Mark 16 2

Mark 16:2 kjv

And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.

Mark 16:2 nkjv

Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen.

Mark 16:2 niv

Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb

Mark 16:2 esv

And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb.

Mark 16:2 nlt

Very early on Sunday morning, just at sunrise, they went to the tomb.

Mark 16 verses

Mark 16 2 Meaning

This verse describes the precise moment the women, specifically Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, arrived at the tomb of Jesus. They came very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, just as the sun was rising, intending to anoint Jesus' body with spices they had prepared. This moment precedes their discovery of the empty tomb and the message of Christ's resurrection.

Mark 16 2 Context

Mark 16:2 occurs immediately after the Sabbath has concluded, following Jesus' crucifixion and burial. The previous chapter (Mk 15:42-47) details His hasty burial before sunset, when the Sabbath began. Chapter 16 opens with Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome purchasing spices to complete the anointing of Jesus' body, an act of final reverence and grief. Verse 2 specifically describes their determined journey to the tomb at the earliest possible moment the Jewish law allowed them to work and travel after the Sabbath's end. This setting emphasizes their expectation of finding a deceased body, intensifying the revelation of the empty tomb that swiftly follows.

Mark 16 2 Word analysis

• And (καὶ - kai): A simple connective, linking this action to the previous verse (Mk 16:1) which established the women's intent to bring spices.
• very (λίαν - lian): An adverb emphasizing intensity, meaning "exceedingly," "extremely." It highlights the early hour.
• early (πρωΐ - prōï): An adverb meaning "early in the morning," "at dawn." Combined with "very," it denotes the absolute earliest practical time.
• in the morning the first day of the week (τῇ μιᾷ τῶν σαββάτων - tē mia tōn sabbatōn): Literally "on the first of the Sabbaths" or "on the one of the weeks." This is a common Hellenistic Greek idiom to refer to the "first day of the week," Sunday, following the Jewish Sabbath. This specific timing is foundational for the Christian calendar and marks the day of Christ's resurrection.
• they came (ἔρχονται - erchontai): The verb is in the historical present tense, a common narrative device in Greek. It adds vividness and immediacy to the account, as if the reader is witnessing the event unfold. The "they" refers to the women mentioned in Mark 16:1.
• unto (ἐπὶ - epi): A preposition indicating movement toward or proximity to.
• the sepulchre (τὸ μνημεῖον - to mnēmeion): Refers to the tomb, the burial place. Specifically, the one where Jesus was laid.
• at the rising of the sun (ἀνατείλαντος τοῦ ἡλίου - anateilantos tou hēliou): This is a genitive absolute phrase, indicating concurrent action. "When the sun had risen" or "just as the sun rose." This detail provides a specific chronological marker. It may contrast with accounts suggesting earlier (darkness or dawn) by emphasizing the precise moment when the light broke over the landscape, symbolizing the dawning of the new covenant and Christ's triumph.

Words-group analysis:

• very early in the morning the first day of the week: This phrase precisely dates the event to the earliest legal opportunity after the Sabbath, indicating determination and urgency on the women's part. It simultaneously establishes the specific day on which Christ rose, the foundational "Lord's Day" for believers.
• they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun: This clearly states their destination and adds a crucial detail about the exact moment of their arrival, providing a powerful image of light breaking as they approach the site of profound darkness and death.

Mark 16 2 Bonus section

The seemingly slight variation in timing descriptions across the Gospels (Jn 20:1 says "still dark," Mt 28:1 says "as it began to dawn," Lk 24:1 says "at early dawn," and Mark says "at the rising of the sun") is often understood by scholars not as contradiction, but as complementary perspectives. These details can refer to different points within a short period just before or during sunrise, or represent the general impression from distinct viewpoints of witnesses. Mark's specific mention of "the rising of the sun" may highlight the arrival of light, setting a tone of revelation and victory over darkness. This subtle emphasis underlines a significant theme in Christian theology: the resurrection of Christ being the breaking forth of divine light and truth. The deliberate act of these women arriving to minister to a deceased body underscores the unexpected and miraculous nature of the resurrection they were about to discover.

Mark 16 2 Commentary

Mark 16:2 offers a concise yet deeply significant detail concerning the timing of the women's arrival at Jesus' tomb. The expression "very early... the first day of the week" sets the scene for the most momentous event in Christian history – the resurrection. Their journey "at the rising of the sun" carries symbolic weight, as light dawns literally and spiritually on a new era of hope. These devoted women, burdened by grief and the practical task of anointing a dead body, embody faithfulness. Their human expectation of a grave stands in stark contrast to the divine power that was about to be revealed, marking the definitive victory over death and the inauguration of new life in Christ. This verse, therefore, sets the stage for the earth-shattering discovery of the empty tomb and the triumphant news of Christ alive.