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Verse

John 20:11

ESV But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb.
NIV Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb
NASB But Mary was standing outside the tomb, weeping; so as she wept, she stooped to look into the tomb;
CSB But Mary stood outside the tomb, crying. As she was crying, she stooped to look into the tomb.
NLT Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in.
KJV But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,
NKJV But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb.

What does John 20:11 mean?

Mary Magdalene had arrived at Jesus' grave (Matthew 27:61) intending to attend to Jesus' body, only to find the tomb open and empty (John 20:1). She told Peter and John, who came to see the crypt and saw the empty grave clothes inside (John 20:2–10). After this, the two men left and Mary is alone, apparently not knowing what it was Peter and John saw or what they are thinking. As she bends to look into the rocky opening, she will see two angels (John 20:12), and soon after Jesus Himself (John 20:16).

Mary's presence in this part of Jesus' story is important. In ancient culture, women were usually considered less intelligent and less trustworthy than men. Jesus' ministry and teachings lifted women out of those stereotypes (John 11:28; Galatians 3:28). The first people to realize and proclaim His resurrection will be women. That fact not only elevates the status of women, but it also speaks to the honesty of the gospel writers. An invented story, of that age, would never have claimed that women were the initial discoverers of such a monumental truth.
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