John 20 · Verse 12

John 20:12

And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
John 20:12, King James Version

John 20:12 in other translations

BSBand she saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and the other at the feet.
WEBand she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
ASVand she beholdeth two angels in white sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
YLTone at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been laid.
DARBYand beholds two angels sitting in white garments, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
BBEShe saw two angels in white seated where the body of Jesus had been, one at the head and the other at the feet.
WebsterAnd seeth two angels in white, sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

What does John 20:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 20:11-15

11-15. But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping, &c.--Brief was the stay of those two men. But Mary, arriving perhaps by another direction after they left, lingers at the spot, weeping for her missing Lord. As she gazes through her tears on the open tomb, she also ventures to stoop down and look into it, when lo! "two angels in white" (as from the world of light, and see on Mt 28:3) appear to her in a…

Read the full comment on John 20:11-15 →

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 Seeth two angels - See on Joh 20:6 (note). She knew these to be angels by their white and glistening robes. Matthew and Mark mention but one angel - probably that one only that spoke, Joh 20:13. One at the head, and the other at the feet - So were the cherubim placed at each end of the mercy-seat: Exo 25:18, Exo 25:19. Lightfoot.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 20:11-18

We are likely to seek and find, when we seek with affection, and seek in tears. But many believers complain of the clouds and darkness they are under, which are methods of grace for humbling their souls, mortifying their sins, and endearing Christ to them. A sight of angels and their smiles, will not suffice, without a sight of Jesus, and God's smiles in him. None know, but those who have tasted it, the sorrows of a…

Read the full comment on John 20:11-18 →

John 20:12 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καὶkaiandG2532
θεωρεῖtheōreishe seesG2334
δύοduotwoG1417
ἀγγέλουςangelousangelsG32
ἐνeninG1722
λευκοῖςleukoiswhiteG3022
καθεζομένουςkathezomenoussittingG2516
ἕναhenaoneG1520
πρὸςprosatG4314
τῇtēatheG3588
κεφαλῇkephalēaheadG2776
καὶkaiandG2532
ἕναhenaoneG1520
πρὸςprosatG4314
τοῖςtoistheG3588
ποσίν,posinfeet,G4228
ὅπουhopouwhereG3699
ἔκειτοekeitowas layingG2749
τὸtotheG3588
σῶμαsōmabodyG4983
τοῦtou<the>G3588
Ἰησοῦ.Iēsouof Jesus.G2424

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for John 20:12

  • Luke 24:3-7

    And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, …

  • Revelation 3:4

    Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

  • Mark 16:5-6

    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. 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.

  • Revelation 7:14

    And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

  • Daniel 7:9

    I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.

  • Acts 1:10

    And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;

  • Matthew 17:2

    And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

  • 2 Chronicles 5:12

    Also the Levites which were the singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets:)

  • Matthew 28:2-5

    And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

  • Luke 24:22-23

    Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
seeth.
Mt 28:3-5; Mr 16:5,6; Lu 24:3-7,22,23
in.
2Ch 5:12; Da 7:9; Mt 17:2; Ac 1:10; Re 3:4; 7:14

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • John 20:11

    But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,

  • John 20:12

    And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

  • John 20:13

    And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.

Read all of John 20

John 20:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y vió dos ángeles en ropas blancas que estaban sentados, el uno á la cabecera, y el otro á los pies, donde el cuerpo de Jesús había sido puesto.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
et elle voit deux anges vêtus de blanc, assis, un à la tête et un aux pieds, là où le corps de Jésus avait été couché.
German
Elberfelder 1871
und sieht zwei Engel in weißen Kleidern sitzen, einen zu dem Haupte und einen zu den Füßen, wo der Leib Jesu gelegen hatte.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
et vidit duos angelos in albis sedentes, unum ad caput, et unum ad pedes, ubi positum fuerat corpus Jesu.