Mark 16:2 (KJV)

What does Mark 16:2 mean?

Mark 16:2 describes how, very early on the first day of the week, a group of women went to Jesus’ tomb just as the sun was rising. The verse sets the scene for what they would discover there, marking the beginning of the resurrection account.

This verse is part of Mark’s telling of the events after Jesus’ crucifixion. The women mentioned earlier in the chapter are going to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body, following Jewish burial customs. The detail that it is “the first day of the week” and “at the rising of the sun” highlights both the timing (Sunday morning) and the sense of urgency and devotion shown by these women.

The Greek behind Mark 16:2

• πρωῒ (prōi, “morning”): This word often refers to the very early hours, just before or around dawn, emphasizing how early the women arrived.
• μιᾷ (mia, “first”): This is the Greek word for “first,” pointing to Sunday, the first day after the Sabbath, which is significant in the context of resurrection.
• σαββάτων (sabbatōn, “week”): While this word can mean “Sabbath,” here it is used in a way that refers to the week, clarifying the timing as the day after the Sabbath.
• ἀνατείλαντος (anateilantos, “rising”): This word refers to the rising or dawning, specifically of the sun, which helps set the exact time of the women’s arrival.

Why Mark 16:2 matters

• Mark 16:2 clarifies that the women came to the tomb at the very start of the week, which is why Christians later associated Sunday with the resurrection.
• The verse emphasizes the devotion and courage of the women, who went to the tomb at the earliest possible moment, despite the risks and uncertainties.
• By noting the time and the people involved, Mark 16:2 sets up the discovery of the empty tomb, a key moment in the resurrection story.