King James Version

What Does Mark 16:13 Mean?

Mark 16:13 in the King James Version says “And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them. — study this verse from Mark chapter 16 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.

Mark 16:13 · KJV


Context

11

And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.

12

After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.

13

And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.

14

Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. at meat: or, together

15

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
They went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them (κἀκεῖνοι ἀπελθόντες ἀπήγγειλαν τοῖς λοιποῖς· οὐδὲ ἐκείνοις ἐπίστευσαν, kakeinoi apelthontes apēngeilan tois loipois; oude ekeinois episteusan)—the residue (τοῖς λοιποῖς, "the remaining ones") means the rest of the disciples. The emphatic double negative οὐδὲ ἐκείνοις ("not even those") stresses stubborn unbelief even after multiple witnesses.

This repeated disbelief (cf. v.11) isn't mentioned to praise skepticism but to show human hardness requiring divine intervention. Even multiplied testimony couldn't penetrate their despair and doubt. Only Jesus' personal appearance and rebuke (v.14) broke through. The pattern continues: head-knowledge about resurrection differs vastly from heart-transforming encounter with the Risen Lord.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The early church preserved these embarrassing details about apostolic unbelief, arguing for honest historical transmission. If fabricating the story, why portray the apostles as stubborn skeptics? This matches Luke 24:36-43 where Jesus had to eat fish to prove He wasn't a ghost. First-century readers facing persecution needed to know even the apostles struggled to believe.

Reflection Questions

  1. Why does God permit repeated testimony to be disbelieved before granting direct encounter?
  2. How does others' unbelief affect your own faith testimony—do you accommodate doubt or proclaim truth?
  3. What "residue" of unbelief lingers in your heart despite abundant evidence of Christ's work?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 8 words
κἀκεῖνοι1 of 8

And they

G2548

likewise that (or those)

ἀπελθόντες2 of 8

went

G565

to go off (i.e., depart), aside (i.e., apart) or behind (i.e., follow), literally or figuratively

ἀπήγγειλαν3 of 8

and told

G518

to announce

τοῖς4 of 8
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

λοιποῖς·5 of 8

it unto the residue

G3062

remaining ones

οὐδὲ6 of 8

neither

G3761

not however, i.e., neither, nor, not even

ἐκείνοις7 of 8

them

G1565

that one (or (neuter) thing); often intensified by the article prefixed

ἐπίστευσαν8 of 8

believed they

G4100

to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e., credit; by implication, to entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to ch


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Mark. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Mark 16:13 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Mark 16:13 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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