New International Version
John 11:39
39“Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”
John 11:39 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, "Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days."
- New King James Version (NKJV)Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.”
- New Living Translation (NLT)“Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them. But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.”
Context of John 11:39
37But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?” 38Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” 40Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” 41So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.
Read all of John 11John 11:39 word by word
λέγει ὁ Ἰησοῦς· ἄρατε τὸν λίθον. λέγει αὐτῷ ἡ ἀδελφὴ τοῦ τετελευτηκότος Μάρθα· κύριε, ἤδη ὄζει· τεταρταῖος γάρ ἐστιν.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Jesusὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
- saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- Take ye awayαἴρωairō · to take upG142
- the stoneλίθοςlithos · stoneG3037
- MarthaΜάρθαMartha · MarthaG3136
- the sisterἀδελφήadelphē · sisterG79
- of him that was deadθνῄσκωthnēskō · to die/be deadG2348
- unto himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
- by this timeἤδηēdē · alreadyG2235
- he stinkethὄζωozō · to stinkG3605
- forγάρgar · forG1063
- he hath beenεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- four daysτεταρταῖοςtetartaios · fourthG5066
Cross-references for John 11:39
- Mark 16:3and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”
- John 11:17On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.
- Genesis 3:19By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”
- Genesis 23:4“I am a foreigner and stranger among you. Sell me some property for a burial site here so I can bury my dead.”
- Psalms 49:7No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them—
- Acts 2:27because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your holy one see decay.
- Acts 13:36“Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed.
- Philippians 3:21who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
Commentaries on John 11:39
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 39Take ye away the stone - He desired to convince all those who were at the place, and especially those who took away the stone, that Lazarus was not only dead, but that putrescency had already taken place, that it might not be afterwards said that Lazarus had only fallen into a lethargy; but that the greatness of the miracle might be fully evinced. He stinketh - The body is in a state of putrefaction. The Greek word signifies simply to smell, whether the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 39Four days - This proves that there could be no deception, for it could not have been a case of suspended animation. All these circumstances are mentioned to show that there was no imposture. Impostors do not mention minute circumstances like these. They deal in generals only. Every part of this narrative bears the marks of truth.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 33-46Verses 33-46 Christ's tender sympathy with these afflicted friends, appeared by the troubles of his spirit. In all the afflictions of believers he is afflicted. His concern for them was shown by his kind inquiry after the remains of his deceased friend. Being found in fashion as a man, he acts in the way and manner of the sons of men. It was shown by his tears. He was a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief. Tears of compassion resemble those of…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 39Lazarus was buried in a tomb cut from the rocky hillside; such tombs were common. The tomb was closed and opened for further burials with a rolling stone that covered the entrance. A central door led to a cave room where burial benches were carved in stone along the inner wall. Horizontal burial chambers were cut along the top edge of the benches.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 39-4439-44. Jesus said, Take ye away the stone--spoken to the attendants of Martha and Mary; for it was a work of no little labor [Grotius]. According to the Talmudists, it was forbidden to open a grave after the stone was placed upon it. Besides other dangers, they were apprehensive of legal impurity by contact with the dead. Hence they avoided coming nearer a grave than four cubits [Maimonides in Lampe]. But He who touched the leper, and the bier of the…Read the comment
Topics related to John 11:39
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on John 11
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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