John 20 11

John 20:11 kjv

But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,

John 20:11 nkjv

But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb.

John 20:11 niv

Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb

John 20:11 esv

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb.

John 20:11 nlt

Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in.

John 20 verses

John 20 11 Meaning

John 20:11 portrays Mary Magdalene as an epitome of grief and devotion following the discovery of the empty tomb. She alone remains at the burial site, overwhelmed by sorrow, yet persistently driven by love for Jesus to continue searching and observing, setting the stage for the pivotal revelation of the risen Christ. Her weeping underscores the profound sense of loss and confusion, while her actions of stooping and looking demonstrate an unyielding hope or desperate need to understand the inexplicable absence of Jesus's body.

John 20 11 Context

John chapter 20 begins with Mary Magdalene discovering the tomb empty early on Sunday morning. She immediately informs Peter and the "other disciple" (John), who then run to the tomb and find it empty, confirming her report about the missing body. After their investigation, Peter and John return home, still wrestling with what they have witnessed, having not yet fully understood the Scripture concerning Jesus's resurrection. Verse 11 shifts focus back to Mary Magdalene, who, unlike the male disciples, remains at the tomb. Her profound emotional state, demonstrated by her continuous weeping, marks the raw human grief at what she perceives as a final loss—the body of her Lord, possibly stolen. Historically, mourning practices involved outward displays of sorrow, and Mary's persistent presence by the tomb aligns with a deep, unwavering devotion to Jesus, even in apparent despair. This personal anguish sets the stage for a unique encounter, distinguishing her experience from that of the disciples and highlighting her chosen role as the first individual witness to the resurrected Christ.

John 20 11 Word analysis

• But Mary: Alla Mariam (Ἀλλὰ Μαριὰμ). The "But" (alla) signals a contrast: unlike Peter and John who returned home (Jn 20:10), Mary remained. This emphasizes her singular devotion and persistence. Mary Magdalene is identified as a fervent follower who ministered to Jesus and was present at His crucifixion. Her identity highlights God's choice of humble vessels for significant revelation (1 Cor 1:27-28).
• stood outside: histēmi exō (ἵστημι ἔξω). "Stood" implies a fixed, determined posture, not merely lingering. "Outside" of the tomb emphasizes her position relative to the physical space of death and her initial separation from the understanding within. She is physically external, yet internally wrestling with the meaning of the emptiness.
• by the tomb: para tō mnēmeiō (παρὰ τῷ μνημείῳ). "Tomb" (mnēmeion) refers to the burial monument or sepulchre. Being "by" it denotes her immediate proximity and focus on the site where hope was laid to rest.
• weeping: klaiō (κλαίω). This is a strong, outward expression of grief—a deep, audible lament, not merely silent tears. Her weeping conveys profound sorrow, confusion, and possibly fear that the body of Jesus had been removed or desecrated. It is a very human response to loss and unmet expectation, reflecting a temporary state of not yet knowing the resurrection truth.
• and as she wept: This phrase reiterates the continuous nature of her lament. Her actions that follow are directly out of this emotional state of deep distress and seeking.
• she stooped down: kyptō (κύπτω). To bend over, indicating an act of lowering oneself physically to peer into the low entrance of a tomb or to inspect something closely. It suggests a persistent, earnest, even desperate attempt to see more, to find some answer to her distress.
• and looked into: kai blepō eis (καὶ βλέπω εἰς). "Looked" (blepō) refers to general observation, physical sight. It's not theōreō (contemplative viewing) or horaō (seeing with understanding/insight) initially, highlighting that her sight is still purely physical and focused on the empirical void, devoid of the deeper spiritual understanding that would come through recognition of the resurrected Lord. Her action is born of a human desire to verify and understand her grief.

• But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping: This phrase emphasizes Mary's profound love and persistent devotion, contrasting with the disciples who left. Her external posture "outside" the tomb visually represents her state of uncomprehending grief regarding the empty tomb. Her continuous "weeping" paints a vivid picture of raw, heartfelt sorrow at what she perceived as a final loss. This sets a poignant human backdrop for the divine encounter to follow.
• and as she wept, she stooped down and looked into the tomb: This depicts an instinctive act born out of her deep emotional turmoil. Her action is driven by an intense desire to verify or comprehend the missing body, hinting at a glimmer of hope or desperate curiosity despite her profound grief. The movement of stooping and looking into the darkness foreshadows the unfolding light of revelation.

John 20 11 Bonus section

Mary Magdalene is often regarded by scholars as the "apostle to the apostles" because Jesus chose her to be the first witness of His resurrection and to commission her to deliver the message to the male disciples (Jn 20:17-18). This verse sets the immediate emotional and physical context for that unparalleled divine encounter. Her persistence in grief at the tomb, even after the initial inspection by the disciples, showcases a tenacious, unyielding love. It subtly counters potential skeptical views that the empty tomb was merely a grave robbery; her tears highlight her perception of devastating loss, not joyous expectation. The detailed description of her posture and action—"stood," "wept," "stooped," "looked"—underscores the depth of her personal journey from profound sorrow to overwhelming joy and the momentous shift in human history initiated at that very spot.

John 20 11 Commentary

John 20:11 serves as a poignant depiction of Mary Magdalene's steadfast love and raw human sorrow in the face of what appeared to be insurmountable loss. Unlike the male disciples who, having seen the empty tomb, departed, Mary's enduring presence at the site of Jesus's apparent demise underscores her unique devotion. Her weeping is not merely a reaction to absence but the outward expression of her hopes dashed and her inability to reconcile the void with her fervent love for Jesus. It reveals a deep commitment that goes beyond simple intellectual acknowledgment, rooting itself in a profound affection. This profound grief, however, became the very ground upon which divine revelation unfolded. It highlights a common spiritual principle: sometimes it is in our most intense moments of human seeking, despair, or questioning that the Lord reveals Himself most intimately. Mary’s humble act of continuing to look, even through her tears, demonstrates a persistent hope and a desperate desire for Jesus, preparing her heart to be the first recipient of the glorious truth of His resurrection, transforming her weeping into the precursor of unimaginable joy.