Mark 16 10

Mark 16:10 kjv

And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.

Mark 16:10 nkjv

She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept.

Mark 16:10 niv

She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping.

Mark 16:10 esv

She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept.

Mark 16:10 nlt

She went to the disciples, who were grieving and weeping, and told them what had happened.

Mark 16 verses

Meaning

Mark 16:10 describes Mary Magdalene immediately acting upon her encounter with the risen Jesus. She sought out the disciples, who were deep in grief and sorrow over Jesus' crucifixion, to convey the astounding news of His resurrection. This verse highlights the first propagation of the resurrection message to the broader group of followers.

Cross References

Context

Mark 16:10 forms part of what is widely known as "The Longer Ending of Mark" (Mk 16:9-20). This section is notably absent from the earliest and most authoritative Greek manuscripts (like Sinaiticus and Vaticanus B), leading many biblical scholars to consider it a later addition. Despite the textual debate, it has been embraced by the Church throughout much of history and is included in many translations (e.g., KJV, NKJV). This specific verse immediately follows Mark 16:9, which states that Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene after His resurrection. The context highlights Mary's swift obedience to share the resurrection news with the still-grieving disciples, setting up their initial disbelief in the verses that follow. The disciples were secluded, plunged into mourning and despondency due to Jesus's crucifixion, reflecting the devastating impact His death had on their hopes.

Word analysis

• She (αὐτὴ - autē): Refers directly to Mary Magdalene, emphasizing her singular role as the primary human witness in this sequence. Her specific identity underscores the divine choice of a marginalized individual to bear such pivotal news.
• went (ἀπελθοῦσα - apelhousa): From aperchomai, "to go away" or "to depart." This is an aorist participle, conveying immediate and purposeful action after seeing the risen Christ. It suggests Mary’s obedience and urgency.
• and told (ἀπήγγειλεν - apēngeilen): From apangellō, meaning "to announce," "report," or "bring tidings." This signifies not merely casual conversation but the conveyance of a significant, authoritative message. It’s the initial act of proclamation.
• those who had been with Him (τοῖς μετ’ αὐτοῦ γενομένοις - tois met’ autou genomenois): Literally "to the ones having come to be with Him." This refers to the core group of disciples and close followers who were intimately associated with Jesus throughout His ministry. It distinguishes them as His immediate spiritual family.
• as they mourned (πενθοῦσιν - penthousin): From pentheō, indicating deep, inner grief, sorrow, or lamentation, often in a profound spiritual sense. This is not just sadness but a heavy, heart-felt sense of loss and despair over Jesus' death. It contrasts sharply with the joy the news of resurrection should bring.
• and wept (κλαίουσιν - klaiousin): From klaiō, referring to an outward, audible expression of sorrow, typically with sobs or cries, wailing. This highlights the visible and audible manifestation of their intense internal mourning.

Words-group analysis:

• She went and told: This phrase marks Mary Magdalene as the first evangelist of the resurrection, acting on divine instruction and personal encounter. Her mission initiates the spread of the Good News, mirroring the commission later given to all disciples.
• those who had been with Him: This group signifies the immediate target audience of the resurrection news—those most invested in and familiar with Jesus' life and ministry. Their collective state of mind (mourning and weeping) makes the contrast with the news even more stark.
• as they mourned and wept: This tandem highlights the overwhelming and visible despair of the disciples. Their deep sorrow sets the stage for their immediate disbelief, illustrating how profoundly unexpected and counter-intuitive the resurrection was, even to those closest to Jesus. It emphasizes their hopelessness before the dawn of resurrection truth.

Commentary

Mark 16:10 offers a concise snapshot of the pivotal moment immediately following Jesus' first post-resurrection appearance. Mary Magdalene, having directly experienced the miraculous event, acts without hesitation, embodying immediate faithfulness. Her task was not trivial: to deliver a message of unprecedented hope to a community plunged into the deepest despair. The disciples’ collective state of "mourning and weeping" paints a vivid picture of their crushed spirits, indicating their complete loss of hope and understanding in the face of their Lord's crucifixion. This deep sorrow profoundly impacts their initial receptivity to Mary's extraordinary report, setting the stage for their disbelief chronicled in the very next verse. This contrast—Mary’s joyful witness against the disciples' profound grief and subsequent skepticism—underscores the sheer, revolutionary nature of the resurrection, a truth that defied human expectation and required supernatural confirmation.

• Practical Usage:
  • Empathy in Sharing Truth: Recognize that people deeply grieving or disoriented by crisis may initially struggle to receive good news.
  • Boldness in Witness: Be like Mary, acting swiftly and faithfully to share vital truths even when circumstances seem to weigh heavily against receptivity.
  • Trusting the Divine Message: Understand that even those closest to God can falter in belief; the power is in the message, not always the messenger’s persuasive ability or the audience’s immediate acceptance.

Bonus section

The unique status of Mark 16:9-20 as a debated "Longer Ending" highlights a divine principle often seen in Scripture: God's truth, once revealed, finds its way through various channels. Even if a later compilation, its content resonates with truths found unequivocally in other Gospels (e.g., women as first witnesses, disciples' initial disbelief, Jesus' Great Commission). Mary Magdalene's commissioning to declare the resurrection, occurring after Peter’s denial and the disciples’ scattering, powerfully demonstrates God's consistent use of the humble and overlooked to accomplish His greatest works (1 Cor 1:27-28). The extreme sorrow of the disciples serves a literary purpose: it underscores that their later belief in the resurrection was not wishful thinking or a simple mental shift, but a profound, divinely orchestrated transformation of mind and spirit, born from concrete, undeniable evidence. This extreme grief makes the subsequent shift to conviction even more potent and compelling.