Bible Strands
John 20:11
But Mary stood outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent down to look into the tomb,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Mary remains alone at the burial site after the disciples have departed for their homes. She stands outside the entrance, weeping, immediately before she will perceive the two angels seated where Jesus' body had rested.
The words — The term ἔξω (exō) literally denotes "outside," marking her physical separation from the tomb interior. The participle κλαίουσα (klaiousa) translates to "weeping," indicating her sustained emotional state at that moment.
The thread — Her action of bending to peer inward directly parallels the other disciple who looked into the tomb in John 20:5. Both actions occur in the same sequence before any angelic appearance or revelation.
Why it lands — The text records her physical posture and grief before any divine intervention or explanation. It asks the reader to observe that human mourning precedes and frames the encounter with the resurrection reality.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,
Cross-references
- John 20:5 He bent down and looked in at the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in.