Matthew 28:8

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} they departed {G1831} quickly {G5035} from {G575} the sepulchre {G3419} with {G3326} fear {G5401} and {G2532} great {G3173} joy {G5479}; and did run {G5143} to bring {G518} his {G846} disciples {G3101} word {G518}.

Complete Jewish Bible

So they left the tomb quickly, frightened yet filled with joy; and they ran to give the news to his talmidim.

Berean Standard Bible

So they hurried away from the tomb in fear and great joy, and ran to tell His disciples.

American Standard Version

And they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring his disciples word.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 28:8 captures the immediate and profound reaction of Mary Magdalene and the "other Mary" to the angelic announcement of Jesus' resurrection. Filled with a paradoxical blend of reverent awe and overwhelming joy, they swiftly departed from the empty tomb, running with urgent purpose to deliver the incredible news to Jesus' disciples, thus becoming the first evangelists of the Gospel's central truth.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is the immediate continuation of the climactic resurrection narrative in Matthew's Gospel. Just prior, in [Matthew 28:1-7](/matthew/28-1-7 "Matthew 28:1-7 - The Angel's Announcement at the Tomb"), Mary Magdalene and "the other Mary" arrive at the tomb at dawn on the first day of the week. A great earthquake occurs, an angel of the Lord descends, rolls back the stone, and sits upon it, his appearance like lightning and his clothing white as snow. The guards are terrified and become like dead men. The angel then addresses the women, instructing them not to be afraid, declaring that Jesus, who was crucified, is not there, for He has risen, just as He said. The angel invites them to see the empty place where He lay and then commands them to "go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead; and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him." Verse 8 describes the women's immediate and emotional response to this divine encounter and the astonishing news, setting the stage for their encounter with the risen Christ in [Matthew 28:9-10](/matthew/28-9-10 "Matthew 28:9-10 - Jesus Appears to the Women").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In first-century Jewish society, women typically held a subordinate status and their testimony was not considered legally admissible in court. Yet, it is to these women—Mary Magdalene and the "other Mary"—that God chooses to reveal the most pivotal event in human history: the resurrection of His Son. This choice subverts cultural norms and highlights God's sovereign design, often using the humble and overlooked to accomplish His grand purposes. The act of "running" in this context signifies not only urgency but also a departure from the expected decorum for women, underscoring the extraordinary nature of the news they carried. The tomb itself, a rock-hewn sepulchre, was a common burial practice, and the stone rolled against its entrance was typically very heavy, making its removal by an angel a clear sign of divine intervention.
* **Key Themes:** Matthew 28:8 powerfully encapsulates several overarching themes prevalent in Matthew's Gospel and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights the **reality and power of the resurrection**, the central truth upon which Christian faith stands, as emphasized throughout [Matthew 28](/matthew/28 "Matthew 28 - The Resurrection and Great Commission"). Secondly, it showcases **divine commissioning and human obedience**, as the women immediately respond to the angel's command to "go quickly." This foreshadows the broader call to discipleship and mission that culminates in the Great Commission in [Matthew 28:18-20](/matthew/28-18-20 "Matthew 28:18-20 - The Great Commission"). Thirdly, the verse presents the **paradoxical nature of spiritual experience**, where profound awe and fear in the presence of the holy can coexist with overwhelming joy at God's redemptive work. Finally, it underscores God's **inclusive use of messengers**, demonstrating that His kingdom work is not limited by societal status or gender, as these women become the first evangelists of the good news.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **departed (Greek, _exérchomai'_):** This word signifies to "issue forth" or "go out," emphasizing the physical act of leaving the tomb. In this context, it highlights the immediate and decisive action of the women in response to the angelic command, indicating a swift transition from the place of death to the mission of proclamation.
* **fear (Greek, _phóbos'_):** While often translated as "terror," in biblical contexts, especially when encountering the divine, _phóbos_ frequently denotes a profound sense of awe, reverence, and holy dread. It is a recognition of God's immense power and majesty, a trembling before the sacred, rather than mere panic. Here, it is blended with joy, indicating a complex emotional response to the miraculous.
* **joy (Greek, _chará'_):** This term signifies cheerfulness, gladness, and calm delight. Paired with "fear," it creates a powerful paradox, illustrating the overwhelming elation and deep satisfaction that the women experienced upon hearing the news of Jesus' resurrection. This joy is not superficial but a profound spiritual gladness stemming from the triumph of life over death.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And they departed quickly from the sepulchre":** This phrase emphasizes the women's immediate and swift departure from the tomb. The word "quickly" (Greek: _tachý_) denotes urgency and a lack of hesitation, directly obeying the angel's instruction to "go quickly." Their movement away from the place of death signifies the turning point in their understanding and mission.
* **"with fear and great joy":** This is a profound psychological and spiritual insight. Their emotions are a complex mixture: "fear" (awe and reverence in the face of the supernatural and God's power) coupled with "great joy" (overwhelming elation at the news of Jesus' resurrection). This paradox highlights the transformative and awe-inspiring nature of encountering the divine and witnessing a miracle of such magnitude.
* **"and did run to bring his disciples word":** The women's rapid movement ("did run," Greek: _tréchō_) underscores their fervent obedience and the immense importance of the message they carried. They were not merely walking; they were running with purpose, driven by the urgency of the good news. Their mission was clear: to announce the resurrection to Jesus' disciples, fulfilling the angelic command and initiating the spread of the Gospel.

