The Resurrection: Women Find the Empty Tomb
Mark 16:1-8
Mark.16.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Και: CONJ
- διαγενομενου: VERB,aor,mid,ptc,gen,sg,n
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- σαββατου: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- Μαρια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- Μαγδαληνη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- Μαρια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- Ιακωβου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- Σαλωμη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- ηγορασαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- αρωματα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- ινα: CONJ
- ελθουσαι: VERB,aor,act,ptc,nom,pl,f
- αλειψωσιν: VERB,aor,act,sub,3,pl
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- Luke 24:1-3 (verbal): Luke explicitly names women (Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James) who brought spices and ointments to anoint Jesus’ body—strong verbal and narrative parallel to Mark’s purchase of spices.
- John 20:1 (thematic): John records Mary Magdalene visiting the tomb early; parallels Mark in emphasizing Mary Magdalene’s role at the tomb, though John omits the detail about buying spices.
- Matthew 28:1 (structural): Matthew describes Mary Magdalene and the other Mary going to the tomb at dawn—structurally parallel in the presence and pairing of the women, even though Matthew does not mention purchased spices.
- Mark 15:47 (verbal): Earlier in Mark the same women (Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses/James) are noted as witnesses to Jesus’ burial—verbal/internal parallel linking identity and continuous witness.
- John 19:39-40 (thematic): John reports Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes for burial; thematically parallels the anointing/burial-spice motif that motivates the women in Mark 16:1.
Alternative generated candidates
- When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might go and anoint him.
- When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of Joses, and Salome bought spices so that they might go and anoint him.
Mark.16.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- λιαν: ADV
- πρωι: ADV
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- μια: NUM,nom,sg,f
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- σαββατων: NOUN,gen,pl,n
- ερχονται: VERB,pres,mid,ind,3,pl
- επι: PREP
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- μνημειον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- ανατειλαντος: PART,aor,act,gen,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- ηλιου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Matthew 28:1 (verbal): Same scene: on the first day of the week at dawn the women (the Marys) come to the tomb. Closely parallels Mark’s timing language (‘dawn’/‘sunrise’) and the visit to the tomb.
- Luke 24:1-2 (verbal): Luke likewise records that very early on the first day of the week the women came to the tomb; the phrasing and the motif of an early-morning arrival and discovery of the empty tomb are parallel.
- John 20:1 (verbal): John also has Mary Magdalene coming to the tomb on the first day of the week early in the morning; John’s detail (‘while it was still dark’) contrasts with Mark’s ‘sunrise’ but preserves the same chronological marker.
- Mark 16:9 (structural): Internal parallel in Mark: the narrative later repeats the motif of ‘early on the first day of the week’ when describing the risen Jesus’ appearance to Mary Magdalene, linking the tomb visit and the resurrection appearance.
Alternative generated candidates
- And very early on the first day of the week, at the rising of the sun, they came to the tomb.
- Very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they came to the tomb.
Mark.16.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ελεγον: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,pl
- προς: PREP
- εαυτας·Τις: PRON,acc,pl,fem;PRON,nom,sg,indef
- αποκυλισει: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- ημιν: PRON,dat,pl,1
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- λιθον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- εκ: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- θυρας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- μνημειου: NOUN,gen,sg,n
Parallels
- Matthew 28:2 (thematic): Matthew narrates the stone being rolled away by an angel (addressing the very concern in Mark 16:3 about who will remove the stone).
- Luke 24:2-3 (verbal): Luke reports the women finding the stone already rolled away and the tomb open, paralleling Mark's concern and its immediate resolution.
- John 20:1 (verbal): John describes Mary Magdalene discovering the stone removed from the tomb at dawn, a direct parallel to the question of who will roll the stone away.
- Mark 15:47 (structural): Earlier in Mark the same women (Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses) are noted at Jesus' burial, linking their presence at the tomb in 16:1–3 and explaining their concern about the stone.
Alternative generated candidates
- They said to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?”
- They were saying among themselves, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?"
Mark.16.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- αναβλεψασαι: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,pl,f
- θεωρουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- οτι: CONJ
- αποκεκυλισται: VERB,perf,mp,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- λιθος: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- ην: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- γαρ: PART
- μεγας: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- σφοδρα: ADV
Parallels
- Matthew 28:2 (verbal): Describes an angel descending, an earthquake, and the stone being rolled back—narratively parallels Mark’s report that the large stone had been rolled away.
- Luke 24:2 (verbal): The women find the stone rolled away from the tomb; a direct parallel in the resurrection tradition to Mark’s observation of the moved stone.
- John 20:1 (verbal): Mary Magdalene discovers the stone removed from the tomb entrance (ὁ λίθος ἠρμένη), echoing Mark’s claim that the stone had been rolled back.
- Matthew 27:60 (structural): Reports that Joseph rolled a great stone and set it against the tomb at burial—this placement provides the narrative background for the later reversal when the stone is found rolled away.
- Mark 15:46 (structural): Mark’s own earlier note that Joseph rolled a stone against the tomb creates a bookend in his Gospel when 16:4 reports that the same stone has been rolled back.
Alternative generated candidates
- And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was very large.
- But looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back; for it was very large.
Mark.16.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- εισελθουσαι: VERB,aor,act,ptc,nom,f,pl
- εις: PREP
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- μνημειον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- ειδον: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- νεανισκον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- καθημενον: VERB,pres,mid,ptc,acc,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- δεξιοις: ADJ,dat,pl,m
- περιβεβλημενον: VERB,perf,pass,ptc,acc,m,sg
- στολην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- λευκην: ADJ,acc,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- εξεθαμβηθησαν: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,pl
Parallels
- Matthew 28:2-5 (verbal): An angel appears at the tomb, described with dazzling/white clothing and sitting (on the stone); the women are frightened and receive a spoken reassurance—close verbal and narrative parallels to Mark’s young man in white.
- Luke 24:4-5 (thematic): Two men in shining apparel suddenly appear at the tomb, startling the women—a thematic parallel emphasizing heavenly messengers who provoke fear and question the witnesses.
- John 20:12 (verbal): Mary sees two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been—directly parallels the motif of white-clad heavenly figures seated in the tomb.
- Mark 16:6 (structural): Immediate narrative continuation in Mark: the young man speaks to the women ('Be not alarmed'), tying the visual appearance (v.5) to the angelic message announcing the resurrection.
Alternative generated candidates
- And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right, clothed in a white robe; and they were alarmed.
- Entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed.
Mark.16.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- λεγει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- αυταις·Μη: PRON,dat,pl,f+PART
- εκθαμβεισθε·Ιησουν: VERB,pres,mid/pass,imp,2,pl+NOUN,acc,sg,m
- ζητειτε: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- Ναζαρηνον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- εσταυρωμενον·ηγερθη: PART,perf,pass,acc,sg,m+VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- ουκ: PART,neg
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ωδε·ιδε: ADV+VERB,pres,act,imp,2,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- τοπος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- οπου: ADV,rel
- εθηκαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- αυτον·: PRON,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- Matthew 28:5-6 (verbal): Angel announces to the women: 'Do not be afraid... He is not here; for he is risen.' Largely the same proclamation and wording as Mark 16:6.
- Luke 24:5-6 (verbal): Angelic question and declaration: 'Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.' Closely parallels Mark's tomb-scene announcement.
- John 20:15-17 (thematic): Mary searches the tomb and encounters the risen Jesus; motif of seeking 'Jesus' and being confronted with resurrection presence mirrors Mark's announcement to those searching for the crucified Nazarene.
- 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (thematic): Paul's creedal summary: Christ died, was buried, and was raised on the third day. The verse provides the early apostolic theological affirmation that underlies Mark's tomb-proclamation.
- Acts 10:39-41 (thematic): Peter's witness that Jesus was killed and God raised him, and that he appeared to witnesses—echoes Mark's message that the crucified Nazarene has been raised and is no longer in the tomb.
Alternative generated candidates
- But he said to them, “Do not be amazed. You seek Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.
