Mark 16 · Verse 4

Mark 16:4

And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
Mark 16:4, King James Version

Mark 16:4 in other translations

BSBBut when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away, even though it was extremely large.
WEBfor it was very big. Looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back.
ASVand looking up, they see that the stone is rolled back: for it was exceeding great.
YLTAnd having looked, they see that the stone hath been rolled away--for it was very great,
DARBYAnd when they looked, they see that the stone has been rolled away, for it was very great.
BBEAnd looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back; and it was of great size.
Webster(And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away) for it was very great.

What does Mark 16:4 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Verse 4. It was very great. These words belong to the third verse: "Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? for," the evangelist adds, "it was very great."

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 For it was very great - This clause should be read immediately after the third verse, according to D, three copies of the Itala, Syriac, Hier., and Eusebius. "Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? for it was very great. And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away." They knew that the stone was too heavy for them to roll away; and, unless they got access to the body, they could not apply the aromatics which they had brought to finish the embalming.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Mark 16:1-8

Nicodemus brought a large quantity of spices, but these good women did not think that enough. The respect others show to Christ, should not hinder us from showing our respect. And those who are carried by holy zeal, to seek Christ diligently, will find the difficulties in their way speedily vanish. When we put ourselves to trouble and expense, from love to Christ, we shall be accepted, though our endeavours are not…

Read the full comment on Mark 16:1-8 →

Mark 16:4 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
ἀναβλέψασαιanablepsasaihaving looked upG308
θεωροῦσινtheōrousinthey seeG2334
ὅτιhotithatG3754
ἀποκεκύλισταιapokekulistaihas been rolled awayG617
ὁhotheG3588
λίθος·lithosstone;G3037
ἦνēnit wasG1510
γὰρgarforG1063
μέγαςmegaslargeG3173
σφόδρα.sphodraextremely.G4970

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

Cross references for Mark 16:4

  • Matthew 28:2-4

    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.

  • Luke 24:2

    And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.

  • John 20:1

    The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
they saw.
Mt 28:2-4; Lu 24:2; Joh 20:1

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

Context

  • Mark 16:3

    And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?

  • Mark 16:4

    And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.

  • 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.

Read all of Mark 16

Mark 16:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y como miraron, ven la piedra revuelta; que era muy grande.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et ayant regardé, elles voient que la pierre était roulée; car elle était fort grande.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und als sie aufblickten, sehen sie, daß der Stein weggewälzt ist; denn er war sehr groß.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et respicientes viderunt revolutum lapidem. Erat quippe magnus valde.