All: Where the oldest copies differ

Where the oldest copies differ

The longer ending of Mark

Where the short ending stops. "And they went out, and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them: and they said nothing to any one; for they were afraid." (Mark 16:8, ASV). In the oldest surviving Greek manuscripts the Gospel ends there.

What follows in every Bible here. All six hosted versions then print verses 9 to 20, beginning "Early on the first day of the week, after Jesus had risen, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had driven out seven demons." (Mark 16:9, BSB) and closing at verse 20. ⭐ One of the six marks the passage as disputed in the text itself: the Literal Standard Version encloses the whole of 16:9-20 in double brackets, so a reader of that version can see the boundary without a footnote.

What a named reference work says. ISBE 1915 groups "the last twelve verses of Mark" with John 5:1-4 and John 7:53-8:12 as instances of "the adoption of marginal glosses into the text", quoting B. B. Warfield (ISBE article: Text and Manuscripts of the New Testament). ⚠️ That is a judgement, and a 1915 one; it is reported here as ISBE's position, with its holder named, and this file picks no winner. This reference's own translations synthesis records that modern Bibles keep the passage with a note precisely so the evidence is visible.

Sources: Mark 16:8 (ASV); Mark 16:9 (BSB); Mark 16:9-20 (all six hosted versions; bracketed in the LSV); ISBE 1915, article Text and Manuscripts of the New Testament; the translations reference on which manuscripts sit behind each Bible.

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Sources, trace every one

Every cited verse, in full. Tap any reference to open it in the reader.

  • Mark 16:8bsb

    So the women left the tomb and ran away, trembling and bewildered. And in their fear they did not say a word to anyone.

  • Mark 16:9bsb

    Early on the first day of the week, after Jesus had risen, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had driven out seven demons.

  • Mark 16:20bsb

    And they went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked through them, confirming His word by the signs that accompanied it.

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The longer ending of Mark · Bubble Bible