#### Literary Devices
Matthew 28:8 is rich in **Imagery** and **Paradox**. The imagery of the women "departing quickly" and "running" vividly conveys their urgency and the profound impact of the resurrection news. Their swift movement contrasts with the stillness of the tomb and the previous despair, painting a picture of dynamic hope. The most striking device is **Paradox**, evident in the phrase "with fear and great joy." This juxtaposition of seemingly contradictory emotions—awe/dread and overwhelming happiness—effectively communicates the multifaceted nature of encountering the divine. It suggests that true spiritual experience can encompass both profound reverence for God's power and ecstatic delight in His redemptive acts. This paradox underscores the overwhelming and transformative nature of the resurrection event, which simultaneously inspires awe at God's power and elation at His victory over death.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Matthew 28:8 serves as a pivotal moment, marking the transition from the private revelation of the resurrection to its public proclamation. The women's paradoxical response of "fear and great joy" encapsulates the appropriate human reaction to the divine: reverence for God's awesome power combined with overwhelming gladness for His redemptive work. Their immediate and urgent obedience to "run to bring his disciples word" foreshadows the Great Commission, establishing the pattern for all subsequent evangelism. This verse underscores that the resurrection is not merely a historical event to be acknowledged, but a living truth that compels immediate, joyful, and urgent proclamation, transforming those who receive it into messengers of hope.

* [Psalm 2:11](/psalms/2-11 "Psalm 2:11 - Serve the Lord with Fear and Rejoice with Trembling")
* [Luke 24:52-53](/luke/24-52-53 "Luke 24:52-53 - Disciples Return to Jerusalem with Great Joy")
* [Acts 5:42](/acts/5-42 "Acts 5:42 - Daily Teaching and Preaching Jesus Christ")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The women's experience at the tomb offers a profound model for contemporary believers. Their "fear and great joy" invite us to cultivate a holistic spiritual response to the living Christ—one that combines deep reverence for God's majesty and power with an unbridled, overflowing gladness for His victory over sin and death. This is not a detached intellectual assent but an emotional and spiritual encounter that transforms our very being. The urgency with which they ran to tell the disciples challenges us to consider our own readiness to share the Gospel. Is the good news of the resurrection so compelling to us that it compels us to swift, joyful proclamation? This verse reminds us that the resurrection is not just an ancient historical event, but a living reality that demands a response of both awe and active witness. We are called, like these women, to be immediate and enthusiastic messengers of hope, bringing the life-changing "word" of the risen Christ to a world desperately in need of it.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do you reconcile the "fear" and "great joy" in your own spiritual experience of God?**
* **What news is so urgent to you that you would "run" to share it? Does the resurrection of Jesus evoke such urgency in your life?**
* **In what ways can you, like the women, become a "first evangelist" in your sphere of influence, sharing the good news of the risen Christ?**

### FAQ
**Why did the women experience both "fear" and "great joy" simultaneously?**

Answer: This paradoxical emotional response highlights the profound impact of encountering the divine and witnessing a miracle of cosmic significance. The "fear" (Greek: _phóbos_) was not mere terror, but a deep sense of reverent awe and holy dread in the presence of God's supernatural power and majesty, particularly in the context of the resurrection which defied all human expectation. This awe was coupled with "great joy" (Greek: _chará_), an overwhelming elation and gladness at the news that Jesus, whom they loved and mourned, was alive and victorious over death. It signifies the complex, yet appropriate, human reaction to the sacred, where the immensity of God's power (inspiring awe) is perfectly matched by the magnitude of His love and salvation (inspiring joy). This blend of emotions is a common biblical theme when humans encounter the divine, such as in [Luke 1:12-14](/luke/1-12-14 "Luke 1:12-14 - Zechariah's Fear and Joy at Angelic Announcement") or [Revelation 1:17-18](/revelation/1-17-18 "Revelation 1:17-18 - John's Fear and Christ's Comfort").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 28:8, describing the women's urgent proclamation of the resurrection, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the ongoing mission of the church, which is empowered by the very Christ who rose from the dead. The "word" they ran to bring was the foundational truth that Jesus, the Messiah, had conquered death, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies of a suffering servant who would also be victorious (e.g., [Isaiah 53:10-12](/isaiah/53-10-12 "Isaiah 53:10-12 - The Suffering Servant's Victory")). This news of the risen Christ is the very core of the Gospel, which the apostles, commissioned by Jesus himself (as seen in [Matthew 28:18-20](/matthew/28-18-20 "Matthew 28:18-20 - The Great Commission")), were to preach to all nations. The women's swift obedience foreshadows the Spirit-empowered zeal of the early church, who, filled with the same "great joy" despite persecution, continued to declare that Jesus is Lord and that God raised Him from the dead ([Acts 5:42](/acts/5-42 "Acts 5:42 - Daily Teaching and Preaching Jesus Christ")). Thus, the women's run from the sepulchre is a microcosm of the church's global mission to proclaim the resurrected Christ, who is the "firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep" ([1 Corinthians 15:20](/1_corinthians/15-20 "1 Corinthians 15:20 - Christ, the Firstfruits of Resurrection")), offering hope and new life to all who believe.

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

Psalms 2:11

Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

Mark 16:8

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.

Luke 24:36

¶ And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace [be] unto you.

Luke 24:41

And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?

John 16:20

Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.

John 16:22

And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.

Ezra 3:12

But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, [who were] ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy: