Mark 16:4

New Living Translation

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

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.

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

¹ Saturday evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went out and purchased burial spices so they could anoint Jesus' body. ² Very early on Sunday morning, just at sunrise, they went to the tomb. ³ On the way they were asking each other, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?" ⁴ But as they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled aside. ⁵ When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a white robe sitting on the right side. The women were shocked, ⁶ but the angel said, "Don't be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn't here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body. ⁷ Now go and tell his disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died." ⁸ 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.

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
So Abram had sexual relations with Hagar, and she became pregnant. But when Hagar knew she was pregnant, she began to treat her mistress, Sarai, with contempt.

Genesis 16:5
Then Sarai said to Abram, "This is all your fault! I put my servant into your arms, but now that she's pregnant she treats me with contempt. The Lord will show who's wrong—you or me!"

Genesis 16:6
Abram replied, "Look, she is your servant, so deal with her as you see fit." Then Sarai treated Hagar so harshly that she finally ran away.

Genesis 16:8
The angel said to her, "Hagar, Sarai's servant, where have you come from, and where are you going?" "I'm running away from my mistress, Sarai," she replied.

2 Samuel 6:16
But as the Ark of the Lord entered the City of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked down from her window. When she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord , she was filled with contempt for him.

Proverbs 30:23
a bitter woman who finally gets a husband, a servant girl who supplants her mistress.

1 Corinthians 4:6
Dear brothers and sisters, I have used Apollos and myself to illustrate what I've been saying. If you pay attention to what I have quoted from the Scriptures, you won't be proud of one of your leaders at the expense of another.

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.