Open Bible Data Home About News OET Key
OET OET-RV OET-LV ULT UST BSB MSB BLB AICNT OEB WEBBE WMBB NET LSV FBV TCNT T4T LEB BBE Moff JPS Wymth ASV DRA YLT Drby RV SLT Wbstr KJB-1769 KJB-1611 Bshps Gnva Cvdl TNT Wycl SR-GNT UHB BrLXX BrTr Related Topics Parallel Interlinear Reference Dictionary Search
ParallelVerse GEN EXO LEV NUM DEU JOB JOS JDG RUTH 1 SAM 2 SAM PSA AMOS HOS 1 KI 2 KI 1 CHR 2 CHR PROV ECC SNG JOEL MIC ISA ZEP HAB JER LAM YNA (JNA) NAH OBA DAN EZE EZRA EST NEH HAG ZEC MAL LAO GES LES ESG DNG 2 PS TOB JDT WIS SIR BAR LJE PAZ SUS BEL MAN 1 MAC 2 MAC 3 MAC 4 MAC YHN (JHN) MARK MAT LUKE ACTs YAC (JAM) GAL 1 TH 2 TH 1 COR 2 COR ROM COL PHM EPH PHP 1 TIM TIT 1 PET 2 PET 2 TIM HEB YUD (JUD) 1 YHN (1 JHN) 2 YHN (2 JHN) 3 YHN (3 JHN) REV
Mark Intro C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13 C14 C15 C16
Mark 16 V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V7 V8 V9 V10 V11 V12 V13 V14 V15 V16 V17 V18 V19
Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.
Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)
OET (OET-RV) Then his followers went around preaching everywhere, and God worked through them and so they were able to confirm the truth of their preaching by doing miracles.![]()
SR-GNT No SR-GNT MARK 16:20 verse available
ULT Now those ones, having gone out, preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.[fn]]
Some manuscripts do not include here the word Amen.
UST As for the apprentices, they left Jerusalem and proclaimed the good news in every place. The Lord Jesus helped them and enabled them to perform miracles. That way, people could see that the good news was true. May it be so!]
BSB And they went out [and] preached everywhere, [and] the Lord worked through [them], confirming [His] word by the signs that accompanied [it].
MSB And they went out [and] preached everywhere, [and] the Lord worked through [them], confirming [His] word by the signs that accompanied [it]. Amen.[fn]
16:20 CT does not include Amen.
BLB And having gone forth, they preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word by the accompanying signs.
AICNT And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the accompanying signs. [[Amen]]]][fn]
16:20, Amen: Some manuscripts include.
OEB But they set out, and made the proclamation everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the message by the signs which attended it.
¶ But all that had been revealed to them they reported briefly to Peter and his companions. Afterwards Jesus himself sent out through them, from east to west, the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation.
WEBBE They went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word by the signs that followed. Amen.
WMBB (Same as above)
NET They went out and proclaimed everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through the accompanying signs.]]
LSV and they, having gone forth, preached everywhere, the LORD working with [them], and confirming the word, through the signs following. Amen.]]
FBV The disciples went out and spread the good news everywhere, and the Lord worked with them, confirming the message through miraculous signs that accompanied it.
TCNT Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked through them and confirmed the message by the signs that accompanied it. [fn]Amen.[fn]
16:20 Amen. 97.5% ¦ — ECM† NA SBL WH 2.1%
16:20 The following scribal note is included in the colophons of many Greek manuscripts: Published ten years after the ascension of Christ.
T4T As for the disciples, they went out from Jerusalem, and then they preached everywhere. Wherever they went, the Lord enabled them to perform miracles. By doing that, he showed people that God’s message is true.
LEB And they went out and[fn] proclaimed everywhere, while[fn] the Lord was working together with them[fn] and confirming the message through the accompanying signs.〛
16:20 *Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“went out”) has been translated as a finite verb
16:20 *Here “while” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“was working together with”)
16:20 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
BBE And they went out, preaching everywhere, the Lord working with them, and giving witness to the word by the signs which came after. So be it.
