John 20:11

But Mary was standing outside at the tomb weeping. So, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb,

World English Bible
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Other translations

WEBBE

But Mary was standing outside at the tomb weeping. So as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb,

BSB

But Mary stood outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent down to look into the tomb,

KJV

But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,

ASV

But Mary was standing without at the tomb weeping: so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb;

BBE

But Mary was still there outside the hole in the rock, weeping; and while she was weeping and looking into the hole,

Original Greek

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Μαρία Maria Mary G3137 δὲ de however G1161 εἱστήκει heistēkei had stood G2476 πρὸς pros at G4314 τῷ tō the G3588 μνημείῳ mnēmeiō tomb G3419 ἔξω exō outside G1854 κλαίουσα klaiousa weeping G2799 ὡς hōs As G5613 οὖν oun therefore G3767 ἔκλαιεν eklaien she was weeping G2799 παρέκυψεν parekupsen she stooped down G3879 εἰς eis into G1519 τὸ to the G3588 μνημεῖον mnēmeion tomb G3419

The early church

All 7
(Hom. lxxxvi) Be not astonished that Mary wept for love at the sepulchre, and Peter did not; for the female sex is naturally tender, and inclined to weep. (Hom. lxxxvi) The sight of the sepulchre itself was some consolation. Nay, behold her, to console herself still more, stooping down, to see the very place where the body lay: And as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre.
John Chrysostom · d. 407Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)
(de Con. Ev. iii. xxiv. 69) She then saw, with the other women, the Angel sitting on the right, on the stone which had been rolled away from the sepulchre, at whose words it was that she looked into the sepulchre. (Mat. 28:5.) (Tr. cxxi) In her too great grief she could believe neither her own eyes, nor the disciples'. Or was it a divine impulse which caused her to look in?
Augustine of Hippo · d. 430Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)
"And as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre." Why she did so I know not. For she was not ignorant that He whom she sought was no longer there, since she had herself also carried word to the disciples that He had been taken from thence; while they, too, had come to the sepulchre, and had sought the Lord's body, not merely by looking, but also by entering, and had not found it. What then does it mean, that, as she wept, she stooped down, and looked again into the sepulchre? Was it that her grief was so excessive that she hardly thought she could believe either their eyes or her own? Or was it rather by some divine impulse that her mind led her to look within?
Augustine of Hippo · d. 430Tractates on John
(Hom. xxv. ut supr.) For to have looked once is not enough for love. Love makes one desire to look over and over again. (Hom. xxv.) She sought the body, and found it not; she persevered in seeking; and so it came to pass that she found. Her longings, growing the stronger, the more they were disappointed, at last found and laid hold on their object. For holy longings ever gain strength by delay; did they not, they would not be longings. Mary so loved, that not content with seeing the sepulchre, she stooped down and looked in: let us see the fruit which came of this persevering love: And seeth two Angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
Gregory the Dialogist · d. 604Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)
Full of feeling somehow is the female sex, and more inclined to pity. I say this, lest thou shouldest wonder how it could be that Mary wept bitterly at the tomb, while Peter was in no way so affected. For, "The disciples," it saith, "went away unto their own home"; but she stood shedding tears. Because hers was a feeble nature, and she as yet knew not accurately the account of the Resurrection; whereas they having seen the linen clothes and believed, departed to their own homes in astonishment. And wherefore went they not straightway to Galilee, as had been commanded them before the Passion? They waited for the others, perhaps, and besides they were yet at the height of their amazement. These then went their way: but she stood at the place, for, as I have said, even the sight of the tomb tended greatly to comfort her. At any rate, thou seest her, the more to ease her grief, stooping down, and desiring to behold the place where the body lay.
John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on John

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 11–18

We are likely to seek and find, when we seek with affection, and seek in tears. But many believers complain of the clouds and darkness they are under, which are methods of grace for humbling their souls, mortifying their sins, and endearing Christ to them. A sight of angels and their smiles, will not suffice, without a sight of Jesus, and God's smiles in him. None know, but those who have tasted it, the sorrows of a deserted soul, which has had comfortable evidences of the love of God in Christ, and hopes of heaven, but has now lost them, and walks in darkness; such a wounded spirit who can bear? Christ, in manifesting himself to those that seek him, often outdoes their expectations. See how Mary's heart was in earnest to find Jesus. Christ's way of making himself known to his people is by his word; his word applied to their souls, speaking to them in particular. It might be read, Is it my Master? See with what pleasure those who love Jesus speak of his authority over them. He forbids her to expect that his bodily presence look further, than the present state of things. Observe the relation to God, from union with Christ. We, partaking of a Divine nature, Christ's Father is our Father; and he, partaking of the human nature, our God is his God. Christ's ascension into heaven, there to plead for us, is likewise an unspeakable comfort. Let them not think this earth is to be their home and rest; their eye and aim, and earnest desires, must be upon another world, and this ever upon their hearts, I ascend, therefore I must seek the things which are above. And let those who know the word of Christ, endeavour that others should get good from their knowledge.

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Cross-references

1

People & places

Mary

Topics

WomenLoveFriendshipWeepingMaryTrouble

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.