Charles Ellicott Commentary John 20:5

"and stooping and looking in, he seeth the linen cloths lying; yet entered he not in." — John 20:5 (ASV)

And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying.—Better, ... sees the linen clothes lying. The tense still describes the scene as it actually occurred. The words looking in rightly complete the meaning. (Compare the note on John 11:38, and for the word, the note on Luke 24:12.) This word is used again in the New Testament only in John 20:11, James 1:25, and 1 Peter 1:12. It meant, originally, to stoop sideways, and was used, for example, of a harp-player; then, to stoop over, peer into, inquire into. For the linen clothes, compare John 19:40.

Yet went he not in.—He is restrained by wonder, not unaccompanied, perhaps, by fear, at what he sees, and waits for his friend and companion.