Moff while they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word by the miracles that endorsed it.
¶
Wymth But they went out and made proclamation everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming their Message by the signs which accompanied it.
¶
ASV And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word by the signs that followed. Amen.
DRA But they going forth preached every where: the Lord working withal, and confirming the word with signs that followed.
YLT and they, having gone forth, did preach everywhere, the Lord working with [them], and confirming the word, through the signs following. Amen.
Drby And they, going forth, preached everywhere, the Lord working with [them], and confirming the word by the signs following upon [it].
RV And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word by the signs that followed. Amen.
SLT And they, having gone forth, proclaimed every where, the Lord performing together, and confirming the word by signs following. Amen.
Wbstr And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them , and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
KJB-1769 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
KJB-1611 And they went foorth, and preached euery where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the worde with signes following. Amen.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above)
Bshps And they went foorth, and preached euerywhere, the Lorde workyng with them, and confirmyng the worde with signes folowyng.
(And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.)
Gnva And they went foorth, and preached euery where. And the Lord wrought with them, and confirmed the worde with signes that folowed. Amen.
(And they went forth, and preached every where. And the Lord wrought/done with them, and confirmed the word with signs that followed. Amen. )
Cvdl And they wente out, and preached euery where. And the LORDE wrought with them, and confirmed the worde with tokens folowynge.
(And they went out, and preached every where. And the LORD wrought/done with them, and confirmed the word with tokens following.)
TNT And they went forth and preached every where. And the Lorde wrought with them and confirmed the worde with miracles that folowed.
(And they went forth and preached every where. And the Lord wrought/done with them and confirmed the word with miracles that followed. )
Wycl And thei yeden forth, and prechiden euery where, for the Lord wrouyte with hem, and confermyde the word with signes folewynge.
(And they went forth, and preached every where, for the Lord wrought/done with hem, and confirmed the word with signs following.)
Luth Sie aber gingen aus und predigten an allen Orten. Und der HErr wirkte mit ihnen und bekräftigte das Wort durch mitfolgende Zeichen.
(They/She but went out_of and preach at/to all/everyone places. And the/of_the LORD wirkte with to_them and bekräftigte the word through mitfolgende sign.)
ClVg Illi autem profecti prædicaverunt ubique, Domino cooperante, et sermonem confirmante, sequentibus signis.[fn]
(Those however set_out they_preached everywhere, Master cooperante, and conversation confirmante, following signs. )
16.20 Illi autem, etc. BEDA. Nota quod Marcus Evangelium suum quanto inchoavit tardius, tanto, etc., usque ad quo apostoli idem Evangelii verbum per totum orbem seminaverunt.
16.20 Those however, etc. BEDA. Note that Marcus the_Gospel his_own how_much inchoavit tardius, so_much, etc., until to where apostles the_same of_the_Gospels the_word/saying through whole the_world seminaverunt.
UGNT Ἐκεῖνοι δὲ ἐξελθόντες ἐκήρυξαν πανταχοῦ τοῦ κυρίου συνεργοῦντος καὶ τὸν λόγον βεβαιοῦντος διὰ τῶν ἐπακολουθούντων σημείων. Ἀμήν.]
(Ekeinoi de exelthontes ekaʸruxan pantaⱪou tou kuriou sunergountos kai ton logon bebaiountos dia tōn epakolouthountōn saʸmeiōn. Amaʸn.])
SBL-GNT ἐκεῖνοι δὲ ἐξελθόντες ἐκήρυξαν πανταχοῦ, τοῦ κυρίου συνεργοῦντος καὶ τὸν λόγον βεβαιοῦντος διὰ τῶν ἐπακολουθούντων ⸀σημείων.⟧
(ekeinoi de exelthontes ekaʸruxan pantaⱪou, tou kuriou sunergountos kai ton logon bebaiountos dia tōn epakolouthountōn ⸀saʸmeiōn.⟧)
RP-GNT Ἐκεῖνοι δὲ ἐξελθόντες ἐκήρυξαν πανταχοῦ, τοῦ κυρίου συνεργοῦντος, καὶ τὸν λόγον βεβαιοῦντος διὰ τῶν ἐπακολουθούντων σημείων. Ἀμήν.
