And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
And {G1161} he saith {G3004} unto them {G846}, Be {G1568} not {G3361} affrighted {G1568}: Ye seek {G2212} Jesus {G2424} of Nazareth {G3479}, which {G3588} was crucified {G4717}: he is risen {G1453}; he is {G2076} not {G3756} here {G5602}: behold {G2396} the place {G5117} where {G3699} they laid {G5087} him {G846}.
But he said, "Don't be so surprised! You're looking for Yeshua from Natzeret, who was executed on the stake. He has risen, he's not here! Look at the place where they laid him.
But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here! See the place where they put Him.
And he saith unto them, Be not amazed: ye seek Jesus, the Nazarene, who hath been crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold, the place where they laid him!
-
Revelation 1:17
And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: -
Revelation 1:18
[I am] he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. -
1 Corinthians 15:3
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; -
1 Corinthians 15:7
After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. -
John 2:19
Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. -
John 2:22
When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said. -
Luke 24:46
And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
Mark 16:6 records the pivotal announcement of Jesus' resurrection by an angel at the empty tomb. This verse is the heart of the Easter message, transforming the disciples' sorrow and fear into hope and joy.
Context
This verse is part of the resurrection narrative in Mark's Gospel. Early on Sunday morning, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went to the tomb to anoint Jesus' body, bringing spices. They were concerned about who would roll away the heavy stone from the entrance. Upon arrival, they found the stone already rolled back and, upon entering, encountered a young man dressed in a long white garment sitting on the right side. The women were "affrighted" (terrified) by this unexpected sight. The angel's words in Mark 16:6 directly address their fear and deliver the astounding news.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The KJV word "affrighted" comes from the Greek ekthambeō (ἐκθαμβέω), which means to be utterly astonished, greatly alarmed, or terrified. It conveys a profound sense of shock and dread. The angel's immediate response is to calm this intense emotion.
The phrase "he is risen" translates the Greek ēgerthe (ἠγέρθη), which is in the passive voice. This grammatical structure often implies divine action, suggesting that God Himself raised Jesus from the dead, rather than Jesus merely rising by His own power (though He did have that power, as seen in John 2:19).
Related Scriptures
The resurrection account is foundational and echoed across the Gospels:
Practical Application
Mark 16:6 offers enduring truths for believers today: