WAS SICK (ην ασθενων). Periphrastic imperfect active of ασθενεω, old verb (from ασθενης, α privative, and σθενος, strength).LAZARUS (Λαζαρος). See on Luke 16:20 for the name of another man in the parable, a shortened form of Eleazer, only other N.T. use, but in Josephus and rabbinical writings.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT WAS THAT MARY WHICH ANOINTED THE LORD WITH OINTMENT, AND WIPED HIS FEET WITH HER HAIR (ην δε Μαριαμ η αλειψασα τον κυριον μυρω κα εκμαξασα τους ποδας αυτου ταις θριξιν αυτης). This description is added to make plainer who Mary is "whose brother Lazarus was sick" (ης ο αδελφος Λαζαρος ησθενε... [ Continue Reading ]
SENT SAYING (απεστειλαν λεγουσα). First aorist active indicative of αποστελλω and present active participle. The message was delivered by the messenger.THOU LOVEST (φιλεις). Φιλεω means to love as a friend (see φιλος in verse John 11:11) and so warmly, while αγαπαω (akin to αγαμα, to admire, an... [ Continue Reading ]
HEARD IT (ακουσας). The messenger delivered the message of the sisters. The reply of Jesus is for him and for the apostles.IS NOT UNTO DEATH (ουκ εστιν προς θανατον). Death in the final issue, to remain dead. Lazarus did die, but he did not remain dead. See αμαρτια προς θανατον in 1 John 5:16,... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW JESUS LOVED (ηγαπα δε). Imperfect active of αγαπαω picturing the continued love of Jesus for this noble family where he had his home so often (Luke 10:38-42; John 12:1-8). The sisters expected him to come at once and to heal Lazarus.... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT HE WAS SICK (οτ ασθενε). Present active indicative retained in indirect discourse after a secondary tense (ηκουσεν).TWO DAYS (δυο ημερας). Accusative of extent of time.IN THE PLACE WHERE HE WAS (εν ω ην τοπω). Incorporation of the antecedent τοπω into the relative clause, "in which place... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN AFTER THIS (επειτα μετα τουτο). Επειτα (only here in John) means thereafter (Luke 16:7) and it is made plainer by the addition of μετα τουτο (cf. John 2:12; John 11:11), meaning after the two days had elapsed.LET US GO INTO JUDEA AGAIN (Αγωμεν εις την Ιουδαιαν παλιν). Volitive (hortative) s... [ Continue Reading ]
WERE BUT NOW SEEKING TO STONE THEE (νυν εζητουν σε λιθασα). Conative imperfect of ζητεω with reference to the event narrated in John 10:39 in these very words.GOEST THOU THITHER AGAIN? (παλιν υπαγεις εκει;). Present active intransitive use of the compound υπαγω, to withdraw (6:21; 8:21) from th... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE DAY (της ημερας). Genitive of time, within the day, the twelve-hour day in contrast with night. The words of Jesus here illustrate what he had said in John 9:4. It is not blind fatalism that Jesus proclaims, but the opposite of cowardice. He has full confidence in the Father s purpose abou... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IF A MAN WALK IN THE NIGHT (εαν δε τις περιπατη εν τη νυκτ). Third condition again. It is spiritual darkness that Jesus here pictures, but the result is the same. See the same figure in John 12:35 (1 John 2:11). The ancients had poor illumination at night as indeed we did before Edison gave u... [ Continue Reading ]
IS FALLEN ASLEEP (κεκοιμητα). Perfect passive indicative of κοιμαω, old verb to put to sleep. Common as a metaphor for death like our cemetery.I GO (πορευομα). Futuristic use of the present tense as in John 14:2.THAT I MAY AWAKE HIM OUT OF SLEEP (ινα εξυπνισω αυτον). Purpose clause with ινα a... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WILL RECOVER (σωθησετα). Future passive indicative of σωζω used in its original sense of being or getting well (safe and sound). Conclusion of the condition of the first class (ε κεκοιμητα).... [ Continue Reading ]
HAD SPOKEN (ειρηκε). Past perfect of ειπον (ερω). The disciples had misunderstood Christ's metaphor for death.THAT HE SPAKE (οτ λεγε). Present active indicative retained in indirect discourse after the secondary tense (εδοξαν).OF TAKING REST IN SLEEP (περ της κοιμησεως του υπου). Only use of... [ Continue Reading ]
PLAINLY (παρρησια). Adverb (see on John 7:4), without metaphor as in John 16:29.IS DEAD (απεθανεν). First aorist active indicative, "died.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR YOUR SAKES (δι' υμας). That they may witness his raising from the grave.THAT I WAS NOT THERE (οτ ουκ ημην εκε). Imperfect middle ημην of the later Greek instead of the common active ην in indirect discourse in place of the usual present retained as in verse John 11:13.TO THE INTENT YE MAY B... [ Continue Reading ]
