Mark 16:8

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} they went out {G1831} quickly {G5035}, and fled {G5343} from {G575} the sepulchre {G3419}; for {G1161} they {G846} trembled {G2192}{G5156} and {G2532} were amazed {G1611}: neither {G2532} said they {G2036} any thing {G3762} to any {G3762} man; for {G1063} they were afraid {G5399}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Trembling but ecstatic they went out and fled from the tomb, and they said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

Berean Standard Bible

So the women left the tomb and ran away, trembling and bewildered. And in their fear they did not say a word to anyone.

American Standard Version

And they went out, and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them: and they said nothing to any one; for they were afraid.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Mark 16:8 powerfully depicts the immediate, visceral reaction of the women—Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome—upon discovering Jesus' empty tomb and hearing the angel's astounding news of His resurrection. Overwhelmed by a profound sense of awe, terror, and bewilderment, they fled the sepulchre in a state of trembling amazement, initially unable to articulate the world-altering revelation they had just received. This verse captures the raw, human impact of encountering the divine and the unprecedented reality of Christ's victory over death.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Mark 16:8 is widely considered the original, abrupt ending of the Gospel of Mark. The preceding verses (Mark 16:1-7) set the scene: the women arrive at the tomb early on Sunday morning to anoint Jesus' body, only to find the stone rolled away. Inside, a young man (identified as an angel in other accounts, though Mark simply calls him "a young man") dressed in white delivers the earth-shattering news: "[He is risen; he is not here](/mark/16-6 "Mark 16:6 - The Angel's Resurrection Proclamation")." The angel then commissions them to tell Peter and the other disciples that Jesus will meet them in Galilee. Mark 16:8 describes the women's immediate, unvarnished response to this divine encounter and monumental revelation, culminating in their flight and initial silence, which leaves the reader with a sense of unresolved tension and profound awe.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In first-century Jewish culture, women were often marginalized in public testimony, yet here they are the first witnesses to the resurrection. Burial customs involved anointing the body, which is why the women came with spices. The concept of resurrection was known in Jewish thought (e.g., the Pharisees believed in it, as seen in [Acts 23:8](/acts/23-8 "Acts 23:8 - Pharisees and Sadducees on Resurrection")), but it was generally understood as a future, general resurrection at the end of time, not the bodily resurrection of an individual in the midst of history. This made Jesus' resurrection utterly unprecedented and shocking. The women's response of fear and silence is a common biblical reaction to divine encounters (e.g., [Exodus 3:6](/exodus/3-6 "Exodus 3:6 - Moses' Fear at the Burning Bush"), [Isaiah 6:5](/isaiah/6-5 "Isaiah 6:5 - Isaiah's Response to God's Presence")), signifying the overwhelming holiness and power of God.
* **Key Themes:** Mark 16:8 contributes significantly to several key themes within the Gospel. Firstly, it highlights the **overwhelming nature of divine revelation**. The women's intense fear and amazement underscore that encountering God's power and truth is not a casual event but a profound, often unsettling experience. Secondly, it emphasizes the **unprecedented and revolutionary impact of the resurrection**. The sheer unexpectedness of Jesus' triumph over death, defying all human logic and expectation, initially paralyzes the witnesses, demonstrating the magnitude of the event. This theme is central to the entire Gospel, culminating in Christ's victory. Finally, the women's initial silence, born of fear, subtly introduces the theme of **human response to the divine call**. While their immediate reaction is flight and silence, the broader narrative of the Gospels (e.g., [Matthew 28:8](/matthew/28-8 "Matthew 28:8 - The Women's Eventual Proclamation")) shows that this initial paralysis eventually gives way to proclamation, setting the stage for the spread of the Gospel.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **trembled (Greek, _trómos'_):** From G5156. This word signifies a "trembling," specifically a "quaking with fear." It describes a physical manifestation of intense inner terror or awe, often associated with the presence of the divine or a profound, overwhelming experience. In the context of Mark 16:8, it conveys the women's involuntary physical reaction to the angel's message and the empty tomb, indicating a deep, unsettling emotional state.
* **amazed (Greek, _ékstasis'_):** From G1611. This term denotes a "displacement of the mind," leading to bewilderment, astonishment, or a state of "ecstasy." It implies being utterly overwhelmed or "beside oneself" due to the magnitude of what has been witnessed or heard. It goes beyond simple surprise, describing a profound shock that temporarily incapacitates normal thought or action, making speech impossible.
* **afraid (Greek, _phobéō'_):** From G5399. This verb means "to frighten," and in the passive voice, "to be alarmed" or "to be in awe of." While it can denote simple fear, in biblical contexts, especially concerning divine encounters, it often carries the connotation of reverential awe, a profound respect mixed with dread. In Mark 16:8, it encapsulates the women's overall emotional state, combining terror with the overwhelming realization of the miraculous.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre":** This clause describes the women's immediate physical reaction. The adverbs "quickly" (Greek, _tachý_) and the verb "fled" (Greek, _pheúgō_) emphasize the urgency and spontaneity of their departure. Their flight is not a calm exit but a hurried, almost panicked retreat from the overwhelming scene, indicating a profound emotional disturbance rather than a composed response.
* **"for they trembled and were amazed":** This provides the direct reason for their flight. The conjunction "for" (Greek, _dé_ or _gár_) introduces the explanation. Their "trembling" (Greek, _trómos_) signifies a physical manifestation of fear and awe, while "amazed" (Greek, _ékstasis_) points to a mental and emotional state of being utterly overwhelmed, beyond comprehension. These two words together paint a vivid picture of their profound internal disarray.
* **"neither said they any thing to any [man]; for they were afraid":** This final clause further elaborates on their state of shock and provides the ultimate reason for their silence. The phrase "neither said they any thing to any man" (Greek, _oudeís_) highlights their complete inability to articulate what they had experienced. Their silence is not a choice but a consequence of their overwhelming fear (Greek, _phobéō_), which rendered them speechless and temporarily incapacitated for communication. This profound fear encapsulates their response to the unprecedented divine intervention.

#### Literary Devices
Mark 16:8 employs several powerful literary devices to convey the impact of the resurrection. The most prominent is **Hyperbole**, as the women's extreme reaction—fleeing, trembling, being amazed, and remaining utterly silent—serves to magnify the astonishing and terrifying nature of the resurrection revelation. Their response is almost beyond normal human bounds, underscoring the extraordinary character of the event. There is also a strong sense of **Irony** in this verse; the most glorious news in human history—Christ's victory over death—is met not with immediate joy and proclamation, but with fear and silence. This ironic contrast highlights the sheer, overwhelming power of God's act. Furthermore, the **Repetition** of fear-related terms ("trembled," "amazed," "afraid") creates a cumulative effect, emphasizing the profound and multifaceted nature of the women's emotional state. Finally, the abruptness of this ending, if indeed it is the original conclusion, acts as a powerful **Ellipsis**, leaving the reader with the raw, unsettling impact of the resurrection and the women's initial, incomplete response, thereby inviting the reader to grapple with the implications themselves.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Mark 16:8 offers profound theological insights into the nature of divine encounter and the human response to ultimate truth. The women's intense fear and amazement are not merely psychological reactions but a common biblical motif signifying the overwhelming holiness and power of God. This "fear of the Lord" is often the beginning of wisdom, a recognition of God's transcendence that humbles humanity. Their initial inability to speak underscores the ineffable nature of God's work, particularly the resurrection, which defies human categories and expectations. The theological implication is that God's greatest acts of salvation are often met with awe and even terror before they can be fully embraced and proclaimed. This verse reminds us that genuine encounters with the divine are transformative and can initially disorient us, challenging our preconceived notions of reality and God's ways.
* [Exodus 19:16](/exodus/19-16 "Exodus 19:16 - Fear at Mount Sinai")
* [Luke 24:36-37](/luke/24-36-37 "Luke 24:36-37 - Disciples' Fear of Jesus' Appearance")
* [Revelation 1:17](/revelation/1-17 "Revelation 1:17 - John's Fear in God's Presence")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The women's reaction in Mark 16:8 serves as a powerful validation of our own human responses to profound spiritual truth. It acknowledges that encountering the miraculous, the divine, or the utterly unexpected aspects of God's plan can be overwhelming, even unsettling. It is natural to feel a sense of awe, fear, or bewilderment when confronted with the raw power and mystery of God. This verse reminds us that faith is not always an immediate, triumphant declaration, but can begin with trembling and silence in the face of the incomprehensible. However, their initial paralysis is not the end of the story. Just as the women eventually overcame their fear to become the first evangelists of the resurrection (as seen in other Gospel accounts), so too are believers called to move beyond initial shock to embrace and proclaim the transformative message of the Gospel. Our initial awe should lead to deeper understanding and courageous witness.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do I typically react when confronted with profound spiritual truths or unexpected answers to prayer? Is my first response one of awe, fear, or immediate acceptance?**
* **In what areas of my life might I be holding back from sharing a truth about God because of personal fear or a sense of inadequacy?**
* **What does the women's initial silence in Mark 16:8 teach me about the process of internalizing and then proclaiming God's mighty works?**

### FAQ

**Why were the women afraid if the resurrection was good news?**

Answer: The women's fear was a complex reaction, not simply a negative one. Firstly, it was a natural human response to encountering the supernatural and divine. Throughout the Bible, individuals often react with fear and trembling in the presence of angels or God Himself, as seen with Moses at the burning bush ([Exodus 3:6](/exodus/3-6 "Exodus 3:6 - Moses' Fear at the Burning Bush")) or Isaiah in the temple ([Isaiah 6:5](/isaiah/6-5 "Isaiah 6:5 - Isaiah's Vision and Fear")). This "fear of the Lord" is often reverential awe, a recognition of God's immense power and holiness. Secondly, the news of the resurrection was utterly unprecedented and defied all their expectations. They had come to mourn and anoint a dead body, not to find an empty tomb and a living Lord. The sheer magnitude and unexpectedness of this world-altering event were overwhelming, causing a profound shock that temporarily paralyzed them. Their fear was a testament to the incredible, almost unbelievable, nature of the resurrection itself.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Mark 16:8, with its depiction of the women's trembling fear and silence, powerfully underscores the Christ-centered fulfillment of God's redemptive plan. Their reaction highlights the sheer, overwhelming reality of Christ's victory over death, an event so monumental that it initially stuns even its first witnesses. This fear, though seemingly a negative response, paradoxically magnifies the glory of Christ's resurrection. It reveals that the power unleashed at the empty tomb was not merely a miracle but a cosmic reversal, the ultimate triumph of life over death, light over darkness, and hope over despair. The terror the women experienced was a visceral encounter with the very power that conquered sin and the grave, a power embodied in the risen Christ. Their initial silence, born of awe, foreshadows the eventual breaking of that silence into the bold proclamation of the Gospel, as the Holy Spirit would empower believers to overcome fear and declare the good news of the resurrected Lord ([Acts 1:8](/acts/1-8 "Acts 1:8 - The Holy Spirit and Witness")). Thus, Mark 16:8, even in its abruptness, serves as a dramatic prelude to the glorious truth that Jesus Christ is indeed "[the resurrection and the life](/john/11-25 "John 11:25 - Jesus: The Resurrection and the Life")," whose triumph transforms human fear into courageous faith and whose finished work on the cross and empty tomb provides the bedrock for all Christian hope and the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises ([1 Corinthians 15:3-4](/1_corinthians/15-3-4 "1 Corinthians 15:3-4 - The Gospel's Core: Christ's Death and Resurrection")).

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

Luke 24:9

And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.

Luke 24:11

And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.

Luke 24:37

But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.

Mark 16:5

And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.

Mark 16:6

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.

Matthew 28:8

And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.

Luke 24:22

Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;