Mark 16:8

8 So the women left the tomb and ran away, trembling and bewildered. And in their fear they did not say a word to anyone. ^[a]

Mark 16:8 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 16:8

And they went out quickly
Out of the sepulchre, into which they had been, to see where Christ lay, as invited by the angel, ( Mark 16:6 ) . The word "quickly", is not read in the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, Persic, and Ethiopic versions: "which when they heard"; that is, when they heard the angel's and instructions, immediately they went out:

and fled from the sepulchre;
as surprised and affrighted:

for they trembled and were amazed;
at what they saw and heard, and yet this dread and fear were mixed with joy at the news of Christ's resurrection, as Matthew relates, ( Matthew 28:8 ) .

Neither said they any thing to any man;
they met with by the way, till they came to the disciples; to whom they told all, otherwise they would not have acted according to the angel's orders

for they were afraid;
not only affrighted with what they had seen and heard, but the were afraid to tell any but the disciples of these things, for fear of the Jews; lest they should be thought to have stolen the body of Christ, and so be taken up on that account, and punished.

Mark 16:8 In-Context

6 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here! See the place where they put Him.

7 But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him, just as He told you.’”

8 So the women left the tomb and ran away, trembling and bewildered. And in their fear they did not say a word to anyone.

9 Early on the first day of the week, after Jesus had risen, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had driven out seven demons.

10 She went and told those who had been with Him, who were mourning and weeping.

Footnotes

• [a]. Some early manuscripts end the Gospel of Mark after verse 8. Other manuscripts contain only a short ending, a version of the following: 9 But they quickly reported all these instructions to Peter’s companions. Afterward, Jesus Himself, through them, sent out from east to west the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation. Amen.