Mark 16:2

And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(2)At the rising of the sun.—Literally, when the sun had risen. There seems at first a slight discrepancy between this and St. Matthew’s “while it was yet dark.” A morning haze, however, or the partial continuance of the gloom which had shrouded the city on the previous day, may well be thought of as harmonizing the two accounts.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

16:1-8 Nicodemus brought a large quantity of spices, but these good women did not think that enough. The respect others show to Christ, should not hinder us from showing our respect. And those who are carried by holy zeal, to seek Christ diligently, will find the difficulties in their way speedily vanish. When we put ourselves to trouble and expense, from love to Christ, we shall be accepted, though our endeavours are not successful. The sight of the angel might justly have encouraged them, but they were affrighted. Thus many times that which should be matter of comfort to us, through our own mistake, proves a terror to us. He was crucified, but he is glorified. He is risen, he is not here, not dead, but alive again; hereafter you will see him, but you may here see the place where he was laid. Thus seasonable comforts will be sent to those that lament after the Lord Jesus. Peter is particularly named, Tell Peter; it will be most welcome to him, for he is in sorrow for sin. A sight of Christ will be very welcome to a true penitent, and a true penitent is very welcome to a sight of Christ. The men ran with all the haste they could to the disciples; but disquieting fears often hinder us from doing that service to Christ and to the souls of men, which, if faith and the joy of faith were strong, we might do.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See this passage explained in the notes at Matthew 28:1-8.

Mark 16:1

Sweet spices - "Aromatics." Substances used in embalming. The idea of sweetness is not, however, implied in the original. Many of the substances used for embalming were "bitter" - as, for example, myrrh - and none of them, perhaps, could properly be called "sweet." The word "spices" expresses all that there is in the original.

Anoint him - Embalm him, or apply these spices to his body to keep it from putrefaction. This is proof that they did not suppose he would rise again; and the fact that they did not "expect" he would rise, gives more strength to the evidence for his resurrection.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

2. And very early in the morning—(See on [1524]Mt 28:1).

the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun—not quite literally, but "at earliest dawn"; according to a way of speaking not uncommon, and occurring sometimes in the Old Testament. Thus our Lord rose on the third day; having lain in the grave part of Friday, the whole of Saturday, and part of the following First day.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

See Poole on "Mark 16:1"

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And very early in the morning, the first day of the week,.... See Gill on Matthew 28:1.

They came to the sepulchre at the rising of the sun; of the sun of righteousness, as Mr. Mede observes; or rather, of the natural sun: for though it was dark when they set out, and when it dawned towards the first day, yet by that time that they all got to the sepulchre, the sun was rising; the Jews say (g), that

"from the ascending of the morning, or break of day, until the sun rises, is an hour and a half.''

And so much time may very well be allowed the women, from their setting out, to their coming to the sepulchre. Moreover, they say (h), that

"from the hind of the morning, to the time the east is enlightened, a man may walk four miles, and from the time that the east is enlightened, , "until the sun rises", four miles.''

But women must not be thought to walk so fast: let it be observed, that Christ, who is called the hind of the morning, Psalm 22:1 (title, "Aijeleth Shahar"), and the morning star, Revelation 22:16, rose at this time.

(g) Piske Tosaphot in Pesach. art. 44. (h) T. Hieros. Beracot, fol. 2. 3. Bereshit Rabba, sect. 50. fol. 45. 2.

Geneva Study Bible

And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek Testament

Mark 16:2. λίαν πρωῒ, very early in the morning, suggesting a time hardly consistent with the qualifying clause: ἀνατείλαντος τοῦ ἡλίου = when the sun was risen, which again does not harmonise with the “deep dawn” of Lk. and the “yet dark” of John. Mk.’s aim apparently is to emphasise the fact that what he is going to relate happened in broad daylight; Lk.’s to point out that the pious women were at their loving work as early on the Sunday morning as possible.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

2. And very early in the morning] while “it was yet dark” (John 20:1), before the dawn streaked the eastern sky on

the first day of the week] the world’s first Easter-Day, our Lord’s Day (Revelation 1:10),

they came] or rather, come (observe again the graphic present of the Evangelist), draw near, to the sepulchre.

Bengel's Gnomen

Mark 16:2. Λίαν πρωῒ, very early in the morning.—ἀνατείλαντος τοῦ ἡλίου, the sun having arisen) The one [the first] clause applies to Mary Magdalene, John 20:1; the other clause to the rest of the women.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 2. - And very early on the first day of the week (λιάν πρωί' τῇ μιᾶ τῶν σαββάτων), they come (ἔρχονται - not "they came," St. Mark is fond of the graphic present - to the tomb when the sun was risen. They bought the spices that they needed on the Saturday evening, after the sabbath was past; and then set out early the next morning, reaching the tomb when the sun was risen. Mark 16:2

Vincent's Word Studies

At the rising of the sun (ἀνατείλαντος τοῦ ἡλίου)

More correctly, as Rev., when the sun was risen.