The Meaning of Mark 16:4 Explained

Mark 16:4

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

YLT: And having looked, they see that the stone hath been rolled away -- for it was very great,

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

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Mark 16:4 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 16:4

Looking up they see [αναβλεπσασαι τεωρουσιν]
With downcast eyes and heavy hearts (Bruce) they had been walking up the hill. Mark has his frequent vivid dramatic present “behold.” Their problem is solved for the stone lies rolled back before their very eyes. Luke 24:2 has the usual aorist “found.” [source]
For [γαρ]
Mark explains by the size of the stone this sudden and surprising sight right before their eyes. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Mark 16:4

John 9:11 Received sight [ἀνέβλεψα]
Originally, to look up, as Matthew 14:19; Mark 16:4, and so some render it here; but better, I recovered sight. [source]

What do the individual words in Mark 16:4 mean?

And having looked up they see that has been rolled away the stone it was for large extremely
καὶ ἀναβλέψασαι θεωροῦσιν ὅτι ἀποκεκύλισται λίθος ἦν γὰρ μέγας σφόδρα

ἀναβλέψασαι  having  looked  up 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Feminine Plural
Root: ἀναβλέπω  
Sense: to look up.
θεωροῦσιν  they  see 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: θεωρέω  
Sense: to be a spectator, look at, behold.
ὅτι  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
ἀποκεκύλισται  has  been  rolled  away 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἀνακυλίω 
Sense: to roll off or away.
λίθος  stone 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: λίθος  
Sense: a stone.
ἦν  it  was 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.
μέγας  large 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: μέγας  
Sense: great.
σφόδρα  extremely 
Parse: Adverb
Root: σφόδρα  
Sense: exceedingly, greatly.

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