1 Now there was a certain [man] sick, Lazarus of Bethany, of the village of Mary and Martha her sister. 2 It was [the] Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. 3 The sisters therefore sent to him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. 4 But when Jesus heard [it], he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified by it. 5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. 6 When therefore he heard, He is sick, he remained two days then in the place where he was. 7 Then after this he says to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again. 8 The disciples say to him, Rabbi, [even but] now the Jews sought to stone thee, and goest thou thither again? 9 Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any one walk in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world; 10 but if any one walk in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him. 11 These things said he; and after this he says to them, Lazarus, our friend, is fallen asleep, but I go that I may awake him out of sleep. 12 The disciples therefore said to him, Lord, if he be fallen asleep, he will get well. 13 But Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that he spoke of the rest of sleep. 14 Jesus therefore then said to them plainly, Lazarus has died. 15 And I rejoice on your account that I was not there, in order that ye may believe. But let us go to him. 16 Thomas therefore, called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him. 17 Jesus therefore [on] arriving found him to have been four days already in the tomb. 18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about fifteen stadia off, 19 and many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, that they might console them concerning their brother. 20 Martha then, when she heard Jesus is coming, went to meet him; but Mary sat in the house. 21 Martha therefore said to Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died; 22 but even now I know, that whatsoever thou shalt ask of God, God will give thee. 23 Jesus says to her, Thy brother shall rise again. 24 Martha says to him, I know that he will rise again in the resurrection in the last day. 25 Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life: he that believes on me, though he have died, shall live; 26 and every one who lives and believes on me shall never die. Believest thou this? 27 She says to him, Yea, Lord; I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, who should come into the world. 28 And having said this, she went away and called her sister Mary secretly, saying, The teacher is come and calls thee. 29 She, when she heard [that], rises up quickly and comes to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was in the place where Martha came to meet him. 31 The Jews therefore who were with her in the house and consoling her, seeing Mary that she rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying, She goes to the tomb, that she may weep there. 32 Mary therefore, when she came where Jesus was, seeing him, fell at his feet, saying to him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 33 Jesus therefore, when he saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, was deeply moved in spirit, and was troubled, 34 and said, Where have ye put him? They say to him, Lord, come and see. 35 Jesus wept. 36 The Jews therefore said, Behold how he loved him! 37 And some of them said, Could not this [man], who has opened the eyes of the blind [man], have caused that this [man] also should not have died? 38 Jesus therefore, again deeply moved in himself, comes to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. 39 Jesus says, Take away the stone. Martha, the sister of the dead, says to him, Lord, he stinks already, for he is four days [there]. 40 Jesus says to her, Did I not say to thee, that if thou shouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? 41 They took therefore the stone away. And Jesus lifted up his eyes on high and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me; 42 but I knew that thou always hearest me; but on account of the crowd who stand around I have said [it], that they may believe that thou hast sent me. 43 And having said this, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. 44 And the dead came forth, bound feet and hands with graveclothes, and his face was bound round with a handkerchief. Jesus says to them, Loose him and let him go. 45 Many therefore of the Jews who came to Mary and saw what he had done, believed on him; 46 but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 The chief priests, therefore, and the Pharisees gathered a council, and said, What do we? for this man does many signs. 48 If we let him thus alone, all will believe on him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation. 49 But a certain one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, Ye know nothing 50 nor consider that it is profitable for you that one man die for the people, and not that the whole nation perish. 51 But this he did not say of himself; but, being high priest that year, prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation; 52 and not for the nation only, but that he should also gather together into one the children of God who were scattered abroad. 53 From that day therefore they took counsel that they might kill him. 54 Jesus therefore walked no longer openly among the Jews, but went away thence into the country near the desert, to a city called Ephraim, and there he sojourned with the disciples. 55 But the passover of the Jews was near, and many went up to Jerusalem out of the country before the passover, that they might purify themselves. 56 They sought therefore Jesus, and said among themselves, standing in the temple, What do ye think? that he will not come to the feast? 57 Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given commandment that if any one knew where he was, he should make it known, that they might take him.
John 11 Darby Translation
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Lazarus
A man of Bethany, brother of Mary and Martha, whom Jesus loved and raised from the dead and who was later at table with Him.
Cited in the guide: John 11:1; John 11:5; John 12:1
Martha
A woman of Bethany who received Jesus into her home, was distracted with serving, and whose brother Lazarus Jesus raised.
Cited in the guide: Luke 10:38; John 11:1; John 11:5
Mary
Sister of Martha and Lazarus of Bethany, who sat at Jesus' feet to listen and who anointed the Lord's feet with perfume and wiped them with her hair.
Cited in the guide: Luke 10:39; John 11:1; John 11:2
Thomas
One of the Twelve, called Didymus, who said 'Let us also go, so that we may die with Him', was absent when Jesus first appeared, and was among those who fished with the disciples…
Cited in the guide: Matthew 10:3; John 11:16; John 20:24
Places
Bethany
Bethany was Jesus' lodging near Jerusalem during Passion week and the home of Lazarus. Luke sets the Ascension close by.
Cited in the guide: John 11:1; John 12:1; Luke 24:50
Cross references (56)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 John 12:17; Luke 10:38–42; John 12:9; 2 Kings 20:1–12; John 11:11
- 2 John 12:3; Matthew 26:6–7; Mark 14:3; Luke 7:37–38
- 3 John 11:5; Revelation 3:19; Hebrews 12:6–7; John 13:23; Psalm 16:3
- 4 John 11:40; John 9:3; 1 Peter 4:14; John 5:23; John 17:5
- 5 John 15:9–13; John 11:36; John 17:26; John 16:27; John 11:8
- 6 Isaiah 30:18; Isaiah 55:8–9; Genesis 42:24; Genesis 22:14; Genesis 43:29–31
- 7 Acts 20:22–24; Acts 15:36; Luke 9:51; John 10:40–42
- 8 John 10:31; John 8:59; Acts 21:12–13; Matthew 16:21–23; John 10:39
- 9 John 9:4; John 12:35; Jeremiah 31:9; Luke 13:31–33; Proverbs 3:23
- 10 Proverbs 4:18–19; 1 John 2:10–11; Jeremiah 13:16; Jeremiah 20:11; Ecclesiastes 2:14
- 11 Daniel 12:2; John 11:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:10; John 11:43–44; Matthew 27:52
- 13 Matthew 9:24
- 14 John 16:25; John 16:29; John 10:24
- 15 2 Timothy 2:10; John 14:10–11; 1 John 5:13; John 11:4; Isaiah 54:15
- 16 John 13:37; Matthew 26:35; Matthew 10:3; Luke 6:15; Mark 3:18
- 17 John 11:39; Hosea 6:2; Acts 2:27–31; John 2:19
- 18 Luke 24:13; Revelation 14:20; John 11:1; Revelation 21:16; John 6:19
- 19 Job 2:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:11; John 11:31; 2 Corinthians 1:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:18
- 20 1 Thessalonians 4:17; Luke 10:38–42; Matthew 25:1; John 11:30; Acts 10:25
- 21 John 11:32; Matthew 9:18; 1 Kings 17:18; Psalm 78:19; John 11:37
- 22 John 9:31; John 11:41–42; Mark 9:23; Matthew 28:18; Hebrews 11:17–19
- 23 John 11:43–44
- 24 Daniel 12:2–3; Acts 24:15; John 5:28–29; Isaiah 26:19; Acts 17:31–32
- 25 1 Thessalonians 4:14; John 3:36; 1 John 5:11–12; John 1:4; Romans 8:10–11
- 26 John 10:28; John 5:24; Romans 8:13; 1 John 5:10–12; John 8:51–53
- 27 Matthew 16:16; John 6:14; John 6:69; Malachi 3:1; 1 John 5:1
- 28 John 13:13; John 11:20; Mark 10:49; John 20:16; 1 Thessalonians 4:17–18
- 29 Psalm 27:8; Proverbs 15:23; Song of Songs 3:1–4; Psalm 119:59–60; Proverbs 27:17
- 30 John 11:20
- 31 John 11:19; 2 Samuel 12:16–18; Genesis 37:35; 1 Corinthians 2:15
- 32 John 11:21; Luke 5:8; Luke 17:16; Luke 8:41; Revelation 5:14
- 33 John 11:38; John 12:27; Mark 3:5; Romans 12:15; Genesis 43:30–31
- 34 Matthew 28:6; John 20:2; Mark 16:6; Mark 15:47; John 1:39
- 35 Luke 19:41; Hebrews 4:15; John 11:33; Isaiah 53:3; Psalm 119:136
- 36 John 11:3; 1 John 3:1; Revelation 1:5; 1 John 4:9–10; Ephesians 5:2
