And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.
Parallel translations
- WEB They went out, and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had come on them. They said nothing to anyone; for they were afraid.
- BSB So the women left the tomb and ran away, trembling and bewildered. And in their fear they did not say a word to anyone.
- NKJV So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
- NASB And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had gripped them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
- NLT 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. [Longer Ending of Mark]
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Trembling and amazed, the women flee and at first say nothing out of fear. Mark's account of the resurrection ends on a note of awe.
Overview
Many scholars regard verse 8 as the original ending of Mark, leaving readers gripped by the awe and fear that the resurrection inspires. The women's initial silence reflects holy terror at the miracle, though they soon delivered the message. Mark presses the reader to respond rightly to the astonishing news that Christ is risen.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Luke 24:9–11And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.
- Luke 24:22–24Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;
- Matt 28:8And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
- Luke 24:37But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
- Mark 16:5–6And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.
- Luke 10:4Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.
- 2 Kgs 4:29Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thine hand, and go thy way: if thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not again: and lay my staff upon the face of the child.
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
How Mark 16:8 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.