And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to report to His disciples.
Parallel translations
- WEB They departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring his disciples word.
- KJV And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
- BSB So they hurried away from the tomb in fear and great joy, and ran to tell His disciples.
- NKJV So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.
- NLT The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message.
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
The women leave the tomb quickly with both fear and great joy, running to tell the disciples. Awe and gladness mingle as they obey the angel's command.
Overview
Their mixed emotions of fear and joy capture the proper human response to encountering God's mighty work. Rather than being paralyzed, they run to obey, modeling prompt faith. Their eager errand shows that the resurrection naturally produces both reverent awe and overflowing joy that must be shared.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Ps 2:11Serve Yahweh with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
- Mark 16:8They went out, and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had come on them. They said nothing to anyone; for they were afraid.
- Luke 24:36–41As they said these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace be to you.”
- John 16:20Most certainly I tell you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.
- John 20:20–21When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad when they saw the Lord.
- John 16:22Therefore you now have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.
- Ezra 3:12–13But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ households, the old men who had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice. Many also shouted aloud for joy,
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 28:8 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.