(Ekeinoi de exelthontes ekaʸruxan pantaⱪou, tou kuriou sunergountos, kai ton logon bebaiountos dia tōn epakolouthountōn saʸmeiōn. Amaʸn.)
TC-GNT Ἐκεῖνοι δὲ ἐξελθόντες ἐκήρυξαν πανταχοῦ, τοῦ Κυρίου συνεργοῦντος, καὶ τὸν λόγον βεβαιοῦντος διὰ τῶν ἐπακολουθούντων σημείων.
¶ [fn]Ἀμήν.[fn]
(Ekeinoi de exelthontes ekaʸruxan pantaⱪou, tou Kuriou sunergountos, kai ton logon bebaiountos dia tōn epakolouthountōn saʸmeiōn.
¶ Amaʸn. )
16:9-20 Nearly all scholars agree that Mark did not write the “shorter” and “longer” endings. There are clear differences in their style, vocabulary, and theology. Also, the best two available Greek manuscripts (Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus) lack these endings. However, there is reason to doubt that Mark intended to end his Gospel at 16:8: (1) Mark emphasizes the fulfillment of Jesus’ predictions throughout his Gospel, and if the Gospel ended with 16:8, there would be no reference to the resurrection appearance(s) of Jesus; (2) all the other Gospels contain accounts of Jesus’ appearances to the women and the disciples; (3) early readers of Mark evidently did not think the book could have ended with 16:8, because they wrote these endings; (4) there is no convincing explanation as to why Mark would have wanted to end his Gospel at 16:8 (all such explanations sound like modern existential literary interpretations that revel in paradox, very unlike the way a first-century Christian author would have thought); (5) it is strange for a Gospel to begin with a bold proclamation that Jesus is the Messiah (1:1) and end with the women’s fear; (6) it would be unique for an ancient Greek book to end with gar (“because”) as the last word—no other example of this has been found; and (7) 16:7 raises the expectation that the disciples will meet Jesus in Galilee—if 16:8 was the original ending of Mark, it is the only unfulfilled prediction in the Gospel. Many scholars conclude that the original ending was accidentally torn off and lost, or was never finished.
This section describes how Jesus went back to heaven. This event is often called “the Ascension of Jesus.” The concluding statement informs readers that the disciples did as Jesus instructed them to do in 16:15–18.
It is good to translate this section before you decide on a heading for it.
Here are some other possible headings for this section:
Jesus Is Taken up to Heaven (GNT)
The Ascension of Jesus (NRSV)
Jesus went up to heaven
There are parallel passages for this section in Luke 24:50–53 and Acts 1:9–11.
And they went out and preached everywhere,
Then the disciples went everywhere and preached the good news.
And Jesus’ followers left and proclaimed the good news to people everywhere.
And they went out and preached everywhere: This part of the verse tells what the disciples did in response to the instructions that Jesus gave them in 16:15b–c. In 16:15 he told them to go everywhere and preach the good news, and in this verse they did that. Your translation of 16:20a should remind people of your translation of 16:15.
they: The pronoun they refers here to Jesus’ disciples to whom he gave the instructions in 16:15–18.
went out: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as went out is literally “having gone forth.” In this context it indicates that the disciples went to many places. It does not imply that the disciples were indoors at the time Jesus was speaking to them.
Here are some other ways to translate this:
went (GNT)
left (CEV)
preached: In some languages it may be necessary to indicate what the disciples preached. If that is true in your language, indicate that they preached the good news about Jesus. For example:
preached Jesus’ message
proclaimed the Good News
It may also be necessary in some languages to indicate who they preached to. For example, the NCV says:
told the Good News to people (NCV)
This same word occurs in 16:15b–c.
everywhere: The Greek word that the BSB translates as everywhere is used figuratively here. It emphasizes that the disciples went to many places. It does not indicate that they went to literally every place in the world. You may need to connect this idea directly with the verb “went.” For example:
went to many places
and the Lord worked through them,
And the Lord helped them
The Lord Jesus gave them power,
This part of the verse refers back to 16:15, where Jesus sent the disciples out to proclaim the good news.
the Lord: The title Lord in 16:20b refers back to “the Lord Jesus” in 16:19a.
worked through them: The phrase worked through them indicates that the Lord Jesus helped his disciples and gave them power to preach his word and to do the miraculous signs that he mentioned in 16:17–18. Although he was no longer present on earth as a human being, he worked through them by sending his Holy Spirit to help them (Acts 1:8).
Here are some other ways to translate this:
helped them (NCV)
gave them power
confirming His word by the signs that accompanied it.
by confirming their message/word with miraculous signs.
and the miracles they worked proved that their message was true. (CEV)
confirming His word by the signs that accompanied it: This statement is similar to what Jesus said in 16:17a. He indicated that he would prove or confirm by miraculous signs that he had sent the disciples. These signs showed that what they said was true.
confirming: In the context of this verse, confirming means “proved the truthfulness and trustworthiness” of the good news. The signs showed that what the disciples said about the good news was true.
Here is another way to translate this:
proved…was true (GNT)
His word: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as His word is literally “the word.” It refers to the good news that the disciples preached everywhere. There are two ways to interpret it in this context:
It refers to the disciples’ word. For example:
their preaching (GNT) (GNT, CEV, NLT, NCV, REB, JBP)
It refers to the Lord’s word. For example:
his word (NIV11) (BSB, NIV, GW)
The NJB, KJV, NET, ESV, and NASB translate this literally as “the word/message.” However, if it is not natural to translate this way in your language, it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), as most English versions do. This interpretation supports what Jesus said in 16:17a.
Here are some other ways to translate confirmed the word:
confirming what they said (NLT)
proved that their preaching was true (GNT)
proved that their message was true (CEV)
signs: See how you translated signs in 16:17a.
(RSV:) Amen: There is a textual issue at the end of 16:20. It concerns the word that the RSV transliterates as Amen:
Many Greek manuscripts do not have the word Amen. (BSB, NIV, GNT, NRSV, CEV, GW, REB, NASB, NET, NCV, NLT)
Some Greek manuscripts end the verse with the word Amen. (RSV, KJV)The UBS4 (page 192) gives this reading a C rating.
It is recommended that you follow option (1). However, if the major language version in your area includes the word Amen, you may follow it.
The word Amen means “Indeed it is true” or “May it be so.” Here are two ways to translate it:
Use a word in your language with this meaning. Choose a word that would be appropriate to end this section. For example:
Truly!
Indeed!
So it shall be.
Transliterate the word Amen according to the sounds of your language.
This section is often referred to as “The Shorter Ending of Mark.” There is a textual issue concerning this section:
Most Greek manuscripts do not include 16:9–10. Many Bible scholars do not believe that Mark wrote it. They believe that someone else added it later to certain Greek manuscripts. Some English versions do not include it or mention it at all, such as the KJV and GW16.20 See also NCV.. Other English versions mention these verses in a footnote, such as BSB and NIV1116.20 Also see NET..
Only a few Greek manuscripts include 16:9–10. Some English versions include this shorter ending of Mark, usually setting it apart in some way like brackets, italics, or a special heading. There are two places in the text to include it:
At the end of 16:8. (NRSV, REB, NLT)
At the end of 16:20. (NASB, GNT, CEV)
It is recommended that you follow option (1) and do not include 16:9–10 in the text of your translation. However, because a few Greek manuscripts and some English versions include this shorter ending of Mark, you may want to include it in a footnote, as the ESV does. Here is a suggested footnote:
A few Greek manuscripts include additional text at the end of 16:8. This text is usually called “The Shorter Ending of Mark.” However, none of the most ancient Greek manuscripts have it. The additional text is: “[Put your translation here, based on the Notes and Display for 16:9–10 below.]”
