And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The angel isn't just a passive messenger; he's sitting, a posture of readiness and authority, "on the right side," indicating he's positioned as a guardian or minister attending to the place of Jesus' burial. This subtle detail underscores that this divine encounter is not just about announcing news, but about a divinely orchestrated presence in the very space of Christ's victory over death.
And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The women have arrived at Jesus' tomb early on the first day of the week, intending to anoint his body. After noticing the stone has been rolled away, they enter the tomb and are met with a startling vision: a young man in white clothes sitting inside, which immediately causes them to feel fear and amazement. This encounter is the beginning of the revelation that Jesus is no longer there because he has risen from the dead.
The women arrived expecting to mourn, but found something far more shocking: an angelic messenger. Why did this divine being appear as a 'young man,' and why did it cause such alarm?
The angel's appearance as a "young man" (Mark 16:5) was a deliberate choice. This wasn't just any heavenly messenger; it was a divine herald. The Gospels often depict angels in human form, sometimes specifically as youthful men, to make their message more accessible and less terrifying, paradoxically.
However, the text states the women were "alarmed" or "affrighted" (Mark 16:5). This reaction wasn't just surprise. It was a profound shock because their minds were fixed on finding a dead body. The sudden, radiant appearance of a being from another realm, speaking of resurrection, shattered their grief-stricken expectations. It was a moment where the impossible became visible, triggering a visceral, fearful awe.
What does the detail of the angel 'sitting on the right side' tell us about the tomb and the divine messenger's posture?
The tomb wasn't just a hole in the ground; it was a carved-out space, likely with niches or ledges for burial. The phrase 'sitting on the right side' (Mark 16:5) indicates the angel occupied a prominent, prepared place within this space. This wasn't a casual or random position.
This posture signifies readiness and authority. The angel was seated, not frantic, calmly waiting for the women. It suggests a deliberate placement, perhaps near where Jesus' body had lain, signifying that the divine presence was firmly established even in death's apparent domain. It was a place of service, like a king's attendant, signifying the angel was there to announce, not to grieve.
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Understand the original words
ekthambeomai · Greek Verb
A state of intense fear, agitation, or being deeply troubled. It often describes the human reaction to the intrusion of the divine or supernatural into the mundane world.
The encounter at the tomb was a pivotal moment, marked by the women's fear and astonishment. This event, deeply rooted in the historical reality of Jesus' burial and resurrection, serves as the foundation of Christian faith, demonstrating God's power to overcome death and bring hope.
c. AD 30— this verse
Jesus Crucified and Buried
Jesus is executed by Roman authorities and laid in a tomb owned by Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy supporter.
c. AD 30, early morning of the first day of the week
Women Visit the Empty Tomb
Several women, including Mary Magdalene, Mary mother of James, and Salome, arrive at the tomb intending to anoint Jesus' body but find the stone rolled away.
c. AD 30, immediately after
Angel Appears at the Tomb
Inside the tomb, the women encounter a young man in a white robe who tells them Jesus has risen.
c. AD 30, shortly after
Women Flee in Fear and Amazement
Overwhelmed by the experience, the women leave the tomb and tell no one at first.
c. AD 30, later that day
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
Jesus reveals Himself to Mary Magdalene, who was at the tomb, marking the first post-resurrection appearance.
c. AD 30-33
Resurrection Appearances and Commissioning
Over the next weeks and months, Jesus appears to His disciples and others, gradually strengthening their faith and commissioning them to spread the Gospel.
This passage parallels Mark's account by describing the women's encounter with an angel at the tomb and the angel's message about Jesus' resurrection, highlighting the same core event.
Luke 24:4Luke's Gospel also mentions the women seeing 'two men' in dazzling apparel, which connects to Mark's description of a 'young man' in a white robe, offering a slightly different perspective on the angelic presence.
John 20:11-12John's Gospel focuses on Mary Magdalene's encounter with two angels at the tomb, providing a more detailed account that complements Mark's depiction of the women's initial fear and alarm at the supernatural sight.
Mark 9:15The word used for 'alarmed' in Mark 16:5 is the same as in Mark 9:15, where Jesus' disciples are terrified by a transfiguration event, showing a consistent reaction to awe-inspiring divine manifestations.
Isaiah 43:1-2This prophetic passage speaks of God's presence with his people through fire and water, mirroring the overwhelming, though ultimately safe, presence of God's angelic messenger encountered by the women in the tomb.
cambridgeMark 16:5: "And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted."
5 . And entering into the sepulchre ] This emboldened them all to enter into the tomb, except Mary of Magdala, who, seeing in the rolling away of the stone the confirmation of her worst fears, fled away to the Apostles Peter and John; and there they saw a young man ] or as some of them may have specified, two ( Luke 24:4 ), sitting on the right…
barnesMark 16:5: "And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted."
Sitting on the right side - As they entered. The sepulchre was large enough to admit persons to go into it; not unlike, in that respect, our vaults.
The angel isn't just a passive messenger; he's sitting, a posture of readiness and authority, "on the right side," indicating he's positioned as a guardian or minister attending to the place of Jesus' burial. This subtle detail underscores that this divine encounter is not just about announcing news, but about a divinely orchestrated presence in the very space of Christ's victory over death.
The women have arrived at Jesus' tomb early on the first day of the week, intending to anoint his body. After noticing the stone has been rolled away, they enter the tomb and are met with a startling vision: a young man in white clothes sitting inside, which immediately causes them to feel fear and amazement. This encounter is the beginning of the revelation that Jesus is no longer there because he has risen from the dead.
The women have arrived at Jesus' tomb early on the first day of the week, intending to anoint his body. After noticing the stone has been rolled away, they enter the tomb and are met with a startling vision: a young man in white clothes sitting inside, which immediately causes them to feel fear and amazement. This encounter is the beginning of the revelation that Jesus is no longer there because he has risen from the dead.
"And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed." — The angel isn't just a passive messenger; he's sitting, a posture of readiness and authority, "on the right side," indicating he's positioned as a guardian or minister attending to the place of Jesus…
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Last reviewed October 2026