The Meaning of Mark 16:7 Explained

Mark 16:7

KJV: But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.

YLT: and go, say to his disciples, and Peter, that he doth go before you to Galilee; there ye shall see him, as he said to you.'

Darby: But go, tell his disciples and Peter, he goes before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him, as he said to you.

ASV: But go, tell his disciples and Peter, He goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But  go your way,  tell  his  disciples  and  Peter  that  he goeth before  you  into  Galilee:  there  shall ye see  him,  as  he said  unto you. 

What does Mark 16:7 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Peter especially needed this good news in view of his triple denial of Jesus and his consequent despair. Mark only recorded this special reference to Peter probably because it meant so much to Peter. Jesus still regarded Peter as one of His disciples in spite of his failure.
Jesus had predicted the scattering of His sheep and their regathering in Galilee ( Mark 14:27-28). Galilee was the appropriate place to launch a worldwide mission to Gentiles as well as Jews. As He had called His disciples to be fishers of men in Galilee ( Mark 1:17), now He would commission them to be shepherds of sheep there ( John 21:15-19).
"The final scene points back to Galilee, back to the beginning of the story. The young man"s message at the tomb with instructions for the disciples to go to Galilee suggests perhaps a fresh start for the disciples or for anyone in the future of the story world who chooses to follow Jesus. By implication, this fresh journey will result in the same complications and the same hostility met in Galilee by John and then by Jesus. Furthermore, Galilee points away from Jerusalem, the center of Judaism, toward gentile nations, where Jesus had said the good news was to be proclaimed before the end came." [1]
However the disciples did not go immediately to Galilee. They needed further proof of Jesus" resurrection, which Jesus provided, before they went.

Context Summary

Mark 16:1-20 - The Power Of His Resurrection
In the dim light the women brave the dangers of an Eastern city and hasten to the grave. How often we seek Christ in the grave of old experiences or of dead and empty rites; and how often we cherish fears for which there is no occasion! In the grave where Christ had lain a young man was sitting, arrayed in a glistening robe; so out of death comes life. And one result of the Savior's resurrection has been that myriads of noble youths, clothed in garments of purity, have gone forth to shine like the dewdrops of the morning sparkling on the bosom of the earth. God's angels are always young. We who are the children of the Resurrection in the life of eternity will grow always younger, as here our bodies are ever growing older. The ministry of Galilee and Jerusalem is at an end, but the spirit of the Master goes forth to new victories in the Acts of the Apostles. Note the mighty power of faith, the signs that follow its manifestation in simplicity and purity; demons cannot resist it, serpents are rendered harmless, and healing streams flow from contact with it. Let us keep our eyes fixed on the risen Christ sitting at the right hand of God, and believe that he is ever working by our side and confirming our words, Hebrews 2:4 [source]

Chapter Summary: Mark 16

1  An Angel declares the resurrection of Jesus to three women
9  Jesus himself appears to Mary Magdalene;
12  to two going into the country;
14  then to the apostles;
15  whom he sends forth to preach the gospel;
19  and ascends into heaven

Greek Commentary for Mark 16:7

And Peter [και τωι Πετρωι]
Only in Mark, showing that Peter remembered gratefully this special message from the Risen Christ. Later in the day Jesus will appear also to Peter, an event that changed doubt to certainty with the apostles (Luke 24:34; 1 Corinthians 15:5). See Matthew 28:7 for discussion of promised meeting in Galilee. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Mark 16:7

