John 11:17

John 11:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.
• New International Version (NIV)On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days.
• New King James Version (NKJV)So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days.

Context of John 11:17

15And for your sakes, I’m glad I wasn’t there, for now you will really believe. Come, let’s go see him.” 16Thomas, nicknamed the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let’s go, too—and die with Jesus.” When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he was told that Lazarus had already been in his grave for four days. 18Bethany was only a few miles down the road from Jerusalem, 19and many of the people had come to console Martha and Mary in their loss.

John 11:17 word by word

ἐλθὼν οὖν ὁ Ἰησοῦς εὗρεν αὐτὸν τέσσαρας ἤδη ἡμέρας ἔχοντα ἐν τῷ μνημείῳ.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Then whenοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• Jesusὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
• cameἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
• heαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• found thatεὑρίσκωheuriskō · to find/meetG2147
• he hadἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• the graveμνημεῖονmnēmeion · graveG3419
• fourτέσσαρεςtessares tessara · fourG5064
• daysἡμέραhēmera · dayG2250
• alreadyἤδηēdē · alreadyG2235

Cross-references for John 11:17

• John 11:39“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.”
• John 2:19“All right,” Jesus replied. “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
• Hosea 6:2In just a short time he will restore us, so that we may live in his presence.
• Acts 2:27For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave.

Commentaries on John 11:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17He had lain in the grave four days already - Our Lord probably left Bethabara the day, or the day after, Lazarus died. He came to Bethany three days after; and it appears that Lazarus had been buried about four days, and consequently that he had been put in the grave the day or day after he died. Though it was the Jewish custom to embalm their dead, yet we find, from John 11:39, that he had not been embalmed; and God wisely ordered this, that the miracle…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17In the grave - It was sometimes the custom to embalm the dead, but in this case it does not seem to have been done. He was probably buried soon after death.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-32Verses 17-32 Here was a house where the fear of God was, and on which his blessing rested; yet it was made a house of mourning. Grace will keep sorrow from the heart, but not from the house. When God, by his grace and providence, is coming towards us in ways of mercy and comfort, we should, like Martha, go forth by faith, hope, and prayer, to meet him. When Martha went to meet Jesus, Mary sat still in the house; this temper formerly had been an advantage…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17In Jewish custom at that time, people were usually buried on the same day they died. Families placed the body in a tomb quickly, often within hours. John tells us that Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days. This detail is important. It shows that Lazarus was truly dead. Because four days had passed, this miracle was not a simple resuscitation (bringing someone back who only seemed dead). Jesus did not restore a weak person who might recover. He…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 17-1917-19. when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days--If he died on the day the tidings came of his illness--and was, according to the Jewish custom, buried the same day (see Jahn's Archæology, and Joh 11:39; Ac 5:5, 6, 10)--and if Jesus, after two days' further stay in Perea, set out on the day following for Bethany, some ten hours' journey, that would make out the four days; the first and last being incomplete [Meyer].Read the comment

Topics related to John 11:17

• Friendship
• Jesus, the Christ
• Miracles

In the dictionaries

• Jesus
• Jesus, Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus
• Awake
• Lazarus
• Martha
• Mourn
• Bethany
• Dead
• Jesus Christ
• John, Gospel of

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