Mark 16 8

Mark 16:8 kjv

And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.

Mark 16:8 nkjv

So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

Mark 16:8 niv

Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid. [The earliest manuscripts and some other ancient witnesses do not have verses 9 ? 20.]

Mark 16:8 esv

And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

Mark 16:8 nlt

The women fled from the tomb, trembling and bewildered, and they said nothing to anyone because they were too frightened. [The most ancient manuscripts of Mark conclude with verse 16:8. Later manuscripts add one or both of the following endings.] [Shorter Ending of Mark] Then they briefly reported all this to Peter and his companions. Afterward Jesus himself sent them out from east to west with the sacred and unfailing message of salvation that gives eternal life. Amen. [Longer Ending of Mark]

Mark 16 verses

Mark 16 8 Meaning

Mark 16:8 describes the women's initial reaction upon leaving the empty tomb after the angel's announcement of Jesus' resurrection. Overwhelmed by fear and astonishment, they fled from the tomb. Contrary to the angel's implied command to tell Peter and the other disciples, they spoke of their experience to no one, gripped by a paralyzing dread. This verse powerfully portrays the human encounter with the divine, culminating in silence born of intense terror.

Mark 16 8 Context

Mark 16:8 marks the dramatic and abrupt ending of the Gospel of Mark in its earliest and most widely attested manuscripts. This unique ending profoundly shapes its theological message. Immediately preceding this verse, an angel, seen by the women inside the tomb, instructs them to "go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee" (Mk 16:7). The expectation is that the women would become the first messengers of the resurrection. However, Mark 16:8 details their immediate and contrary reaction: flight and fearful silence. The context within Mark's Gospel repeatedly features human failure, misunderstanding, and fear in the face of Jesus' divine power and identity, particularly among his disciples. The abrupt end in verse 8, leaving the resurrection news untold, places the burden of carrying the message not on the initial witnesses, but arguably, on the reader. It is an unsettling close that invites the audience to consider their own response to the overwhelming truth of Christ's resurrection.

Mark 16 8 Word analysis

• And they went out (ἐξελθοῦσαι – exelthousai) and fled (ἔφυγον – ephygon):

  • Exelthousai (perfect active participle): emphasizes the completed action of going out. They are outside the tomb.
  • ephygon (aorist active indicative): denotes a quick, decisive, flight. Their action is immediate, a hurried retreat driven by a powerful internal state. It highlights their inability to remain or process the astounding revelation within the tomb.
  • Significance: This is not a casual departure but a frantic, unhesitant escape. It underscores the overwhelming nature of their experience.

• from the tomb (ἀπὸ τοῦ μνημείου – apo tou mnēmeiou):

  • mnēmeiou: "memorial," "monument," "sepulchre." While referring to the physical tomb, it is also the place of death and expected confinement.
  • Significance: Their flight is from the site of revelation and transformation, a contrast to others who might approach or return. They are fleeing the site where death was conquered.

• for (γὰρ – gar) trembling (τρόμῳ – tromō) and bewilderment (ἐκστάσει – ekstasei) gripped them (εἶχεν αὐτὰς – eichen autas):

  • gar: "for," "because." It introduces the immediate reason for their flight and silence.
  • tromō: "trembling," "shuddering." A deep physical and emotional reaction, often associated with fear of divine presence (Exod 19:16). It can also indicate reverence or awe.
  • ekstasei: "bewilderment," "amazement," "ecstasy" (in the sense of being "outside of oneself"). It suggests a state of mental confusion, a dazed inability to comprehend or react rationally. (Acts 9:6 Saul trembled and was astonished).
  • eichen autas (imperfect active indicative): "it held them," "it possessed them." The imperfect tense indicates a continuing state or an ongoing grip of this fear and bewilderment, suggesting it wasn't a momentary feeling but lingered.
  • Significance: These are powerful descriptors, stronger than simple fear. This isn't just surprise but an overwhelming, nearly incapacitating awe mixed with terror, a typical human response to confronting the raw, inexplicable power of the divine. This is the "fear of the Lord" but manifested in a paralyzing way.

• And they said nothing (οὐδὲν εἶπον – ouden eipon) to anyone (οὐδενὶ – oudeni):

  • ouden eipon: "they said nothing." A strong double negative in Greek ("not even one word said they").
  • oudeni: "to no one." Reinforces the absolute silence.
  • Significance: This is the crux of the verse. Despite being entrusted with the pivotal news by an angelic messenger, their terror prevented them from delivering it. This silence stands in stark contrast to the divine commission in Mark 16:7. It challenges the reader and underscores human weakness in the face of overwhelming divine revelation. It hints at the ongoing need for discipleship and understanding that follows divine encounter.

• for they were afraid (ἐφοβοῦντο γάρ – ephobounto gar):

  • ephobounto: "they were fearing," "they were afraid" (imperfect active indicative). The imperfect tense suggests a continuous state of fear, an enduring terror rather than a momentary fright.
  • gar: "for," "because." Reiterates and emphasizes the direct cause of their silence.
  • Significance: This re-emphasizes that fear was the driving force behind their flight and silence, leaving the powerful resurrection message undelivered. It serves as both explanation and a lingering, poignant note on human limitation. This is not the "fear of the Lord" (Ps 2:11) that leads to wisdom and obedience, but a dread that stifles testimony.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • went out and fled from the tomb: The verbs exelthousai (went out) and ephygon (fled) emphasize urgency and an instinctual, physical removal from the awe-inspiring site. It’s an immediate, primal response to the transcendent.
  • trembling and bewilderment gripped them: This phrase clarifies the kind of fear. It's not a common fear but tromos (trembling, deep dread) and ekstasis (being beside oneself, profound shock). It implies an overwhelming sensory and psychological experience that leaves them profoundly disoriented and out of control.
  • they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid: This encapsulates the failure to obey the angelic command due to their overwhelming fear. It highlights a core tension in Mark's narrative where profound revelations are met with incomprehension and failure by those who witness them. The emphasis on "nothing" and "no one" stresses the completeness of their silence, which is a pivotal and dramatic turning point at this ending of the Gospel.

Mark 16 8 Bonus section

The most significant aspect of Mark 16:8 is its textual criticism. The overwhelming scholarly consensus is that this verse concludes the original Gospel of Mark, with Mark 16:9-20 being a later addition. This is supported by the earliest and most reliable Greek manuscripts (Sinaiticus and Vaticanus). This "shorter ending" makes Mark's Gospel distinct among the synoptics due to its abrupt, unresolved nature.

This unique ending has spurred much debate regarding Mark's authorial intent. Some scholars argue it highlights Mark's literary artistry, intentionally leaving the narrative open-ended to emphasize themes such as the continued hiddenness of Jesus' glory, the challenge to faith, and the cost of true discipleship. The unfinished ending compels the reader to fill the gap – to be the ones who finally speak. Others propose the original ending was lost or never completed, though the stylistic coherence of verse 8 with the rest of Mark's focus on fear and failure suggests an intentional conclusion.

The women's silence at the tomb echoes Mark's pervasive "Messianic Secret" theme (e.g., Jesus commanding silence after miracles, 1:44, 5:43, 7:36, 8:26, 8:30). Here, the most vital secret (the resurrection) is also initially unannounced. It also emphasizes that even with overwhelming evidence, human weakness and fear can prevent the spread of the Good News, underscoring the spiritual battle inherent in proclamation.

Mark 16 8 Commentary

Mark 16:8 is an extraordinary and highly significant verse, particularly because it constitutes the end of Mark's Gospel in many ancient manuscripts. This abrupt conclusion leaves the resurrection account with no explicit commissioning of the disciples to preach, no further appearances of the risen Christ, and critically, the primary witnesses (the women) failing to deliver the crucial news due to incapacitating fear. This ending compels the reader to confront the implications of the empty tomb and the angelic message personally.

The women's silence, born from intense "trembling and bewilderment" (a mixture of terror and awe, often associated with divine encounters), challenges traditional expectations of an upbeat resurrection narrative. It emphasizes the profound and potentially terrifying nature of a direct encounter with the transcendent, showcasing how humanity often reacts with incapacity in the face of such immense glory and mystery. It reminds the audience that knowing divine truth is not always easy or straightforward; it can be overwhelming and evoke paralyzing fear.

Theological implications of this ending are vast:

1. A Challenge to the Reader: The unspoken news from the women effectively passes the baton to the reader. Will we be paralyzed by fear, or will we overcome our trepidation to proclaim the resurrection, unlike those initial witnesses? It underscores that the mission is now ours.
2. Focus on the Gospel Message Itself: The resurrection's power is such that it stands alone, not dependent on immediate human proclamation. The sheer fact of the empty tomb and the angel's word is enough for Mark.
3. Realism of Discipleship: Mark's Gospel consistently portrays the disciples as flawed, often misunderstanding Jesus and exhibiting fear and failure (e.g., Peter's denial, disciples' flight). The women's reaction here aligns with this recurring theme, depicting the raw, human fragility even in the face of the greatest good news.

Practical usage:

• Reminds us that initial fear or uncertainty is a natural human response to overwhelming divine truth.
• Encourages believers to move beyond initial apprehension to bold proclamation, fulfilling the task the first witnesses could not.
• Challenges us to examine if our own awe of God leads to service or inaction.