There are similarities in this section to Matthew 28:8, 18–20, Luke 24:9–10, and Acts 1:8.
And all that had been commanded them they told briefly to those around Peter: The Greek clause that the NRSV translates as all that had been commanded them is the object of the verb told. In some languages a more natural order for this sentence may be:
And they briefly told those around Peter all that had been commanded them.
In Greek the words all that had been commanded them occur at the beginning of 16:9 to emphasize them. If possible, you should emphasize the fact that they told all that had been commanded them in your translation. The NLT96 translates this clause as:
Then they reported all these instructions briefly to Peter and his companions. (NLT96)
all that had been commanded them: The Greek verb that the NRSV translates as had been commanded is passive. In some languages it may be necessary to use an active verb and supply the subject. For example:
all that the young man had commanded them to say
This clause refers here to the message that the young man gave the women to tell Peter and the other disciples (16:7).
them: The pronoun them refers to the women who came to the tomb. See 16:1 for details.
they told briefly: The Greek clause that the NRSV translates as they told briefly refers to reporting something in a short way.
those around Peter: The Greek phrase that the NRSV translates as those around Peter may also be translated as “those with Peter.” This refers to Peter himself and the other disciples.
Here are some other ways you could translate this phrase:
Peter and the other disciples
Peter and his companions (NLT)
This verse indicates that Jesus sent his disciples to proclaim salvation all over the world. It is similar to Matthew 28:18–20 and Acts 1:8.
And afterward: The Greek conjunction that the NRSV translates as And introduces what happened after 16:9. It does not indicate how much time passed between 16:9 and 16:10. If 16:10 refers to the same event as the one in Matthew 28:18–20, it would be several weeks afterward. Translate with a general word or expression meaning “some time later.”
Jesus himself sent out through them…the…proclamation of eternal salvation: This clause indicates that Jesus sent out…the…proclamation of eternal salvation by sending his followers to tell people about this salvation.
Here is another way to translate this:
Jesus himself sent them to proclaim to people the message of eternal salvation.
Jesus himself…through them: The words Jesus himself…through them emphasize the fact that it was Jesus who sent the disciples to proclaim the good news. Peter and the other disciples did not just decide on their own to go proclaim the message of salvation. The other Gospels tell about how Jesus appeared to them after his resurrection and sent them to proclaim the message.
them: The pronoun them refers to Jesus’ disciples. In 16:9, them referred to the women who were at the tomb. You will probably need to make this explicit in your translation. For example, the CEV says:
Later, Jesus sent the disciples
of eternal salvation: The phrase of eternal salvation refers to the content of the proclamation or message. The message is about how God saves people forever from sin. This is possible because Jesus took their punishment when he died on the cross, and then rose from the dead to give them eternal life.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
salvation that gives eternal life (NLT)
how people can be saved forever (CEV)
how God saves people for eternity
salvation: In this context the word salvation refers to deliverance from spiritual and eternal danger. It refers specifically to the way that Jesus rescues people from sin and from spiritual death and hell, which is the punishment for sin.
Here are some ways to translate salvation in this context:
deliverance from sin and hell
he rescues/saves people from sin and its punishment
from east to west: The expression from east to west is used figuratively. In this context it means “everywhere” or “all over the world.”
the sacred and imperishable proclamation: The Greek words that the NRSV translates as sacred and imperishable describe the message that Jesus sent his disciples to proclaim.
Here are some other ways to translate this:
to proclaim God’s unfailing message
to announce the holy and everlasting message
sacred: The Greek word that the NRSV translates as sacred indicates that the message is holy. It is holy because it is from God.
imperishable: The Greek word that the NRSV translates as imperishable is literally “undying.” It refers to something that does not die or decay. In this context it indicates that the message that Jesus sent his disciples to proclaim will never stop being true and powerful.
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
always true
unfailing (NLT)
will never lose its power