The Meaning of Mark 16:11 Explained

Mark 16:11

KJV: And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.

YLT: and they, having heard that he is alive, and was seen by her, did not believe.

Darby: And when these heard that he was alive and had been seen of her, they disbelieved it.

ASV: And they, when they heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, disbelieved.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And they,  when they had heard  that  he was alive,  and  had been seen  of  her,  believed not. 

What does Mark 16:11 Mean?

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 16:11

Disbelieved [ηπιστησαν]
This verb is common in the ancient Greek, but rare in the N.T. and here again Mark 16:16 and nowhere else in Mark. The usual N.T. word is απειτεω — apeitheō Luke 24:11 uses this verb (ηπιστουν — ēpistoun) of the disbelief of the report of Mary Magdalene and the other women. The verb ετεατη — etheathē (from τεαωμαι — theaōmai) occurs only here and in Luke 24:14 in Mark. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Mark 16:11

Mark 16:10 She [ἐκείνη]
An absolute use of the pronoun unexampled in Mark. See also Mark 16:11, Mark 16:13. It would imply an emphasis which is not intended. Compare Mark 4:11; Mark 12:4, Mark 12:5, Mark 12:7; Mark 14:21. [source]
Mark 16:10 She [εκεινη]
Only instance of this pronoun (=ιλλα — illa) absolutely in Mark, though a good Greek idiom. (See note on John 19:35.) See also Mark 16:11, Mark 16:20. [source]
John 20:18 And telleth [αγγελλουσα]
Present active participle, “announcing.” I have seen the Lord Perfect active indicative of οραω — horaō She will always carry in her heart that vision (picture) of the Risen Christ. She tells this fact before she delivers Christ‘s message to the brethren of Christ. How that. No word in the Greek, but a conjunction like ως — hōs is implied. οτι — Hoti here is recitative. The disciples (brethren) did not believe Mary‘s story nor that of the other women (Luke 24:11; Mark 16:11). Paul does not mention the vision to Mary or the women in 1 Corinthians 15:5-7. But Mary Magdalene was the first one to see the Risen Lord. [source]
Romans 3:3 Did not believe [ἠπίστησαν]
Rev., were without faith. Not, as some, were unfaithful, which is contrary to New Testament usage. See Mark 16:11, Mark 16:16; Luke 24:11, Luke 24:41; Acts 28:24; Romans 4:20, etc. The Rev. rendering is preferable, as bringing out the paronomasia between the Greek words: were without faith; their want of faith; the faithfulness of God. [source]

What do the individual words in Mark 16:11 mean?

And they having heard that He is alive and has been seen by her disbelieved
κἀκεῖνοι ἀκούσαντες ὅτι ζῇ καὶ ἐθεάθη ὑπ’ αὐτῆς ἠπίστησαν

κἀκεῖνοι  And  they 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: κἀκεῖνος  
Sense: and he, he also.
ἀκούσαντες  having  heard 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀκουστός 
Sense: to be endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf.
ὅτι  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
ζῇ  He  is  alive 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ζάω  
Sense: to live, breathe, be among the living (not lifeless, not dead).
ἐθεάθη  has  been  seen 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: θεάομαι  
Sense: to behold, look upon, view attentively, contemplate (often used of public shows).
αὐτῆς  her 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Feminine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
ἠπίστησαν  disbelieved 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἀπιστέω  
Sense: to betray a trust, be unfaithful.

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