John 11:1
Now [δ ε]. Marking the interruption to Jesus ' retirement (x. 40). Lazarus. See on Luke 16:20.... [ Continue Reading ]
Now [δ ε]. Marking the interruption to Jesus ' retirement (x. 40). Lazarus. See on Luke 16:20.... [ Continue Reading ]
Anointed [α λ ε ι ψ α σ α]. Three words for anointing are found in the New Testament : ajleifw, criw, and its compounds, and murizw. The last is used but once, Mark 14:8, of anointing the Lord's body for burying. Between the two others the distinction is strictly maintained. Criw, which occurs five... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou lovest [φ ι λ ε ι ς]. See on 5 20. "They do not say, come. He who loves needs but know" (Bengel).... [ Continue Reading ]
Unto death. Not to have death as its final issue. For the glory [υ π ε ρ]. Here, as elsewhere in John, in behalf of. Canon Westcott remarks : "The sickness is regarded in a triple relation; unto, in respect of the actual result; in behalf of, in respect of the suffering born; in order that, in resp... [ Continue Reading ]
Loved [η γ α π α]. Notice the verb here : not fileiv, as ver. 3. See on 5 20. Lazarus is not mentioned in Luke 10:38 sqq.... [ Continue Reading ]
Of late sought [ν υ ν ε ζ η τ ο υ ν]. Rev., much better, giving the true force of nun, now, and of the imperfect : were but now seeking. Goest [υ π α γ ε ι ς]. Dost thou withdraw from this safe retreat? See on John 6:21; John 8:21.... [ Continue Reading ]
Walk [π ε ρ ι π α τ η]. Walk about, in the pursuit of his ordinary business. Wyc., wander.... [ Continue Reading ]
Sleepeth [κ ε κ ο ι μ η τ α ι]. More correctly, as Rev., hath fallen asleep. See on Acts 7:60; 2 Peter 3:4. Awake him out of sleep [ε ξ υ π ν ι σ ω α υ τ ο ν]. Only here in the New Testament.... [ Continue Reading ]
Shall do well [σ ω θ η σ ε τ α ι]. Literally, shall be saved. Rev., he will recover. Wyc., shall be safe. Tyndale's Version of the New Testament, shall he do well enough.... [ Continue Reading ]
Taking rest [κ ο ι μ η σ ε ω ς]. Akin to the verb in ver. 11 Wyc., the sleeping of sleep. Tyndale's Version of the New Testament, the natural sleep.... [ Continue Reading ]
For your sakes - to the intent ye may believe. These two clauses, which are separated in the A. V. and Rev., are, in the Greek order, placed together : for your sakes, to the intent ye may believe; the latter clause being explanatory of the former. That I was not there. Bengel's comment is beautifu... [ Continue Reading ]
Didymus [δ ι δ υ μ ο ς]. Not a surname of Thomas, but the Greek equivalent of the Aramaic name, twin. See on Mark 3:18. The word occurs only in John's Gospel. Fellow - disciples [σ υ μ μ α θ η τ α ι ς]. Only here in the New Testament. We may die. "He will die for the love which he has, but he will... [ Continue Reading ]
Had lain in the grave four days already [τ ε σ σ α ρ α ς η μ ε ρ α ς η δ η ε χ ο ν τ α ε ν τ ω μ ν η μ ε ι ω]. Literally, found him having already four days in the tomb.... [ Continue Reading ]
Fifteen furlongs. About two miles.... [ Continue Reading ]
Many of the Jews came. Rev., rightly, had come. The tense is the pluperfect. Lazarus ' friendship with Jesus had not caused him to be regarded as an apostate, at whose burial every indignity would have been shown. People were even to array themselves in white, festive garments in demonstration of jo... [ Continue Reading ]
That Jesus was coming [ο τ ι ο ι η σ ο υ ς ε ρ χ ε τ α ι]. Literally, is coming. The exact words of the message : Jesus is coming. Went and met [υ π η ν τ η σ ε ν]. The verb means to go to meet.... [ Continue Reading ]
Wilt ask of God [α ι τ η σ η τ ο ν θ ε ο ν]. The verb aijtew is used of the asking of an inferior from a superior. Erwtaw is to ask on equal terms, and hence is always used by Christ of His own asking from the Father, in the consciousness of His equal dignity. Hence Martha, as Trench observes, "plai... [ Continue Reading ]
In the resurrection. Wyc., the again rising.... [ Continue Reading ]
I am the resurrection and the life. The words I am are very significant. Martha had stated the resurrection rather as a doctrine, a current tenet : Jesus states it as a fact, identified with His own person. He does not say, I raise the dead; I perform the resurrection, but I am the resurrection, In... [ Continue Reading ]
I believe [π ε π ι σ τ ε υ κ α]. Literally, I have believed. The perfect tense. So Rev. Martha goes back to her previous belief, which consists in the recognition of Christ as her Lord. Whatever faith she has in this new revelation of Christ rests upon the truth that He is the Anointed, the Son of G... [ Continue Reading ]
The Master [ο δ ι δ α σ κ α λ ο ς]. Literally, the teacher. Westcott remarks that this title opens a glimpse into the private intercourse of the Lord and the disciples : so they spoke of Him. Is come [π α ρ ε σ τ ι ν]. Literally, is present. Rev., is here.... [ Continue Reading ]
