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.

MARK 16:6KJV
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Mark 16:6 (KJV)

What does Mark 16:6 mean?

Mark 16:6 announces that Jesus, who had been killed by crucifixion, is alive again. The young man at the tomb tells the women that Jesus is no longer there and points them to the place where his body had been laid.

The women had come to the tomb with spices for Jesus’ body. After seeing the young man dressed in white, they are startled; his first words address their fear. He identifies Jesus as the one they are seeking, so his message concerns the very person they came to find.

The Greek behind Mark 16:6

  • “Be not affrighted” — ἐκθαμβέω (ekthambeō): This word carries the sense of being deeply startled or alarmed. It helps describe the strong reaction the young man addresses.
  • “crucified” — σταυρόω (stauroō): This means to put someone to death on a cross. The Greek form describes Jesus as the one who had been crucified, linking the person the women seek with his earlier death.
  • “risen” — ἐγείρω (egeirō): This word can mean to raise or awaken. Here it carries the sense that Jesus has been raised from death.

Why Mark 16:6 matters

  • The empty place is presented alongside an explanation, not left for the women to interpret alone. The young man says “he is risen” and then directs their attention to “the place where they laid him.”
  • The message leads beyond the tomb. In the next verse, the women are told to pass word to Jesus’ disciples and Peter that they will see him in Galilee.

Where else these words appear

“Be” Greek G1568 · used in 4 verses

  • Mark 9:15 And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.
  • Mark 14:33 And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy;
  • 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.

“Nazareth” Greek G3479 · used in 4 verses

  • Mark 1:24 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.
  • Mark 14:67 And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth.
  • Luke 4:34 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God.

“behold” Greek G2396 · used in 26 verses

  • Matthew 25:20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
  • Mark 15:4 And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee.
  • John 11:36 Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!

“crucified” Greek G4717 · used in 42 verses

  • Matthew 20:19 And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.
  • Mark 15:20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.
  • John 19:20 This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin.