Matthew 28 8

Matthew 28:8 kjv

And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.

Matthew 28:8 nkjv

So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.

Matthew 28:8 niv

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

Matthew 28:8 esv

So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

Matthew 28:8 nlt

The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel's message.

Matthew 28 verses

Matthew 28 8 Meaning

Matthew 28:8 describes the immediate reaction and action of Mary Magdalene and the "other Mary" after encountering the angel at the empty tomb of Jesus. They departed quickly from the tomb, filled with a paradoxical mix of fear (awe and reverence) and overwhelming joy, driven by the urgency to deliver the momentous news of Jesus's resurrection to His disciples, as commanded by the angel. This verse marks the pivotal transition from revelation to proclamation, initiating the spread of the Gospel.

Matthew 28 8 Context

Matthew 28:8 follows the dramatic revelation of Jesus's resurrection at the tomb. Verses 1-7 describe Mary Magdalene and the other Mary coming to the tomb early on Sunday morning. An earthquake occurs, an angel of the Lord descends, rolls back the stone, and sits on it. The guards are terrified and become like dead men. The angel then speaks to the women, commanding them not to be afraid and proclaiming that Jesus is risen. He instructs them to go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen and will meet them in Galilee. Verse 8 marks the women's immediate and emotional response to this angelic message, leading directly to their obedience. This context sets up their pivotal role as the first evangelists of the resurrection. Historically, the testimony of women was often discredited in ancient Jewish society, yet here, they are divinely chosen to be the first witnesses and messengers of the most crucial event in human history. This subversive detail underscores the divine authorship and truth of the narrative, emphasizing that God chooses unlikely instruments to fulfill His purposes.

Matthew 28 8 Word analysis

• And they departed quickly:

  • And they: Refers to Mary Magdalene and the "other Mary" from Mt 28:1. Their identification highlights their direct involvement and reliability as immediate witnesses to the empty tomb and angelic encounter.
  • departed quickly (ἀπελθοῦσαι ταχύ, apelthousai tachy): The Greek word tachy (quickly, swiftly, without delay) emphasizes urgency and immediacy. They didn't linger or doubt but acted promptly on the angel's instruction. This haste reflects the magnitude and significance of the news they carried, contrasting with Mark's account of their initial silence from fear.
    • Significance: Their swift obedience foreshadows the urgency with which the Gospel message is to be proclaimed.

• from the tomb:

  • from the tomb (ἀπὸ τοῦ μνημείου, apo tou mnēmíou): Literally "from the memorial" or "from the sepulcher." This specifies the starting point of their mission. It signifies their eyewitness account of the empty tomb—the physical proof of the resurrection.
    • Significance: The empty tomb is central to the resurrection message, being a verifiable historical fact presented to the first witnesses.

• with fear and great joy:

  • with fear (μετὰ φόβου, meta phobou): The Greek phobos here is not merely terror but profound awe, reverence, and astonishment at the supernatural event they witnessed (the angel's appearance, the rolled stone, the message). It's a respectful and trembling realization of God's power.
    • Significance: This sacred awe is a proper response to encountering the divine.
  • and great joy (καὶ χαρᾶς μεγάλης, kai charás megálēs): The Greek chará is a deep, abiding happiness. Megáles (great) amplifies the intensity. This joy springs from the unimaginable good news that Jesus is alive, defeating death.
    • Significance: The combination of fear and joy captures the profound, often paradoxical, human experience of encountering the divine, where awe for God's power coexists with ecstatic relief and happiness over His salvific acts. It represents the transformation from sorrow over death to exhilaration over life.

• and ran to tell His disciples:

  • and ran (ἔδραμον, edramon): This Greek verb (from trecho) indicates purposeful and rapid movement. It emphasizes their active and eager compliance with the angelic command, not a panicked flight.
    • Significance: Their physical exertion reflects their inner drive and the burning desire to share the good news.
  • to tell His disciples (ἀπαγγεῖλαι τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ, apaggílai toīs mathētaīs autoū):
    • to tell (ἀπαγγεῖλαι, apaggílai): The verb apaggellō means to announce, report, proclaim a message. It denotes a specific message from a source. They are messengers, conveying a divine message.
      • Significance: This establishes the first command for the spread of the resurrection gospel—to communicate this foundational truth.
    • His disciples: The immediate target audience. These were the men who had followed Jesus closely, but who had scattered and were now in mourning and despair. They needed this news urgently to restore their faith and commission.
      • Significance: The Gospel message is meant to be proclaimed, first to those closest to Christ, then to the ends of the earth.

Matthew 28 8 Bonus section

The prominence of women as the first witnesses to the resurrection in all four Gospels is a significant detail. In an ancient world where women's testimony was often not considered credible in legal settings, God chose them to be the primary recipients and messengers of this monumental truth. This choice subverts cultural norms and highlights God's inclusive nature and His unique way of revealing Himself and spreading His message, often through the "weak" or "unimportant" in the eyes of the world, thereby magnifying His glory and minimizing human boasting. This narrative also provides a practical example for all believers: experiencing Christ brings both profound awe and intense joy, culminating in an urgent desire to share that life-altering news.

Matthew 28 8 Commentary

Matthew 28:8 succinctly captures the pivotal moment after the resurrection's revelation. It encapsulates the dynamic, often paradoxical, human response to divine truth: a profound reverence bordering on dread (fear/awe) juxtaposed with overwhelming joy. This dual emotion is not contradictory but profoundly integrated, stemming from the encounter with the almighty God who has wrought the impossible, yet also brought ultimate salvation and hope. The women's immediate departure and swift run to "tell His disciples" signifies not just obedience but the spontaneous urgency that grips those entrusted with God's good news. They become the very first evangelists of the risen Christ, carrying the world-changing announcement from the empty tomb. Their swift, emotional, yet obedient action serves as a template for all who receive the Gospel: embrace its awe-inspiring truth, rejoice in its hope, and, compelled by its power, go forth to proclaim it to others, especially to those who mourn or despair.