DIDYMUS (Διδυμος). The word means twin. Clearly Thomas had a twin brother or sister. Applied two other times to him (John 20:24; John 21:2). The Aramaic word for Thomas means Twin and Didymus is just the Greek equivalent of Thomas. He may even in Greek circles have been called Didymus.HIS FELLOW... [ Continue Reading ]
FOUND (ευρεν). Second aorist active indicative of ευρισκω.THAT HE HAD BEEN IN THE TOMB FOUR DAYS ALREADY (αυτον τεσσαρας ηδη ημερας εχοντα). Literally, "him (accusative object of ευρεν) having already four days in the tomb." See John 5:5 for the same idiom (ετη εχων) for expression of time (hav... [ Continue Reading ]
ABOUT FIFTEEN FURLONGS OFF (ως απο σταδιων δεκαπεντε). The idiom of απο with the ablative for distance is like the Latin _a millibus passum duobus_ (Caesar, _Bell. Gall_. ii. 7), but it (προ also, John 12:1) occurs already in the Doric and in the _Koine_ often (Moulton, _Proleg_., p. 101; Roberts... [ Continue Reading ]
HAD COME (εληλυθεισαν). Past perfect of ερχομα. These Jews were probably not hostile to Jesus. There were seven days of solemn mourning (1 Samuel 31:13). The presence of so many indicates the prominence of the family.TO MARTHA AND MARY (προς την Μαρθαν κα Μαριαμ). Correct text, not the Textus R... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT JESUS WAS COMING (οτ Ιησους ερχετα). Present middle indicative retained in indirect discourse after the secondary tense ηκουσεν (first aorist active).WENT AND MET HIM (υπηντησεν αυτω). First aorist (ingressive) active indicative of υπανταω, old compound verb, to go to meet (Matthew 8:28) w... [ Continue Reading ]
LORD, IF THOU HADST BEEN HERE, MY BROTHER HAD NOT DIED (Κυριε, ε ης ωδε ουκ αν απεθανεν ο αδελφος μου). Condition of the second class with ε and the imperfect ης (no aorist of ειμ, to be) in the condition and αν with the second aorist active indicative of αποθνησκω. Mary (verse John 11:32) uses t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND EVEN NOW I KNOW (κα νυν οιδα). Rather just, "Even now I know." Αλλα (but) of the Textus Receptus is not genuine.WHATSOEVER THOU SHALT ASK OF GOD (οσα αν αιτηση τον θεον). Indefinite relative (οσα, as many things as) with αν and the first aorist middle (indirect middle, thou thyself asking)... [ Continue Reading ]
THY BROTHER WILL RISE AGAIN (αναστησετα ο αδελφος σου). Future middle (intransitive) of ανιστημ. The words promise Martha what she has asked for, if Jesus means that.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE RESURRECTION AT THE LAST DAY (εν τη αναστασε εν τη εσχατη ημερα). Did Jesus mean only that? She believed it, of course, and such comfort is often offered in case of death, but that idea did not console Martha and is not what she hinted at in verse John 11:22.... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE (Εγω ειμ η αναστασις κα η ζωη). This reply is startling enough. They are not mere doctrines about future events, but present realities in Jesus himself. "The Resurrection is one manifestation of the Life: it is involved in the Life" (Westcott). Note the article... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL NEVER DIE (ου μη αποθανη εις τον αιωνα). Strong double negative ου μη with second aorist active subjunctive of αποθνησκω again (but spiritual death, this time), "shall not die for ever" (eternal death).BELIEVEST THOU THIS? (πιστευεις τουτο;) Sudden test of Martha's insight and faith with... [ Continue Reading ]
YEA, LORD (Ναι, κυριε). Martha probably did not understand all that Jesus said and meant, but she did believe in the future resurrection, in eternal life for believers in Christ, in the power of Christ to raise even the dead here and now. She had heroic faith and makes now her own confession of f... [ Continue Reading ]
CALLED MARY (εφωνησεν Μαριαμ). First aorist active indicative of φωνεω. Out of the house and away from the crowd.SECRETLY (λαθρα). Old adverb from λαθρος (λανθανω). To tell her the glad news.THE MASTER (ο διδασκαλος). "The Teacher." So they loved to call him as he was (John 13:13).IS HERE ... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SHE (κα εκεινη). Emphatic use of the demonstrative εκεινος as often in John, "And that one."AROSE QUICKLY (ηγερθη). First aorist (ingressive) passive of εγειρω and intransitive. Naturally so on the sudden impulse of joy.AND WENT UNTO HIM (κα ηρχετο προς αυτον). Imperfect middle, possibly... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW JESUS WAS NOT YET COME INTO THE TOWN (ουπω δε εληλυθε ο Ιησους εις την κωμην). Explanatory parenthesis with past perfect as in verse John 11:19. Martha had her interview while he was still coming (verse John 11:20) and left him (went off, απηλθεν, verse John 11:28) to hurry to Mary with the n... [ Continue Reading ]
FOLLOWED HER (ηκολουθησαν αυτη). First aorist active indicative of ακολουθεω with associative instrumental case (αυτη). This crowd of consolers (παραμυθουμενο) meant kindly enough, but did the one wrong thing for Mary wished to see Jesus alone. People with kind notions often so act. The secrecy o... [ Continue Reading ]
FELL DOWN AT HIS FEET (επεσεν αυτου προς τους ποδας). Second aorist active of πιπτω, to fall. Note unusual position of αυτου. This impulsive act like Mary. She said precisely what Martha had said to Jesus (verse John 11:21). But she said no more, only wept (verse John 11:33).... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN JESUS THEREFORE SAW HER WEEPING (Ιησους ουν ως ειδεν αυτην κλαιουσαν). Proleptic position of "Jesus," "Jesus therefore when he saw." She was weeping at the feet of Jesus, not at the tomb.AND THE JEWS ALSO WEEPING (κα τους Ιουδαιους κλαιοντας). Mary's weeping was genuine, that of the Jews w... [ Continue Reading ]
WHERE HAVE YE LAID HIM? (Που τεθεικατε αυτον;). Perfect active indicative of τιθημ. A simple question for information. The only other like it in John is in John 6:6 where it is expressly stated that Jesus knew what he was going to do. So it was here, only he politely asked for direction to the to... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS WEPT (εδακρυσεν ο Ιησους). Ingressive first aorist active indicative of δακρυω, old verb from δακρυ or δακρυον, a tear (Acts 20:19), only here in N.T. It never means to wail, as κλαιω sometimes does. "Jesus burst into tears." Κλαιω is used of Jesus in Luke 19:41. See Hebrews 5:7 "with strong... [ Continue Reading ]
LOVED (εφιλε). As in verse John 11:3 which see. Imperfect active. Even the Jews saw that Jesus loved Lazarus.... [ Continue Reading ]
COULD NOT THIS MAN (ουκ εδυνατο ουτος). Imperfect middle of δυναμα. They do not say δυνατα (can, present middle indicative). But clearly the opening of the blind man's eyes (chapter 9) had made a lasting impression on some of these Jews, for it was done three months ago.HAVE CAUSED THAT THIS MAN... [ Continue Reading ]
AGAIN GROANING IN HIMSELF (παλιν εμβριμωμενος εν εαυτω). Direct reference to the use of this same word (present middle participle here) in verse John 11:33, only with εν εαυτω (in himself) rather than τω πνευματ (in his spirit), practically the same idea. The speculation concerning his power stir... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE YE AWAY THE STONE (αρατε τον λιθον). First aorist active imperative of αιρω. They could do this much without the exercise of Christ's divine power. It was a startling command to them.BY THIS TIME HE STINKETH (ηδη οζε). Present active indicative of old verb, here only in N.T. (cf. Exodus 8:... [ Continue Reading ]
SAID I NOT UNTO THEE? (Ουκ ειπον σοι;). Jesus pointedly reminds Martha of his promise to raise Lazarus (verses John 11:25).THAT IF THOU BELIEVEDST (οτ εαν πιστευσηις). Indirect discourse with εαν and the first aorist active subjunctive (condition of third class) retained after the secondary ten... [ Continue Reading ]
SO THEY TOOK AWAY THE STONE (ηραν ουν τον λιθον). First aorist active indicative of αιρω, but without the explanatory gloss of the Textus Receptus "from the place where the dead was laid" (not genuine).I THANK THEE THAT THOU HEARDEST ME (ευχαριστω σο οτ ηκουσας μου). See John 6:11 for ευχαριστε... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I KNEW (εγω δε ηιδειν). Past perfect of οιδα used as imperfect. This confident knowledge is no new experience with Jesus. It has "always" (παντοτε) been so.WHICH STANDETH AROUND (τον περιεστωτα). Second perfect active (intransitive) articular participle of περιιστημ. It was a picturesque an... [ Continue Reading ]
