John 20:12

12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

John 20:12 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
12 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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet.
New Living Translation (NLT)
12 She saw two white-robed angels, one sitting at the head and the other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying.
The Message Bible (MSG)
12 and saw two angels sitting there, dressed in white, one at the head, the other at the foot of where Jesus' body had been laid.
American Standard Version (ASV)
12 and she beholdeth two angels in white sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
12 She saw two angels in white clothes. They were sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying. One angel was where Jesus' head had been, and the other was where his feet had been.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
12 She saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet, where Jesus' body had been lying.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
12 She saw two angels dressed in white. They were seated where Jesus' body had been. One of them was where Jesus' head had been laid. The other sat where his feet had been placed.

John 20:12 Meaning and Commentary

John 20:12

And seeth two angels in white
Matthew and Mark speak but of one, but Luke of two, as here; whom he calls men, because they appeared in an human form, and in shining garments, or white apparel; and which appearance is entirely agreeable to the received notion of the Jews, that as evil angels or devils are clothed in black, so good angels, or ministering spirits, (Mynbl yvwbl) , "are clothed in white" F12, expressive of their spotless purity and innocence:

sitting the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the
body of Jesus had lain;
in what position the body of Christ was laid, whether from west to east, as some, or from north to south, as others, is not certain; since the Jews observed no rule in this matter, as appears from the form of their sepulchres, and the disposition of the graves in them; some lying one way, and some another, in the same vault; (See Gill on Luke 24:12).


FOOTNOTES:

F12 Gloss. in T. Bab. Kiddushin, fol. 72. 1.

John 20:12 In-Context

10 Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.
11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb
12 and saw two angels in white, 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?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”
14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

Cross References 1

  • 1. Matthew 28:2,3; Mark 16:5; Luke 24:4; Acts 1:10; S Acts 5:19; Acts 10:30
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