Matthew 28:8 Meaning and Explanation
“And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The women leave the tomb quickly, full of fear and great joy, running to tell the disciples.
What Does Matthew 28:8 Mean?
They obey at once. Leaving the tomb in haste, they run to find the disciples. Matthew captures the mingled feelings of the moment perfectly: 'fear and great joy' together, awe at what they have witnessed braided with overflowing gladness.
This is often what genuine encounter with God feels like, neither flat nor tame. The fear is reverence before something vast and holy; the joy is the gladness of a hope no one dared believe. They do not stand frozen between the two emotions but run, carrying the news. Real faith moves. When the truth of the risen Christ takes hold of a heart, it does not stay still; it hurries to share what it has found.
Matthew 28:8 in the Original Language
chara (χαρά), 'joy' -- gladness and delight; here a great joy, the deep rejoicing that the resurrection awakens.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 28:8
What does Matthew 28:8 mean?
The women leave the tomb quickly, full of fear and great joy, running to tell the disciples.