Mark 16 6

Mark 16:6 kjv

And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.

Mark 16:6 nkjv

But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.

Mark 16:6 niv

"Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.

Mark 16:6 esv

And he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.

Mark 16:6 nlt

but the angel said, "Don't be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn't here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body.

Mark 16 verses

Mark 16 6 Meaning

Mark 16:6 reveals the core message of the Gospel: the resurrection of Jesus Christ. An angelic messenger at the empty tomb informs the women who came to anoint His body that Jesus is no longer there because He has been raised from the dead by God. It shifts their grief and despair into astonishment and wonder, validating Jesus's earlier prophecies about His death and glorious rising, and serving as the foundational proof of His divine authority and victory over sin and death.

Mark 16 6 Context

Mark 16:6 is situated within the dramatic climax of Mark's Gospel. The chapter opens on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, after the Sabbath. Three women—Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome—come to Jesus's tomb with spices to anoint His body, reflecting Jewish burial customs and their deep devotion. Their primary concern on the way to the tomb is how they will roll away the very large stone blocking the entrance (Mk 16:3). Upon arrival, they discover the stone is already rolled back, and entering the tomb, they find not the body of Jesus, but a young man dressed in a white robe, seated on the right side. This verse, Mark 16:6, records the angelic messenger's immediate and profoundly significant declaration to them, directly addressing their search for Jesus and shattering their expectations of a deceased Messiah. The preceding events highlight human weakness and limited foresight (the concern over the stone), setting the stage for divine power and revelation to supersede all expectations.

Mark 16 6 Word analysis

• And he said: (Greek: kai ho de eipen - καὶ ὁ δὲ εἶπεν). This signals the direct and authoritative voice of the "young man" (v.5), understood as an angelic messenger. His address is direct and intended to alleviate fear.
• to them: The recipients are the three women: Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome. They are the initial human witnesses to the empty tomb.
• "Do not be amazed: (Greek: Mē ekthambeisthe - Μὴ ἐκθαμβεῖσθε). Ekthambeisthai means to be utterly astounded, struck with amazement, awe, or terror. It is a strong term, emphasizing the powerful emotional reaction of the women to seeing the angel and the empty tomb. The command to "not be amazed" functions as an angelic encouragement and reassurance in the face of an extraordinary, even unsettling, divine intervention. This phrase occurs elsewhere in Mark (e.g., Mk 9:15; 14:33).
• You are looking for Jesus: (Greek: Iēson zēteite - Ἰησοῦν ζητεῖτε). This acknowledges their purpose and current state of mind. It validates their devotion and the natural human desire to honor the deceased. The use of "Jesus" by name personalizes the interaction.
• the Nazarene: (Greek: ton Nazarēnon - τὸν Ναζαρηνόν). This designation refers to Jesus's origin from Nazareth, often implying His earthly, humble identity, which contrasted sharply with the divine glory revealed by His resurrection. It grounds the transcendent message in the historical person. This simple geographical tag might also be a subtle reference to prophetic expectations for a "Nazarene" (Mt 2:23), albeit its fulfillment is debated.
• who has been crucified: (Greek: ton estaurōmenon - τὸν ἐσταυρωμένον). This past participle phrase emphasizes the stark reality of His recent, brutal death. It removes any doubt about which Jesus they are seeking and reinforces the human expectation of finding a dead body. This specific detail highlights the profound contrast between death and resurrection.
• He has risen!: (Greek: Ēgerthe! - Ἠγέρθη!). This is the pivotal declaration. Ēgerthe is the aorist passive indicative of egeirō ("to raise, lift up"). The passive voice strongly implies divine agency: "He was raised [by God]." It denotes a completed action with lasting effects. This is not a resuscitation but a transformation into a new, glorious life. This simple, powerful statement fundamentally changes the narrative from one of sorrow to triumph.
• He is not here: (Greek: Ouk estin hōde - Οὐκ ἔστιν ὧδε). This complements "He has risen." It directly negates their expectation of finding a body and serves as immediate, empirical proof of the resurrection. The empty tomb is physical evidence that accompanies the supernatural declaration.
• See the place: (Greek: Ide ton topon - Ἴδε τὸν τόπον). An invitation to observe and confirm for themselves. It appeals to their sensory experience, reinforcing the tangible reality of the empty tomb as evidence for an otherwise unseen event. It empowers their testimony.
• where they laid Him: (Greek: hopou ethēkan auton - ὅπου ἔθηκαν αὐτόν). This refers back to Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus placing Jesus's body in the tomb (Mk 15:46), establishing the historical exactness and verification point of the miraculous event.

Mark 16 6 Bonus section

• The identity of the "young man": Though not explicitly stated as an angel in Mark, parallels in Matthew and Luke identify him (or them) as such, consistent with celestial messengers typically appearing to humans in significant moments in white, luminous garments. This heavenly source adds authority to the message.
• The "first day of the week": This detail (also in Mt 28:1, Lk 24:1, Jn 20:1) marks a pivotal moment, signaling the inauguration of a new creation and the dawning of the Lord's Day, which would become central to Christian worship. It’s no longer just the Sabbath; a new beginning is highlighted.
• The absence of Jesus's body at "the place where they laid Him" is the ultimate polemic against any alternative explanations for the missing body (e.g., body stolen, misplaced). The divine voice confirms that the absence is due to resurrection, not human interference or error.

Mark 16 6 Commentary

Mark 16:6 serves as the definitive announcement of the central miracle of the Christian faith: the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The angelic messenger's words cut through the women's sorrow and earthly expectations, transforming their quest to minister to a corpse into an encounter with resurrected life. "He has risen!" is not merely information; it is the Good News personified. This verse is brief, yet incredibly potent, providing the first eyewitness testimony to the empty tomb. The dual declaration—Jesus "is not here" because "He has risen"—is essential. The absence of the body confirms the resurrection, refuting any notion of theft or hallucination. It underscores God's mighty power over death and the fulfillment of Jesus's own predictions. This empty tomb message establishes the new reality of a living Christ, demanding not just a belief in an event, but a transformed life for all who encounter its truth.