JHN 11:1-16

The Death of Lazarus

1Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus from Bethany, from the village of Mary and her sister Martha.

2(It was Mary who had anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)

3Therefore the sisters sent word to him, saying, "Lord, behold, the one you love is sick."

4But when Jesus heard this, he said, "This sickness is not toward death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it."

5Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.

6When therefore he heard that he was sick, he then stayed in the place where he was two more days.

7Then after this he says to the disciples, "Let us go to Judea again."

8The disciples say to him, "Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and you are going there again?"

9Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.

10But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him."

11These things he said, and after this he says to them, "Lazarus our friend has fallen asleep; but I am going so that I may wake him out of sleep."

12Therefore the disciples said to him, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover."

13But Jesus had spoken about his death; but they thought that he was speaking about the resting of sleep.

14Therefore Jesus then said to them plainly: "Lazarus died.

15And I rejoice for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him."

16Therefore Thomas, called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, so that we may die with him."

In the world it was spoken into

In 1st-century Jewish culture, Bethany was a village near Jerusalem, known for its proximity to the Temple and its role as a place of hospitality for pilgrims. The mention of Mary and Martha situates the story within a household context, where hospitality and care for guests were central values. Mary’s act of anointing Jesus’ feet with fragrant oil would have been recognized as an extravagant gesture of honor and devotion, often reserved for significant figures or moments. The term , used to describe Jesus’ love for Lazarus, conveys a deep, personal affection, distinct from the more formal . When Jesus speaks of Lazarus’ sickness not leading to death but to the glory of God, He aligns the event with Jewish expectations of God’s power to bring life from death, a theme resonant in Second-Temple Judaism. The disciples’ misunderstanding of Jesus’ statement about Lazarus “sleeping” reflects a common Jewish euphemism for death, underscoring their limited grasp of Jesus’ mission. Jesus’ boldness in returning to Judea, despite the threat of stoning, highlights His commitment to fulfilling God’s purpose, even at personal risk.

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How other translations render this

JHN 11:1

KJV: Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.
BSB: At this time a man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.
Koinōnos: Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus from Bethany, from the village of Mary and her sister Martha.

JHN 11:2

KJV: (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)
BSB: (Mary, whose brother Lazarus was sick, was to anoint the Lord with perfume and wipe His feet with her hair.)
Koinōnos: (It was Mary who had anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)

JHN 11:3

KJV: Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.
BSB: So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one You love is sick.”
Koinōnos: Therefore the sisters sent word to him, saying, "Lord, behold, the one you love is sick.

JHN 11:4

KJV: When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
BSB: When Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
Koinōnos: But when Jesus heard this, he said, "This sickness is not toward death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.

JHN 11:6

KJV: When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.
BSB: So on hearing that Lazarus was sick, He stayed where He was for two days,
Koinōnos: When therefore he heard that he was sick, he then stayed in the place where he was two more days.

JHN 11:7

KJV: Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again.
BSB: and then He said to the disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”
Koinōnos: Then after this he says to the disciples, "Let us go to Judea again.

JHN 11:8

KJV: His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?
BSB: “Rabbi,” they replied, “the Jews just tried to stone You, and You are going back there?”
Koinōnos: The disciples say to him, "Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and you are going there again?

JHN 11:9

KJV: Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.
BSB: Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? If anyone walks in the daytime, he will not stumble, because he sees by the light of this world.
Koinōnos: Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.

JHN 11:10

KJV: But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.
BSB: But if anyone walks at night, he will stumble, because he has no light.”
Koinōnos: But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.

JHN 11:11

KJV: These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
BSB: After He had said this, He told them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to wake him up.”
Koinōnos: These things he said, and after this he says to them, "Lazarus our friend has fallen asleep; but I am going so that I may wake him out of sleep.

JHN 11:12

KJV: Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.
BSB: His disciples replied, “Lord, if he is sleeping, he will get better.”
Koinōnos: Therefore the disciples said to him, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.

JHN 11:13

KJV: Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.
BSB: They thought that Jesus was talking about actual sleep, but He was speaking about the death of Lazarus.
Koinōnos: But Jesus had spoken about his death; but they thought that he was speaking about the resting of sleep.

JHN 11:14

KJV: Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
BSB: So Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead,
Koinōnos: Therefore Jesus then said to them plainly: "Lazarus died.

JHN 11:15

KJV: And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.
BSB: and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
Koinōnos: And I rejoice for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.

JHN 11:16

KJV: Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.
BSB: Then Thomas called Didymus said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, so that we may die with Him.”
Koinōnos: Therefore Thomas, called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, so that we may die with him.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

JHN 11:2

having anointed:The word translated 'having anointed' here refers to the act of rubbing or smearing with oil or ointment, often for medicinal purposes, burial preparation, or as a sign of honor.

JHN 11:3

You love:The word translated 'You love' here describes a warm affection, fondness, or friendship, rather than a deep, sacrificial love.

JHN 11:11

has fallen asleep;:The term used here for 'has fallen asleep' was a common euphemism in the ancient world for death, implying a peaceful rest and often carrying a hope of future awakening.

JHN 11:14

plainly;:The word translated 'plainly' carries the sense of speaking with boldness, frankness, and freedom, without hesitation or concealment.