Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb(A) 12 and saw two angels in white,(B) seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”(C)

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”(D) 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there,(E) but she did not realize that it was Jesus.(F)

15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?(G) Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic,(H) “Rabboni!”(I) (which means “Teacher”).

17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers(J) and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father(K) and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

18 Mary Magdalene(L) went to the disciples(M) with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

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11 But Mary stood outside the tomb weeping. As she wept, she bent down and looked into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white sitting where Jesus’ body had been lying, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said[a] to her, “Woman,[b] why are you weeping?” Mary replied,[c] “They have taken my Lord away, and I do not know where they have put him!” 14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there,[d] but she did not know that it was Jesus.

15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?” Because she[e] thought he was the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will take him.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She[f] turned and said to him in Aramaic,[g]Rabboni[h] (which means Teacher).[i] 17 Jesus replied,[j] “Do not touch me, for I have not yet ascended to my Father. Go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene came and informed the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them[k] what[l] Jesus[m] had said to her.[n]

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Footnotes

  1. John 20:13 tn The conjunction καί (kai, “and”) has not been translated here.
  2. John 20:13 sn Woman was a polite form of address (see BDAG 208-9 s.v. γυνή 1), similar to “Madam” or “Ma’am” used in English in different regions. This occurs again in v. 15.
  3. John 20:13 tn Grk “She said to them.”
  4. John 20:14 tn The word “there” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context.
  5. John 20:15 tn Grk “that one” (referring to Mary Magdalene).
  6. John 20:16 tn Grk “That one.”
  7. John 20:16 tn Grk “in Hebrew.”
  8. John 20:16 sn The Aramaic Rabboni means “my teacher” (a title of respect).
  9. John 20:16 sn This is a parenthetical note by the author.
  10. John 20:17 tn Grk “Jesus said to her.”
  11. John 20:18 tn The words “she told them” are repeated from the first part of the same verse to improve clarity.
  12. John 20:18 tn Grk “the things.”
  13. John 20:18 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) is specified in the translation for clarity.
  14. John 20:18 tn The first part of Mary’s statement, introduced by ὅτι (hoti), is direct discourse (ἑώρακα τὸν κύριον, heōraka ton kurion), while the second clause switches to indirect discourse (καὶ ταῦτα εἶπεν αὐτῇ, kai tauta eipen autē). This has the effect of heightening the emphasis on the first part of the statement.