Arose and came [η γ ε ρ θ η κ α ι η ρ χ ε τ ο]. The aorist, arose, marks the single, instantaneous act of rising. The imperfect, was coming, the progress towards Jesus.... [ Continue Reading ]
Saying [λ ε γ ο ν τ ε ς]. The best texts read doxantev, supposing. So Rev. She goeth [υ π α γ ε ι]. Withdraweth from our company. See on John 6:21; John 8:21. To weep [ι ν α κ λ α υ σ η]. Rev., in margin, wail. The word means loud weeping. See Matthew 2:18; Mark 5:38; and on Luke 6:21; Luke 7:32.... [ Continue Reading ]
He groaned in the spirit [ε ν ε β ρ ι μ η σ α τ ο τ ω π ν ε υ μ α τ ι]. See on Mark 1:43. The word for groaned occurs three times elsewhere : Matthew 9:30; Mark 1:43; Mark 14:5. In every case it expresses a charge, or remonstrance, accompanied with a feeling of displeasure. On this passage there are... [ Continue Reading ]
Wept [ε δ α κ ρ υ σ ε ν]. A different verb from that in ver. 31. From dakru, tear, and meaning to shed tears, to weep silently. Only here in the New Testament. Klaiw, to weep audibly, is once used of our Lord in Luke 19:41. "The very Gospel in which the deity of Jesus is most clearly asserted, is al... [ Continue Reading ]
Loved [ε φ ι λ ε ι]. Not the word in ver. 5. See on 5 20, and compare John 20:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
Of the blind [τ ο υ τ υ φ λ ο υ]. Referring to the restoration of the blind man in ch. 9. The A. V. is too indefinite. Rev., rightly, of him that was blind. Have caused, etc. This saying of the Jews may have been uttered ironically, in which case it throws light on the meaning of groaned in the spi... [ Continue Reading ]
Lay upon [ε π ε κ ε ι τ ο]. This would be the meaning if the tomb were a vertical pit; but if hollowed horizontally into the rock, it may mean lay against. The traditional tomb of Lazarus is of the former kind, being descended into by a ladder. Take ye away. The stone was placed over the entrance m... [ Continue Reading ]
From the place where the dead was laid. Omit.... [ Continue Reading ]
The people [τ ο ν ο χ λ ο ν]. In view of the distinction which John habitually makes between the Jews and the multitude, the use of the latter term here is noticeable, since Jews occurs at vv. 19, 31, 36. It would seem to indicate that a miscellaneous crowd had gathered. Rev., the multitude. See on... [ Continue Reading ]
Come forth [δ ε υ ρ ο ε ξ ω]. Literally, hither forth.... [ Continue Reading ]
Grave - clothes [κ ε ι ρ ι α ι ς]. Literally, swathing - bands. Only here in the New Testament. In John 19:40; John 20:5; John 20:7, ojqonia, linen bands, is used. A napkin [σ ο υ δ α ρ ι. ω]. See on Luke 19:20. It is interesting to compare this Gospel picture of sisterly affection under the shadow... [ Continue Reading ]
The things which Jesus did. The best texts omit Jesus. Some read o, that which He did; others a, the things which.... [ Continue Reading ]
Some of them. Not of the Jews who had come to Mary, but some of the Jews, some perhaps who had joined the crowd from curiosity.... [ Continue Reading ]
The chief priests. Of the Sadducean party. This should be constantly kept in mind in reading both John's narrative and that of the Synoptists. The Sadducees, represented by the chief priests, are the leaders in the more decisive measures against Christ. Throughout this Gospel the form of expression... [ Continue Reading ]
Place and nation [τ ο ν τ ο π ο ν κ α ι τ ο ε θ ν ο ς]. Place, the temple and city (Acts 6:13; Acts 21:28; Matthew 24:15). Nation, the civil organization. See on 1 Peter 2:9; Luke 2:32 In the Sanhedrim were many devoted adherents of Rome, and the rest were well aware of the weakness of the national... [ Continue Reading ]
Caiaphas. A Sadducee, who held the office for eighteen years. That year. This has been cited to show that John is guilty of a historical error, since, according to the Mosaic law, the high priesthood was held for life. The occurrence of the phrase three times (vv. 49, 51) is significant, and, so fa... [ Continue Reading ]
People - nation [τ ο υ λ α ο υ - τ ο ε θ ν ο ς]. The former the theocratic nation, the people of God : the latter, the body politic. See on 1 Peter 2:9.... [ Continue Reading ]
Nation [ε θ ν ο υ ς]. John does not used the word laov, people, which Caiaphas had just employed. The Jews were no longer a people, only one of the nations of the world. He wishes to set the Gentiles over against the Jews, and this distinction was national. Moreover, John points out in this word the... [ Continue Reading ]
Wilderness. The wild hill - country, northeast of Jerusalem. Ephraim. The site is uncertain. Commonly taken as Ophrah (1 Samuel 13:17), or Ephraim (2 Chronicles 13:19), and identified with el - Taiyibeh, sixteen miles from Jerusalem, and situated on a hill which commands the Jordan valley. 55 - 57... [ Continue Reading ]