John 20:11

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does John 20:11 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “But Mary was standing without at the tomb weeping: so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb;” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

But Mary was standing without at the tomb weeping: so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb;
John 20:11 — American Standard Version

Context — John 20

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
11But Mary was standing without at the tomb weeping: so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb;

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“But Mary stood without at the sepulchre, etc.] She returned from the city to the sepulchre again, following Peter and John thither, who continued here when they departed, being willing to get some tidings of her Lord, if possible. The word “without”, is omitted by the Syriac, Arabic, and Persic versions, but is in the Greek copies; and is properly put by the evangelist, when rightly understood; for the meaning is not, that she stood without the sepulchre, taken in its full extent; for she stood, rxjb, “in the court”, where the bearers set down the corpse, in order to carry it into the cave, or vault; she stood without the innermost part of the sepulchre, but not without side the sepulchre…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping, &c.--Brief was the stay of those two men. But Mary, arriving perhaps by another direction after they left, lingers at the spot, weeping for her missing Lord. As she gazes through her tears on the open tomb, she also ventures to stoop down and look into it, when lo! "two angels in white" (as from the world of light, and see on Mat 28:3) appear to her in a "sitting" posture, "as having finished some business, and awaiting some one to impart tidings to" [BENGEL].”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“For an account of the resurrection of Christ, see the notes at Matthew 28:0. John 20:9 The scripture - See Luke 24:26, Luke 24:46. The sense or meaning of the various predictions that foretold his death, as, for example, Psalms 2:7, compare Acts 13:33; Psalms 16:9-10, compare Acts 2:25-32; Psalms 110:1, compare Acts 2:34-35. For an account of the resurrection of Christ, see the notes at Matthew 28:0. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“But Mary stood - With more constancy. Mar 16:9. John 20:16”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“20:11-13 Although two . . . angels appeared inside the tomb, the riddle of Jesus’ disappearance remained unsolved (see Luke 24:4). • why are you crying? Sorrow was not the appropriate response in this moment.”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification