John 20 4

John 20:4 kjv

So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.

John 20:4 nkjv

So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first.

John 20:4 niv

Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.

John 20:4 esv

Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.

John 20:4 nlt

They were both running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.

John 20 verses

John 20 4 Meaning

John chapter 20, verse 4 concisely describes the immediate reaction of two disciples, Simon Peter and "the other disciple" (traditionally John), upon hearing Mary Magdalene's report of the empty tomb. Both men, impelled by a mixture of shock, confusion, hope, and eagerness, sprinted towards the tomb to verify her astonishing claim. The verse specifically highlights that the "other disciple," being younger or perhaps swifter, outran Peter, arriving at the burial place first.

John 20 4 Context

John 20:4 immediately follows Mary Magdalene's frantic report to Peter and another disciple that Jesus' body was missing from the tomb and the stone rolled away. This sets a scene of urgent, unprecedented confusion and anticipation following the traumatic events of Jesus' crucifixion. The immediate response of Peter and the other disciple—a rapid, shared dash to the tomb—highlights the gravity and disbelief of the situation. Within the broader Gospel of John, this event is central, marking the initial physical confirmation of the Resurrection, a pivotal moment of revelation that shifts the disciples from despair to dawning hope and, ultimately, faith. The detailed eyewitness account also underscores the Gospel's purpose: to elicit belief that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (Jn 20:30-31). Historically, Jewish burial customs involved preparing and entombing a body; thus, a missing body from a sealed tomb would be an extraordinary and inexplicable occurrence, especially as grave robbing was usually for valuable cloths, not the body itself. This physical, verifiable emptiness of the tomb counters any notions of a purely spiritual or non-physical resurrection, emphasizing its tangible reality.

John 20 4 Word analysis

• So (οὖν - oun): A transitional particle, indicating a logical consequence or a continuation from the previous statement (Mary's report). It signifies their immediate, resultant action.
• they both (οἱ δὲ δύο - hoi de dyo): Explicitly names the two participants – Simon Peter and the other disciple. "Δύο" (dyo) simply means "two," stressing their joint venture at the outset, unified in their pursuit of truth.
• ran (ἔτρεχον - etrechon): Imperfect tense of trechō ("to run"), suggesting ongoing or repeated action. It conveys urgency, excitement, zeal, and astonishment rather than a leisurely walk. The act of running for adult men was unusual, signifying the extreme importance of their mission.
• together (ὁμοῦ - homou): Indicates their initial unison in speed and purpose, reinforcing that they started the race side-by-side.
• but (καὶ - kai used adversatively / understood as 'and yet' or 'however'): Although grammatically "and," here it introduces a distinct contrast or change in circumstance from the initial "together," setting up the subsequent divergence in their race.
• the other disciple (ὁ ἄλλος μαθητής - ho allos mathētēs): Refers to John, the traditional author of this Gospel. "Ἄλλος" (allos) implies "another of the same kind," i.e., another disciple. This self-designation is a characteristic humble identifier throughout John's Gospel (e.g., "the disciple whom Jesus loved," Jn 13:23). It provides an eyewitness perspective while maintaining anonymity.
• outran (προέδραμεν - proedramen): Aorist tense of protrechō ("to run before, outrun"). This is a simple past, completed action, indicating his superior speed. It literally means "ran forward" or "ran ahead."
• Peter (Πέτρον - Petron): Simon Peter, the leading Apostle. The detail subtly highlights John's agility relative to Peter. While not an indication of spiritual superiority, it foreshadows John's spiritual insight in verse 8, where he "saw and believed" without needing to fully examine as Peter did.
• and came (καὶ ἦλθεν - kai ēlthen): A straightforward declaration of the result of his speed—he arrived.
• first (πρῶτος - prōtos): A superlative adverb, explicitly stating his primary position in arrival at the tomb. It marks him as the initial arrival on the scene after Mary.
• to the tomb (πρὸς τὸ μνημεῖον - pros to mnēmeion): The destination, emphasizing the concrete, physical location of the mystery. "Μνημεῖον" (mnēmeion) refers to a memorial or tomb, typically a rock-cut tomb or chamber, common for prominent burials.

John 20 4 Bonus section

• The detail of John outrunning Peter is sometimes interpreted allegorically. Some suggest Peter, representing the institutional church or "the Law," moves at a steady pace, while John, symbolizing "love" or "grace" or "spiritual intuition," arrives quicker to grasp the meaning. However, the text's primary purpose is most likely to confirm eyewitness testimony by one who arrived first and saw the conditions.
• The rush to the tomb underscores the critical nature of the empty tomb itself as concrete evidence of the Resurrection. The evangelist is meticulous about describing what they saw (linen cloths lying, the face cloth folded in a separate place in subsequent verses) because the physical reality of the empty tomb, validated by witnesses, serves as the primary external proof against grave robbery theories or claims that Jesus' body was stolen by disciples.
• The act of running for Peter and John suggests a departure from their expected composure, emphasizing the profound emotional and spiritual shock and anticipation that fueled their haste. It's a vivid snapshot of desperate hope mixed with profound apprehension.

John 20 4 Commentary

John 20:4 encapsulates the raw human response to extraordinary news concerning the very heart of their faith. The detailed account of two disciples, distinct yet bound by common grief and now surging hope, racing towards an empty grave highlights the profound urgency and momentousness of the Resurrection. John's emphasis on his own speed and arriving first serves multiple layers: as an humble self-attestation of his eyewitness veracity, demonstrating the immediate sensory encounter crucial to his belief, and perhaps subtly implying his unique, intuitive connection to Jesus which allows for a quicker, though initial, grasping of the impossible reality. While Peter, the designated leader, might have held an authoritative role, John portrays himself as the quicker to the threshold of discovery. The race itself symbolizes not only physical pursuit but the zeal to understand and verify truth, moving from bewildering report to the threshold of revelation, a pursuit essential to the Christian experience.