Matthew 28:10 Fear not [μη ποβειστε]
They were still afraid for joy and embarrassment. Jesus calms their excitement by the repetition of the charge from the angel for the disciples to meet him in Galilee. There is no special mention of Peter (“and Peter”) as in Mark 16:7, but we may be sure that the special message to Peter was delivered. [source]
Luke 22:34 Peter []
The only instance of Christ's directly addressing him as Peter. He refers to him by that name, Mark 16:7. [source]
John 21:1 Manifested himself [επανεροσεν εαυτον]
First aorist active indicative of πανεροω — phaneroō with the reflexive pronoun (cf. John 7:4; John 13:4). For the passive see John 1:31; John 21:14. Jesus was only seen during the forty days now and then (Acts 1:3), ten instances being recorded. The word πανεροω — phaneroō is often used of Christ on earth (John 1:31; John 2:11; 1 Peter 1:20; 1 John 1:2), of his works (John 3:5), of the second coming (1 John 2:28), of Christ in glory (Colossians 3:4; 1 John 3:2). At By or upon. Of Tiberias As in John 6:1 instead of the usual “Sea of Galilee.” Tiberias, the capital city of Galilee, gave this epithet to the Sea of Galilee. This is not the appearance in Galilee prearranged by Jesus (Mark 16:7; Matthew 28:7, Matthew 28:16). [source]
1 Corinthians 15:5 And that he appeared to Cephas [και οτι ωπτη Κηπαι]
First aorist passive indicative of the defective verb οραω — horaō to see. Paul means not a mere “vision,” but actual appearance. John uses επανερωτη — ephanerōthē (John 21:14) from πανεροω — phaneroō to make manifest, of Christ‘s appearance to the seven by the Sea of Galilee. Peter was listed first Jesus had sent a special message to him (Mark 16:7) after his resurrection. This special appearance to Peter is made the determining factor in the joyful faith of the disciples (Luke 24:34), though mentioned incidentally here. Paul had told all these four facts to the Corinthians in his preaching. He gives further proof of the fact of Christ‘s resurrection. There are ten appearances given besides the one to Paul. Nine are in the Gospels (Mary Magdalene in John and Mark, the other women in Matthew, the two going to Emmaus in Luke, Simon Peter in Luke and I Corinthians, the ten apostles and others in Luke and John and Mark, the eleven and others in John, the seven by the sea in John, to over five hundred in Galilee in Matthew and Paul and Mark, to the apostles in Jerusalem in Luke and Mark and Acts and I Corinthians) and one in I Corinthians above (to James). It will be seen that Paul mentions only five of the ten, one, that to James, not given elsewhere. What he gives is conclusive evidence of the fact, particularly when Revelation-enforced by his own experience (the sixth appearance mentioned by Paul). The way to prove this great fact is to start with Paul‘s own witness given in this undoubted Epistle. The natural way to understand Paul‘s adverbs of time here is chronological: then (ειτα — eita), then (επειτα — epeita), then (επειτα — epeita), then (ειτα — eita), last of all (εσχατον παντων — eschaton pantōn). [source]

What do the individual words in Mark 16:7 mean?

But go say the disciples of Him and - to Peter that He goes before you into - Galilee there Him will you see as He said to you
ἀλλὰ ὑπάγετε εἴπατε τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ καὶ τῷ Πέτρῳ ὅτι Προάγει ὑμᾶς εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν ἐκεῖ αὐτὸν ὄψεσθε καθὼς εἶπεν ὑμῖν

ὑπάγετε  go 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ὑπάγω  
Sense: to lead under, bring under.
εἴπατε  say 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.
μαθηταῖς  disciples 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: μαθητής  
Sense: a learner, pupil, disciple.
αὐτοῦ  of  Him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
τῷ  - 
Parse: Article, Dative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Πέτρῳ  to  Peter 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: Πέτρος  
Sense: one of the twelve disciples of Jesus.
ὅτι  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
Προάγει  He  goes  before 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: προάγω  
Sense: to lead forward, lead forth.
εἰς  into 
Parse: Preposition
Root: εἰς  
Sense: into, unto, to, towards, for, among.
τὴν  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Γαλιλαίαν  Galilee 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: Γαλιλαία  
Sense: the name of a region of northern Palestine, bounded on the north by Syria, on the west by Sidon, Tyre, Ptolemais and their territories and the promontory of Carmel, on the south by Samaria and on the east by the Jordan.
ὄψεσθε  will  you  see 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Middle, 2nd Person Plural
Root: εἶδον 
Sense: to see with the eyes.
εἶπεν  He  said 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.
ὑμῖν  to  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.