Mark 16:4

Amplified Bible

Looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away, though it was extremely large.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Looking up, they noticed that the stone—which was very large—had been rolled away.

King James Version (1611)
(And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away) for it was very great.

King James Version
And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.

English Standard Version
And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large.

New American Standard Bible
And looking up, they noticed that the stone had been rolled away; for it was extremely large.

New Century Version
Then the women looked and saw that the stone had already been rolled away, even though it was very large.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away, although it was extremely large.

Legacy Standard Bible
And looking up, they *saw that the stone had been rolled away, although it was very large.

Berean Standard Bible
But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away, even though it was extremely large.

Contemporary English Version
But when they looked, they saw that the stone had already been rolled away. And it was a huge stone!

Complete Jewish Bible
Then they looked up and saw that the stone, even though it was huge, had been rolled back already.

Darby Translation
And when they looked, they see that the stone has been rolled [away], for it was very great.

Easy-to-Read Version
Then the women looked and saw that the stone was moved. The stone was very large, but it was moved away from the entrance.

Geneva Bible (1587)
And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away (for it was a very great one)

George Lamsa Translation
And they looked and saw that the stone was rolled away, for it was very large.

Lexham English Bible
And when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away (for it was very large).

Literal Translation
And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back; for it was very large.

American Standard Version
and looking up, they see that the stone is rolled back: for it was exceeding great.

Bible in Basic English
And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back; and it was of great size.

Hebrew Names Version
for it was very big. Looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back.

International Standard Version
Then they looked up and saw that the stone had been rolled away. (For it was a very large stone.)

Etheridge Translation
And they looked and saw that the stone was rolled away, for it was very great.

Murdock Translation
And they looked, and saw that the stone was rolled away; for it was very great.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And when they loked, they sawe how that the stone was rouled awaye, for it was a very great one.

English Revised Version
and looking up, they see that the stone is rolled back: for it was exceeding great.

World English Bible
for it was very big. Looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
(For it was very great:) And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled away.

Weymouth's New Testament
But then, looking up, they saw that the stone was already rolled back: for it was of immense size.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And thei bihelden, and seien the stoon walewid awei, for it was ful greet.

Update Bible Version
and looking up, they see that the stone has been rolled back: for it was exceeding great.

Webster's Bible Translation
(And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away) for it was very great.

New English Translation
But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled back.

New King James Version
But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away--for it was very large.

New Living Translation
But as they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled aside.

New Life Bible
But when they looked, they saw the very large stone had been rolled away.

New Revised Standard
When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, looking up, they observe that the stone hath been rolled up, - for it was exceeding great.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And looking, they saw the stone rolled back. For it was very great.

Revised Standard Version
And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back; --it was very large.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And when they looked they sawe how the stone was rolled awaye: for it was a very greate one.

Young's Literal Translation
And having looked, they see that the stone hath been rolled away -- for it was very great,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And whan they loked, they sawe, that the stone was rolled awaye: for it was a very greate one.

Mace New Testament (1729)
(for it was very great.) but when they were near in view, they perceiv'd that the stone was roll'd away.

THE MESSAGE
Then they looked up, saw that it had been rolled back—it was a huge stone—and walked right in. They saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed all in white. They were completely taken aback, astonished.

Simplified Cowboy Version
But when they got to the tomb, the stone had already been rolled away.

Contextual Overview

¹When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome purchased [sweet-smelling] spices, so that they might go and anoint Him. ²Very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. ³And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll back the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?" ⁴Looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away, though it was extremely large.⁵Entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right, wearing a [long, stately] white robe; and they were amazed and bewildered. ⁶And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen; He is not here. See, [here is] the place where they laid Him. ⁷"But go, tell His disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see Him there, just as He told you.'" ⁸They went out and fled from the tomb, for they were seized with trembling and astonishment; and they said nothing [about it] to anyone, because they were afraid.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

they saw: Matthew 28:2-4, Luke 24:2, John 20:1

Reciprocal: Matthew 27:60 - a great Mark 15:46 - and rolled

Cross-References

Genesis 16:4
He went in to [the bed of] Hagar, and she conceived; and when she realized that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress [regarding Sarai as insignificant because of her infertility].

Genesis 16:5
Then Sarai said to Abram, "May [the responsibility for] the wrong done to me [by the arrogant behavior of Hagar] be upon you. I gave my maid into your arms, and when she realized that she had conceived, I was despised and looked on with disrespect. May the LORD judge [who has done right] between you and me."

