John 20:10

KJV

Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.

KJV (with Strong's)

Then {G3767} the disciples {G3101} went away {G565} again {G3825} unto {G4314} their own home {G1438}.

Complete Jewish Bible

So the talmidim returned home,

Berean Standard Bible

Then the disciples returned to their homes.

American Standard Version

So the disciples went away again unto their own home.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
John 20:10 succinctly describes the immediate reaction of Peter and John after their bewildering discovery at the empty tomb of Jesus. Having witnessed the absence of Jesus' body and the orderly arrangement of the grave clothes, yet not fully comprehending the resurrection, these two key disciples departed from the tomb and returned to their dwelling, leaving Mary Magdalene behind, still weeping and seeking. This verse marks a moment of initial bewilderment and a temporary retreat, underscoring the gradual nature of understanding profound spiritual truths.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated at a crucial juncture in John's Gospel, immediately following the discovery of the empty tomb by Mary Magdalene ([John 20:1-2](/john/20-1-2 "John 20:1-2 - Mary Magdalene's Discovery")). Her urgent report prompts Peter and the "other disciple" (traditionally John) to race to the tomb ([John 20:3-4](/john/20-3-4 "John 20:3-4 - Peter and John Race to the Tomb")). Upon entering, they observe the linen wrappings lying undisturbed and the burial cloth (napkin) neatly folded in a separate place ([John 20:5-7](/john/20-5-7 "John 20:5-7 - The Empty Tomb's Evidence")). While John "saw, and believed" ([John 20:8](/john/20-8 "John 20:8 - John Believes")), this belief is understood to be an acceptance of the tomb's emptiness, not yet a full grasp of Jesus' resurrection, as the text explicitly states, "For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead" ([John 20:9](/john/20-9 "John 20:9 - Their Lack of Understanding")). Their subsequent departure in [John 20:10](/john/20-10 "John 20:10 - Disciples Return Home") sets the stage for Mary Magdalene's personal encounter with the risen Christ, which immediately follows in [John 20:11-18](/john/20-11-18 "John 20:11-18 - Mary Magdalene Encounters Jesus").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** First-century Jewish burial customs involved wrapping the deceased in linen cloths with spices, often including a separate cloth for the head. The orderly state of the grave clothes, as described in [John 20:6-7](/john/20-6-7 "John 20:6-7 - The Orderly Grave Clothes"), would have been highly significant. If the body had been stolen, the grave clothes would likely have been discarded hastily or taken with the body, not left neatly arranged. This detail strongly suggested a supernatural event rather than a theft or desecration. For the disciples, the concept of resurrection, while present in Jewish theology (e.g., the Pharisees' belief in a general resurrection), was not fully understood in the context of an individual rising from the dead in this manner, especially not before the end times. Their "home" would have been their lodging in Jerusalem, likely a safe house where they had gathered after the crucifixion, a place of familiarity and retreat in a time of confusion and fear.
* **Key Themes:** [John 20:10](/john/20-10 "John 20:10 - Disciples Return Home") contributes to several major themes in the Gospel of John. One prominent theme is the **initial bewilderment and limited understanding** of even Jesus' closest followers regarding the resurrection. Despite Jesus' repeated prophecies of His death and resurrection (e.g., [John 2:19-22](/john/2-19-22 "John 2:19-22 - Jesus Predicts His Resurrection"), [John 12:32-34](/john/12-32-34 "John 12:32-34 - Jesus Speaks of Being Lifted Up")), the disciples' minds were not yet open to fully grasp this unprecedented event ([John 20:9](/john/20-9 "John 20:9 - Their Lack of Understanding")). This highlights the **gradual nature of faith and revelation**, as their full comprehension would require further encounters with the risen Lord and the coming of the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, this verse subtly introduces a **contrast in response** between the male disciples and Mary Magdalene. While Peter and John depart, Mary remains at the tomb, demonstrating a persistent devotion that leads to her being the first witness to the resurrected Christ ([John 20:11-18](/john/20-11-18 "John 20:11-18 - Mary Magdalene Encounters Jesus")), emphasizing the importance of seeking and waiting upon the Lord.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **disciples (Greek, _mathētḗs'_):** From *manthanō*, meaning "to learn," this term signifies a learner or pupil. In the Gospels, it refers to those who followed Jesus, committed to His teachings and way of life. Here, it specifically refers to Peter and John, highlighting their role as students of Jesus who are still in the process of understanding His ultimate triumph.
* **went away again (Greek, _apérchomai palin'_):** *Apérchomai* means "to go off, depart, go away," while *palin* means "again, back, once more." The combination emphasizes a return to a previous state or place. It signifies a retreat, a movement back to their familiar surroundings, perhaps to process the overwhelming and inexplicable events, or simply because they did not know what else to do. This "going back" contrasts sharply with the forward movement of faith and understanding that would soon come.
* **home (Greek, _heautoû'_):** This reflexive pronoun, often translated as "their own," implies a return to their personal dwelling or familiar space. It suggests a retreat to a place of perceived security or comfort, a natural human reaction when confronted with something profoundly unsettling or incomprehensible. It underscores their initial inability to fully process the implications of the empty tomb and the absence of Jesus' body.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then the disciples":** This phrase identifies the subjects of the action as Peter and John, who had just investigated the empty tomb. The "Then" (Greek: *oûn*) acts as a consequential or transitional particle, indicating that their departure is a direct result of their discovery and initial, limited understanding.
* **"went away again":** This describes their physical departure from the tomb. The inclusion of "again" (Greek: *palin*) suggests a return to a previous state or location, emphasizing a retreat rather than a continued investigation or immediate proclamation. It highlights their bewilderment and lack of a clear next step.
* **"unto their own home":** This specifies their destination as their personal dwelling or lodging. It signifies a return to a place of familiarity and privacy, where they could perhaps process the astonishing events they had just witnessed, rather than remaining at the tomb or immediately seeking out others.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs **Contrast** and **Irony**. There is a subtle **Contrast** between the disciples' reaction and Mary Magdalene's. While Peter and John, having seen the evidence, depart to their "home," Mary Magdalene remains at the tomb, weeping and seeking, which ultimately leads to her direct encounter with the risen Christ. This highlights different responses to the same bewildering situation. The **Irony** lies in the fact that these closest disciples, having been with Jesus for years and heard His prophecies, are still unable to fully grasp the resurrection even after witnessing the physical evidence of the empty tomb and orderly grave clothes. Their return "home" signifies a temporary withdrawal from the unfolding divine drama, an almost mundane reaction to the most extraordinary event in human history, before the full truth of the resurrection would dawn upon them.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
John 20:10 underscores the human struggle to comprehend divine revelation, particularly when it transcends ordinary experience. Even those closest to Jesus, despite witnessing His miracles and hearing His teachings, found the concept of resurrection from the dead to be profoundly challenging to grasp. Their return "home" highlights a natural human inclination to retreat to familiarity and process overwhelming information, rather than immediately embracing a truth that defies conventional understanding. This initial bewilderment serves to authenticate the resurrection narrative, demonstrating that belief was not a foregone conclusion, but a process that required further revelation and personal encounter with the risen Christ. It also subtly sets up the contrast between intellectual apprehension of facts and the deeper, transformative faith that comes from direct experience with God.

