, potentially dangerous, sphere of the empty tomb.
- "Then the disciples went away again": This phrase highlights a return, a retreat. It's not a triumphant departure filled with understanding, but rather a movement away from the perplexing scene, a natural human reaction to something deeply unsettling yet profoundly significant, which they hadn't fully grasped yet.
- "went away again to their own homes": This group of words paints a picture of withdrawal to a familiar, private, and safer space. After experiencing profound sorrow and the baffling sight of the empty tomb, their natural inclination was to return to their private world to digest the incomprehensible events, demonstrating their immediate lack of full faith or comprehensive understanding of the resurrection itself. It sets them apart from Mary Magdalene who remained and continued seeking.
John 20 10 Bonus section
The immediate consequence of the disciples returning to their "homes" is that they missed the immediate appearance of the resurrected Jesus, which was granted to Mary Magdalene (John 20:11-18). This emphasizes that persistence in seeking God, even in confusion and grief, often precedes revelation. While John's initial "belief" (Jn 20:8) upon seeing the cloths suggests an intellectual recognition of the impossible scenario (not a theft), their departure highlights the spiritual journey from mere intellectual assent to true, resurrection faith, which would come with direct encounter. The phrasing also subtly reinforces the idea that even the closest followers needed direct revelation from the resurrected Lord to fully understand and believe, rather than merely relying on secondary reports or even primary physical evidence of an empty tomb.
John 20 10 Commentary
John 20:10 concisely marks a pivotal transition. Peter and John, after seeing the undeniable evidence of the empty tomb and the carefully ordered grave clothes (which implied the body wasn't stolen), withdraw to their personal spaces. This act of "going home" reflects their limited comprehension; despite witnessing profound signs, they had not yet grasped the prophetic truth of Jesus' resurrection as articulated in Scripture (John 20:9). Their retreat underscores the human struggle to immediately embrace such a radical, supernatural reality. This contrasts starkly with Mary Magdalene, whose lingering presence and deep yearning prepared her to be the first recipient of the Risen Christ's personal revelation. The disciples' departure sets the stage for Christ's later appearances, essential to transform their initial perplexity into resolute belief and joyous commission.