Mark 16 5

Mark 16:5 kjv

And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.

Mark 16:5 nkjv

And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.

Mark 16:5 niv

As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

Mark 16:5 esv

And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed.

Mark 16:5 nlt

When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a white robe sitting on the right side. The women were shocked,

Mark 16 verses

Mark 16 5 Meaning

Mark 16:5 describes the moment three women — Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome — enter Jesus' tomb on Easter morning and encounter a startling, supernatural revelation. Instead of finding Jesus' body, they see a "young man" clothed in white, seated inside the tomb. This unexpected and profound sight fills them with extreme awe and terror, signifying the monumental and divine nature of the event they are witnessing. It's the first human encounter within the tomb validating the resurrection.

Mark 16 5 Context

Mark 16:5 is the beginning of the most pivotal event in Christian faith: the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The preceding verses (Mk 16:1-4) set the scene: Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome come to Jesus' tomb early on Sunday morning, after the Sabbath, to anoint His body with spices, a traditional Jewish burial custom showing reverence for the deceased. Their immediate concern is the large stone covering the tomb entrance. However, upon arrival, they discover the stone has already been miraculously rolled away. This verse then describes their entrance into the sepulchre itself, a rock-hewn cave tomb typical of the period, where their expected encounter with a lifeless body is completely upended by a divine encounter, dramatically shifting from somber mourning to profound shock and awe.

Mark 16 5 Word analysis

• And entering into: (kai eiselthousai - καὶ εἰσελθοῦσαι). The Greek aorist participle emphasizes a completed action. It highlights their immediate physical act of stepping inside, driven by their mournful mission to minister to the deceased body of Jesus. Their expectation for entering was for a deceased body to anoint.
• the sepulchre: (eis to mnēmeion - εἰς τὸ μνημεῖον). Refers to the tomb, a carved rock-cut burial chamber common in 1st-century Judea. This specific tomb, provided by Joseph of Arimathea (Mk 15:43-46), was where Jesus’ body had been laid. The entry into this expected place of death sets up a dramatic contrast with the life they discover.
• they saw: (eidon - εἶδον). This verb emphasizes a sudden, immediate perception. It suggests the "young man" was clearly visible as soon as they entered, making the encounter inescapable and undeniable.
• a young man: (neaniskon - νεανίσκον). Mark's unique description. While other Gospels explicitly use "angel" (Matt 28:2) or "two men" (Luke 24:4), Mark’s term literally means a youth or young man, conveying vigor and vibrancy. This "youthful" appearance is a common characteristic attributed to angelic beings in biblical literature (cf. Acts 1:10), emphasizing their perpetual youth and undiminished strength in the service of God. The focus here is on the unexpected nature of who they find rather than what they expected to see.
• sitting: (kathēmenon - καθήμενον). The posture of sitting suggests composure, authority, and presence. It contrasts with the haste or excitement often associated with angels delivering messages. This seated position gives a sense of settled, authoritative purpose. It conveys a calm, unhurried divine presence within the tomb.
• on the right side: (en tois dexiiois - ἐν τοῖς δεξιοῖς). "The right" universally signifies a place of honor, power, and authority. In biblical theology, the "right hand of God" is where Christ Himself is enthroned (Ps 110:1, Mk 14:62). The messenger being on the "right side" of the tomb subtly links him to the divine authority from which his message derives and implies his alignment with the risen, exalted Christ. It sets the stage for a message of triumph and power.
• clothed in a long white garment: (peribeblēmenon stolēn leukēn - περιβεβλημένον στολὴν λευκήν).
  • Clothed: The verb indicates being fully draped or invested.
  • Long white garment: (stolēn leukēn) - Stole refers to a long, flowing robe, often associated with dignity, rank, priestly status, or royalty. Its "white" color (leukos) profoundly signifies purity, holiness, divine glory, heavenly origin, and triumph, particularly linked to resurrection and redemption in prophetic and apocalyptic literature (Dan 7:9; Rev 3:4-5, 7:9). It immediately signals a supernatural being of immense purity and heavenly power, directly contrasting with the earthly garments and shroud Jesus was laid in.
• and they were affrighted: (kai exethambēthēsan - καὶ ἐξεθαμβήθησαν). Mark uses a very strong and vivid Greek verb here. It means to be utterly astonished, terrified, seized with profound awe, or to be beside oneself with fear and amazement. It indicates a sudden and overwhelming psychological and emotional impact. It signifies not merely simple fear, but a deep spiritual shock and terror experienced when encountering the holy or divine, a recurring motif in Mark (cf. Mk 1:27, 9:15, 10:32). This strong reaction emphasizes the sheer unexpectedness and profound, awe-inspiring nature of the discovery, contrasting their initial intent to minister to a corpse.

Mark 16 5 Bonus section

• Mark’s account is often considered the most terse among the Gospels concerning the resurrection events, yet his descriptive language for the angelic figure and the women’s reaction (especially exethambēthēsan) packs significant emotional and theological weight, amplifying the impact of the resurrection revelation for his Roman audience.
• The absence of the body combined with the presence of a heavenly messenger firmly establishes the resurrection as a miraculous, divinely orchestrated event, directly challenging any naturalistic explanations or contemporary polemics suggesting a theft of the body.
• The women’s profound fear is not merely fright but a typical biblical response to an encounter with divine glory or holiness. This "holy dread" serves to validate the supernatural origin of the message they are about to receive.

Mark 16 5 Commentary

Mark 16:5 vividly describes the pivotal encounter that validates Jesus' resurrection. The women's expectation of finding a lifeless body to anoint is shattered by the sight of a calm, authoritative angelic messenger, symbolic of divine triumph and purity through his attire and posture. Mark's deliberate choice of "young man" and his powerful term "affrighted" highlights the profound, immediate, and awe-inspiring nature of this supernatural revelation. The "right side" positioning further embeds the encounter in divine authority, preparing the audience for the equally authoritative resurrection message that follows. This scene underscores that the empty tomb was not a mere mystery but a divinely attested sign, intended to inspire not only fear but also conviction in Jesus' victory over death. It marks the transition from human mourning to divine announcement, signifying a new reality for creation.