John 20 2

John 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.

John 20:2 nkjv

Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him."

John 20:2 niv

So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!"

John 20:2 esv

So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him."

John 20:2 nlt

She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, "They have taken the Lord's body out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!"

John 20 verses

John 20 2 Meaning

Mary Magdalene, upon discovering the stone rolled away from Jesus' tomb and the tomb empty, immediately ran to inform Simon Peter and the beloved disciple (John). Her initial reaction and declaration were based on the assumption that someone had removed Jesus' body from the tomb, indicating a state of confusion, distress, and a complete lack of understanding regarding the impending resurrection. She voiced the common fear of desecration or theft, articulating her ignorance of the body's whereabouts.

John 20 2 Context

John 20:2 occurs on the "first day of the week," Sunday morning, immediately following Mary Magdalene's initial discovery of the empty tomb (John 20:1). After the brutal crucifixion and hasty burial of Jesus, Jewish law dictated that no work could be done on the Sabbath (Saturday). As soon as the Sabbath ended, devoted women, including Mary Magdalene, went to the tomb, likely to anoint Jesus' body properly, a customary act of reverence for the deceased. Finding the heavy stone rolled away and the tomb apparently empty, Mary's immediate deduction, expressed in this verse, was one of theft or desecration. This reaction reflects a common anxiety of the time regarding grave tampering and also contrasts sharply with the divine reality of the resurrection, which she, and the other disciples, had not yet comprehended. Historically, there was indeed concern among Jewish leaders that Jesus' body might be stolen by His disciples to fake a resurrection, leading to the placement of guards at the tomb (Mt 27:64). Thus, Mary's fear aligns with plausible worldly scenarios, creating narrative tension with the supernatural truth soon to be revealed.

John 20 2 Word analysis

• So (οὖν - oun): A conjunction indicating consequence or continuation. It connects Mary's observation of the empty tomb (v.1) with her immediate action.
• she came running (τρέχει - trechei): Present tense, indicating immediate, ongoing, and urgent action. This word conveys haste, distress, and a sense of alarm. It emphasizes the shock and urgency of her message.
• to Simon Peter (πρὸς Σίμωνα Πέτρον - pros Simōna Petron): Peter is addressed first, highlighting his established leadership and prominence among the disciples. He is a key figure who must be informed.
• and the other disciple (καὶ τὸν ἄλλον μαθητὴν - kai ton allon mathētēn): This refers to John, the author of this Gospel, identified subtly as one of the inner circle and a trusted witness.
• the one Jesus loved (ὃν ἐφίλει ὁ Ἰησοῦς - hon ephilei ho Iēsous): A distinctive self-designation by John, emphasizing his intimate and personal relationship with Jesus. This personal bond explains why Mary would seek him out along with Peter. The imperfect tense of ephilei ("loved") highlights an ongoing affection.
• and said (καὶ λέγει - kai legei): Present tense, vivid, bringing the moment of declaration to life.
• They have taken (Ἦραν - Ēran): Aorist active indicative of airō (to take away, remove). The plural subject ("They") is deliberately indefinite, signifying unknown parties and adding to Mary's confusion and fear. It assumes malicious intent or at least unauthorized action.
• the Lord (τὸν Κύριον - ton Kyrion): Mary's title for Jesus, revealing her deep respect, devotion, and recognition of His divine authority, even in death. It's the "Lord's body" that has been disturbed.
• out of the tomb (ἐκ τοῦ μνημείου - ek tou mnēmeiou): Explicitly states the source of the disappearance, not merely that the body is missing but that it was removed from its resting place. Mnēmeiou refers to a burial chamber or memorial.
• and we don’t know (καὶ οὐκ οἴδαμεν - kai ouk oidamen): "We" (first-person plural) indicates Mary is speaking not just for herself but implying other women or perhaps the collective disciples. It conveys absolute ignorance, confusion, and distress; their lack of knowledge underscores the human perspective versus divine revelation. Ouk oidamen is strong negation of "to know."
• where they have put him (ποῦ ἔθηκαν αὐτὸν - pou ethēkan auton): "Where they have put him" echoes the previous statement, reiterating the unknown whereabouts and solidifying the assumption of removal rather than resurrection. Ethēkan (aorist of tithēmi) means "to place" or "to put."

John 20 2 Bonus section

• Emotional Intensity: The chosen Greek verbs like trechei (running) and the direct, simple declarative sentences reflect the raw emotion and urgency of the moment, immersing the reader in Mary's experience. This immediate report from a woman, particularly Mary Magdalene, further emphasizes her devoted role and validates women as first witnesses, a significant point in ancient culture where women's testimony was often undervalued.
• Theological Blindness: The verse starkly portrays the "theological blindness" of the disciples before the resurrection. Despite Jesus' numerous predictions of His death and resurrection (e.g., Mk 8:31, Jn 2:19), they could not grasp the concept of Him actually rising from the dead, indicating how utterly unique and against natural experience such an event was.
• Narrative Foreshadowing: This initial human misunderstanding ironically serves to strengthen the later resurrection account. The fact that the first witness and the prominent disciples were not expecting resurrection but a problem of body-snatching reinforces that their eventual belief was not based on wishful thinking but on undeniable evidence.

John 20 2 Commentary

John 20:2 is a crucial turning point, setting the stage for the revelation of Jesus' resurrection. Mary Magdalene's frantic message to Peter and John reflects the initial human response to the unprecedented event: not faith in resurrection, but an understandable assumption of theft or desecration. Her use of "we don't know" powerfully conveys the shared bewilderment among Jesus' closest followers, highlighting the immense gap between human understanding and divine truth. This human misinterpretation underscores the miraculous nature of the resurrection, as it defies ordinary explanation. By appealing to Peter and the beloved disciple, Mary recognizes their authority and intimate relationship with Jesus, preparing for their crucial role as eyewitnesses. The verse, therefore, captures the disciples' deep distress, their initial blindness to resurrection truth, and their pivotal movement towards encountering the risen Christ. It lays a narrative foundation for belief to grow from confusion.