HE CRIED WITH A LOUD VOICE (φωνη μεγαλη εκραυγασεν). First aorist active indicative of κραυγαζω, old and rare word from κραυγη (Matthew 25:6). See Matthew 12:19. Occurs again in John 18:40; John 19:6; John 19:12. Only once in the LXX (Ezra 3:13) and with φωνη μεγαλη (either locative or instrumenta... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT WAS DEAD CAME FORTH (εξηλθεν ο τεθνηκως). Literally, "Came out the dead man," (effective aorist active indicative and perfect active articular participle of θνησκω). Just as he was and at once.BOUND HAND AND FOOT (δεδεμενος τους ποδας κα τας χειρας). Perfect passive participle of δεω wi... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHELD THAT WHICH HE DID (θεασαμενο ο εποιησεν). First aorist middle participle of θεαομα and first aorist active indicative of ποιεω in the relative (ο) clause. They were eye-witnesses of all the details and did not depend on hearsay.BELIEVED ON HIM (επιστευσαν εις αυτον). Such a result had ha... [ Continue Reading ]
WENT AWAY TO THE PHARISEES (απηλθον προς τους Φαρισαιους). Second aorist active indicative of απερχομα. This "some" (τινες) did who were deeply impressed and yet who did not have the courage to break away from the rabbis without consulting them. It was a crisis for the Sanhedrin.... [ Continue Reading ]
GATHERED A COUNCIL (συνηγαγον συνεδριον). Second aorist active indicative of συναγω and συνεδριον, the regular word for the Sanhedrin (Matthew 5:22, etc.), only here in John. Here a sitting or session of the Sanhedrin. Both chief priests (Sadducees) and Pharisees (mentioned no more in John after... [ Continue Reading ]
IF WE LET HIM THUS ALONE (εαν αφωμεν αυτον ουτως). Condition of third class with εαν and second aorist active subjunctive of απιημ. "Suppose we leave him thus alone." Suppose also that he keeps on raising the dead right here next door to Jerusalem!ALL WILL BELIEVE ON HIM (παντες πιστευσουσιν ει... [ Continue Reading ]
CAIAPHAS (Καιαφας). Son-in-law of Annas and successor and high priest for 18 years (A.D. 18 to 36).THAT YEAR (του ενιαυτου εκεινου). Genitive of time; his high-priesthood included that year (A.D. 29 or 30). So he took the lead at this meeting.YE KNOW NOTHING AT ALL (υμεις ουκ οιδατε ουδεν). I... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT IT IS EXPEDIENT FOR YOU (οτ συμφερε υμιν). Indirect discourse with present active indicative of συμφερω used with the ινα clause as subject. It means to bear together, to be profitable, with the dative case as here (υμιν, for you). It is to your interest and that is what they cared most for.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT OF HIMSELF (αφ' εαυτου ουκ). Not wholly of himself, John means. There was more in what Caiaphas said than he understood. His language is repeated in John 18:14.PROPHESIED (επροφητευσεν). Aorist active indicative of προφητευω. But certainly unconscious prophecy on his part and purely acciden... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THAT HE MIGHT ALSO GATHER TOGETHER INTO ONE (αλλ' ινα συναγαγη εις εν). Purpose clause with ινα and the second aorist active subjunctive of συναγω. Caiaphas was thinking only of the Jewish people (λαου, εθνος, verse John 11:50). The explanation and interpretation of John here follow the lead... [ Continue Reading ]
SO FROM THAT DAY (απ' εκεινης ουν της ημερας). The raising of Lazarus brought matters to a head so to speak. It was now apparently not more than a month before the end.THEY TOOK COUNSEL (εβουλευσαντο). First aorist middle indicative of βουλευω, old verb to take counsel, in the middle voice for... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE WALKED NO MORE OPENLY (ουν ουκετ παρρησια περιεπατε). Imperfect active of περιπατεω, to walk around. Jesus saw clearly that to do so would bring on the end now instead of his "hour" which was to be at the passover a month ahead.INTO THE COUNTRY NEAR TO THE WILDERNESS (εις την χωραν εγ... [ Continue Reading ]
WAS NEAR (ην εγγυς). See John 2:13 for the same phrase. This last passover was the time of destiny for Jesus.BEFORE THE PASSOVER TO PURIFY THEMSELVES (προ του πασχα ινα αγνισωσιν εαυτους). Purpose clause with ινα and the first aorist active subjunctive of αγνιζω, old verb from αγνος (pure), cere... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SOUGHT THEREFORE FOR JESUS (εζητουν ουν τον Ιησουν). Imperfect active of ζητεω and common ουν of which John is so fond. They were seeking Jesus six months before at the feast of tabernacles (John 7:11), but now they really mean to kill him.AS THEY STOOD IN THE TEMPLE (εν τω ιερω εστηκοτες)... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND THE PHARISEES (ο αρχιερεις κα ο Φαρισαιο). The Sanhedrin.HAD GIVEN COMMANDMENT (δεδωκεισαν εντολας). Past perfect active of διδωμ.THAT HE SHOULD SHEW IT (ινα μηνυση). Sub-final ινα with first aorist active subjunctive of μηνυω, old verb to disclose, to report formally (A... [ Continue Reading ]