- And he said to them, "Do not be amazed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him."
Mark.16.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- αλλα: CONJ
- υπαγετε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- ειπατε: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,pl
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- μαθηταις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- Πετρω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- οτι: CONJ
- Προαγει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- υμας: PRON,acc,pl,2
- εις: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- Γαλιλαιαν·εκει: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- οψεσθε: VERB,fut,mid,ind,2,pl
- καθως: CONJ
- ειπεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
Parallels
- Matthew 28:7 (verbal): Angel instructs the women to tell the disciples that Jesus 'goes before you into Galilee' and that they will see him there—language nearly identical to Mark 16:7.
- Mark 14:28 (quotation): Jesus earlier predicts his resurrection and says, 'After I am raised, I will go before you into Galilee,' which Mark 16:7 recalls and fulfills.
- Luke 24:6-7 (allusion): The angel/men at the tomb remind the women of Jesus' previous words 'while he was still in Galilee,' linking the resurrection appearance in Galilee to Jesus' earlier predictions.
- 1 Corinthians 15:5 (thematic): Paul lists post-resurrection appearances, beginning with 'that he appeared to Cephas (Peter),' reflecting Mark 16:7's special mention of Peter among the disciples.
Alternative generated candidates
- But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you into Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.”
- "But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he goes before you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you."
Mark.16.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- εξελθουσαι: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,pl,f
- εφυγον: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- απο: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- μνημειου: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- ειχεν: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- γαρ: PART
- αυτας: PRON,acc,pl,f
- τρομος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- εκστασις·και: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- ουδενι: PRON,dat,sg,n
- ουδεν: PRON,acc,sg,n
- ειπαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- εφοβουντο: VERB,impf,mid,ind,3,pl
- γαρ: PART
- Παντα: ADJ,acc,pl,n
- δε: CONJ
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- παρηγγελμενα: VERB,perf,pass,part,acc,pl,n
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- περι: PREP
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- Πετρον: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- συντομως: ADV
- εξηγγειλαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- μετα: PREP
- δε: CONJ
- ταυτα: PRON,acc,pl,n
- και: CONJ
- αυτος: PRON,nom,sg,3,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Ιησους: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- απο: PREP
- ανατολης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- αχρι: PREP
- δυσεως: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- εξαπεστειλεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- δι᾽αυτων: PREP+PRON,gen,pl,3
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- ιερον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- αφθαρτον: ADJ,nom,sg,n
- κηρυγμα: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- αιωνιου: ADJ,gen,sg,m
- σωτηριας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- αμην: PART
Parallels
- Matthew 28:8-10 (verbal): Women leave the empty tomb with fear (and joy); Matthew explicitly records them running to tell the disciples and records a subsequent appearance of Jesus that commissions them to report, a close narrative parallel and alternate ending to Mark’s abrupt silence.
- Luke 24:9-11 (thematic): Women report the tomb events to the apostles; Luke emphasizes the women’s testimony and the apostles’ initial unbelief, which contrasts with Mark 16:8’s statement that the women said nothing because they were afraid.
- John 20:1-18 (thematic): Mary Magdalene (and other women) discover the empty tomb, experience fear/distress and encounter the risen Jesus and then report to the disciples—another account of the women’s role in the resurrection narrative with similar emotional and reporting elements.
- 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 (structural): Paul’s creedal summary lists post‑resurrection appearances (to Cephas, the Twelve, many, and Paul), providing a complementary tradition of resurrection appearances that fills out the aftermath left open by Mark’s abrupt ending.
- Mark 16:9-20 (quotation): The so‑called Longer Ending of Mark continues the narrative after 16:8, recording appearances of the risen Jesus and a missionary commission; it directly expands the abrupt conclusion of 16:8 and is thus an internal textual parallel.
Alternative generated candidates
- 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.
- So 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.
And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint him.
Very early on the first day of the week, at sunrise, they came to the tomb.
They were asking one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was very large.
Entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right, clothed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified; he has risen—he is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go and tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you into Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.” So 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.