* [Luke 24:11](/luke/24-11 "Luke 24:11 - Disciples Disbelieve Women's Report")
* [Mark 16:14](/mark/16-14 "Mark 16:14 - Jesus Rebukes Disciples for Unbelief")
* [John 20:24-29](/john/20-24-29 "John 20:24-29 - Thomas's Doubt and Belief")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
John 20:10 offers a profound and relatable insight into the journey of faith. It reminds us that understanding God's truth, especially His most miraculous and counter-intuitive acts, is often a gradual process. The disciples, despite their intimate relationship with Jesus, did not immediately grasp the full implications of the empty tomb; they retreated to process. This teaches us patience with ourselves and others when faced with spiritual mysteries or personal challenges that defy easy explanation. It's okay to have moments of bewilderment, doubt, or even retreat, as long as these moments lead to deeper reflection and a renewed seeking of God's truth. Our faith is not always an instant leap, but often a journey of incremental revelation, where God meets us in our confusion and gently leads us to understanding, just as He would soon meet His disciples.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do I typically react when confronted with overwhelming or unexplainable circumstances in my life or in my faith journey? Do I tend to retreat or press in?**
* **What does the disciples' initial bewilderment teach me about the nature of faith and the process of spiritual understanding?**
* **In what areas of my life might I be "going home" instead of pressing into a deeper encounter with God's truth, perhaps out of fear or lack of understanding?**

### FAQ

**Why did the disciples go home instead of staying at the tomb or immediately telling others?**

Answer: The disciples' decision to "go away again unto their own home" reflects their initial bewilderment and lack of full comprehension regarding the resurrection. As [John 20:9](/john/20-9 "John 20:9 - Their Lack of Understanding") explicitly states, "For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead." Despite seeing the empty tomb and the orderly grave clothes, which ruled out grave robbery, they hadn't yet connected these facts to Jesus' prophecies of His resurrection. Their return home was likely a natural human reaction to an overwhelming and inexplicable event—a retreat to a familiar place to process what they had witnessed. They were still in a state of confusion, fear, and grief, and the full reality of Jesus' victory over death had not yet dawned upon them. Their understanding would come later, through personal encounters with the risen Christ, as seen in [John 20:19-23](/john/20-19-23 "John 20:19-23 - Jesus Appears to the Disciples").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
John 20:10, though seemingly a simple statement of departure, subtly underscores the profound shift occurring in redemptive history, pointing towards the ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment. The disciples' return "home" signifies their temporary inability to grasp the magnitude of the empty tomb, which was the irrefutable evidence of Christ's triumph over sin and death. Their bewilderment highlights the necessity of the resurrected Christ Himself to reveal the full meaning of His victory. It is only when Jesus appears to them later that evening, passing through locked doors and showing them His hands and side ([John 20:19-20](/john/20-19-20 "John 20:19-20 - Jesus Appears to the Disciples")), that their fear turns to joy and their understanding begins to dawn. This moment foreshadows the ongoing work of Christ, who continues to open the eyes of His disciples to the truth of His resurrection and its implications for salvation. The ultimate "home" for believers is not a physical dwelling, but found in Christ, who has secured our eternal dwelling with God through His resurrection ([John 14:2-3](/john/14-2-3 "John 14:2-3 - Jesus Prepares a Place")). The disciples' journey from confusion to faith, initiated by the empty tomb and completed by the appearance of the risen Lord, mirrors the journey of all who come to believe in the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), finding their true spiritual home and peace in Him.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

John 16:32

Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.

John 7:53

And every man went unto his own house.