- 37 John 9:6–7; Psalm 78:19–20; John 11:32; Luke 23:35; Matthew 27:40–42
- 38 John 11:33; Matthew 27:60; Luke 24:2; Genesis 23:19; Isaiah 22:16
- 39 John 11:17; Psalm 49:7; Mark 16:3; Philippians 3:21; Genesis 3:19
- 40 John 11:4; John 11:23–26; Romans 4:17–25; Psalm 63:2; John 1:14
- 41 Matthew 11:25; John 17:1; Psalm 123:1; Philippians 4:6; Luke 10:21
- 42 John 3:17; John 17:21; Hebrews 7:25; 1 John 4:14; Hebrews 5:7
- 43 2 Kings 4:33–36; Acts 9:40; Acts 9:34; Luke 7:14–15; 1 Kings 17:21–22
- 44 John 5:25; John 20:7; John 11:25–26; Luke 7:15; John 5:21
- 45 John 11:19; John 2:23; John 12:42; John 12:17–19; John 7:31
- 46 Luke 16:30–31; John 9:13; Acts 5:25; John 5:15–16; John 12:37
- 47 Matthew 26:3; Acts 4:16–17; Matthew 5:22; Acts 4:5–6; John 2:11
- 48 1 Thessalonians 2:15–16; Daniel 9:26–27; Matthew 23:35–38; Zechariah 14:1–2; Matthew 27:25
- 49 Proverbs 26:12; Matthew 26:3; John 18:13–14; John 11:51; Luke 3:2
- 50 John 18:14; Luke 24:46; Romans 3:8; John 19:12; John 11:48
- 51 2 Corinthians 5:21; Daniel 9:26; 1 Samuel 23:9; Matthew 20:28; Exodus 28:30
- 52 John 10:16; Isaiah 49:6; 1 John 2:2; 1 Peter 1:1; Ephesians 1:9–10
- 53 Acts 5:33; Acts 9:23; Psalm 2:2; Matthew 26:59; John 11:47
- 54 John 7:1; John 7:4; 2 Chronicles 13:19; John 7:13; John 18:20
- 55 2 Chronicles 30:17–20; Hebrews 9:13–14; John 2:13; Exodus 19:10; John 6:4
- 56 John 7:11; John 11:7–8
- 57 Psalm 109:4; John 10:39; John 9:22; John 5:16–18; John 8:59
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
Among all the miracles wrought by our Lord Jesus Christ, the resurrection of Lazarus holds a foremost place in preaching. But if we consider attentively who did it, our duty is to rejoice rather than to wonder.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 7 (1888)
Many men, when they see any of those who are pleasing to God suffering anything terrible, as, for instance, having fallen into sickness, or poverty, and any other the like, are offended, not knowing that to those especially dear to God it belongeth to endure these things; since Lazarus also was one of the friends of Christ, and was sick.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 14 (1889)
Then, when He had raised Lazarus from the dead, and plots were formed against Him by the Pharisees, He withdrew to a city called Ephraim; and from that place, as it is written "He came to Bethany six days before the passover," and going up from Bethany to Jerusalem, He there ate the passover, and suffered on the day following.
When, therefore, we read in the Gospel that the hard-heartedness of the Jews moved Him to sorrowful indignation, that He said, "I am glad for your sakes, to the intent ye may believe," that when about to raise Lazarus He even shed tears, that He earnestly desired to eat the passover with His disciples, that as His passion drew near …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
… Lazarus, added also a prayer; and then, lest this should make Him appear less than Him that begat Him, He, to correct this suspicion, added, "I said these things, because of the people which standeth by, that they may believe that thou hast sent me." And neither doth He work all things as one who acted by His own power, …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)