Genesis 16:6
But Abram said to Sarai, "Look, your maid is entirely in your hands and subject to your authority; do as you please with her." So Sarai treated her harshly and humiliated her, and Hagar fled from her.

Genesis 16:8
And He said, "Hagar, Sarai's maid, where did you come from and where are you going?" And she said, "I am running away from my mistress Sarai."

2 Samuel 6:16
Then, as the ark of the LORD came into the City of David, Michal, Saul's daughter [David's wife], looked down from the window above and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she felt contempt for him in her heart [because she thought him undignified].

Proverbs 30:23
Under an unloved woman when she gets married, And under a maidservant when she supplants her mistress.

1 Corinthians 4:6
Now I have applied these things [that is, the analogies about factions] to myself and Apollos for your benefit, believers, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond what is written [in Scripture], so that none of you will become arrogant and boast in favor of one [minister or teacher] against the other.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And when they looked,.... Towards the sepulchre, as they came near it:

they saw that the stone was rolled away; they perceived it lay at some distance from the door of the sepulchre, which doubtless was very grateful, and matter of rejoicing to them:

for it was very great; these words are to be read, in connection with the preceding verse; for they are not a reason, why when they looked towards the sepulchre, they saw the stone rolled, because it was a very large one, and so easily to be seen at a distance; but a reason why they were so thoughtful and concerned, who should roll it away for them, it being so big, that they could not think that they were able to do it themselves.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See this passage explained in the notes at Matthew 28:1-8.

Mark 16:1

Sweet spices - “Aromatics.” Substances used in embalming. The idea of sweetness is not, however, implied in the original. Many of the substances used for embalming were “bitter” - as, for example, myrrh - and none of them, perhaps, could properly be called “sweet.” The word “spices” expresses all that there is in the original.

Anoint him - Embalm him, or apply these spices to his body to keep it from putrefaction. This is proof that they did not suppose he would rise again; and the fact that they did not “expect” he would rise, gives more strength to the evidence for his resurrection.

Mark 16:4

It was very great - These words belong to the third verse: “Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?” for, the evangelist adds, it was very great.

Mark 16:5

Sitting on the right side - As they entered. The sepulchre was large enough to admit persons to go into it; not unlike, in that respect, our vaults.

Mark 16:7

Tell his disciples and Peter - It is remarkable that Peter is singled out for special notice. It was proof of the kindness and mercy of the Lord Jesus. Peter, just before the death of Jesus, had denied him. He had brought dishonor on his profession of attachment to him. It would have been right if the Lord Jesus had from that moment cast him off and noticed him no more. But he loved him still. Having loved him once, he loved unto the end, John 13:1. As a proof that he forgave him and still loved him, he sent him this “special” message - the assurance that though he had denied him, and had done much to aggravate his sufferings, yet he had risen, and was still his Lord and Redeemer. We are not to infer, because the angel said, “Tell his disciples and Peter,” that Peter was not still a disciple. The meaning is, “Tell his disciples, and especially Peter,” sending to him a particular message. Peter was still a disciple. Before his fall, Jesus had prayed for him that his faith should not fail Luke 22:32; and as the prayer of Jesus was “always” heard John 11:42, so it follows that Peter still retained faith sufficient to be a disciple, though he was suffered to fall into sin.

See this passage explained in the notes at Matthew 28:1-8.

Tell his disciples and Peter - It is remarkable that Peter is singled out for special notice. It was proof of the kindness and mercy of the Lord Jesus. Peter, just before the death of Jesus, had denied him. He had brought dishonor on his profession of attachment to him. It would have been right if the Lord Jesus had from that moment cast him off and noticed him no more. But he loved him still. Having loved him once, he loved unto the end, John 13:1. As a proof that he forgave him and still loved him, he sent him this “special” message - the assurance that though he had denied him, and had done much to aggravate his sufferings, yet he had risen, and was still his Lord and Redeemer. We are not to infer, because the angel said, “Tell his disciples and Peter,” that Peter was not still a disciple. The meaning is, “Tell his disciples, and especially Peter,” sending to him a particular message. Peter was still a disciple. Before his fall, Jesus had prayed for him that his faith should not fail Luke 22:32; and as the prayer of Jesus was “always” heard John 11:42, so it follows that Peter still retained faith sufficient to be a disciple, though he was suffered to fall into sin.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Mark 16:4. For it was very great — This clause should be read immediately after the third verse, according to D, three copies of the Itala, Syriac, Hier., and Eusebius. "Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? for it was very great. And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away." They knew that the stone was too heavy for them to roll away; and, unless they got access to the body, they could not apply the aromatics which they had brought to finish the embalming.