John 11:11

John 11:11 in other versions

• King James Version (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.
• New International Version (NIV)After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)After saying these things, he said to them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him."
• New King James Version (NKJV)These things He said, and after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.”

Context of John 11:11

9Yeshua answered, “Aren’t there twelve hours in the day? If a man walks in the day, he doesn’t stumble, because he sees the light of the world. 10But if a man should walk around at night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” After He said this, He tells them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I’m going there to wake him up.” 12So the disciples said to Him, “Master, if he has fallen asleep, he will get better.” 13Now Yeshua had spoken about his death, but they thought He was talking about ordinary sleep.

John 11:11 word by word

ταῦτα εἶπεν καὶ μετὰ τοῦτο λέγει αὐτοῖς· Λάζαρος ὁ φίλος ἡμῶν κεκοίμηται· ἀλλὰ πορεύομαι ἵνα ἐξυπνίσω αὐτόν.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• These thingsοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• said heλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• afterμετάmeta · with/afterG3326
• he saithλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• unto themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• Ourἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• friendφίλοςphilos · friendly/friendG5384
• LazarusΛάζαροςLazaros · LazarusG2976
• sleepethκοιμάωkoimaō · to sleepG2837
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• I goπορεύωporeuomai · to travelG4198
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• I may awakeἐξυπνίζωexupnizō · to awakeG1852
• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588

Cross-references for John 11:11

• John 3:29The one who has the bride is the bridegroom, but the best man rejoices when he stands and hears the bridegroom’s voice. So now my joy is complete!
• John 15:13No one has greater love than this: that he lay down his life for his friends.
• Exodus 33:11So Adonai spoke with Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then he would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, did not leave the Tent.
• 2 Chronicles 20:7Are You not our God who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and gave it to the descendants of Your friend Abraham forever?
• Isaiah 41:8“But you, Israel, My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, descendant of Abraham, My friend—
• James 2:23The Scripture was fulfilled that says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness”—and he was called God’s friend.
• John 11:13Now Yeshua had spoken about his death, but they thought He was talking about ordinary sleep.
• Deuteronomy 31:16Adonai said to Moses, “Behold, you are about to lie down with your fathers. Then this people will rise up and prostitute themselves with the foreign gods of the land they are entering. They will abandon Me and break My covenant that I cut with them.
• Daniel 12:2Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake—some to everlasting life, and others to shame and everlasting contempt.
• Matthew 9:24He said, “Go away, for the girl isn’t dead, but sleeping.” And they began jeering at Him.
• Mark 5:39After entering, He said to them, “Why make such a fuss and weep? The child didn’t die, but is sleeping.”
• Acts 7:60Then he fell on his knees and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” After he said this, he died.
• 1 Corinthians 15:18Then those also who have fallen asleep in Messiah have perished.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:14For if we believe that Yeshua died and rose again, so with Him God will also bring those who have fallen asleep in Yeshua.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:10He died for us so that, whether we may be awake or asleep, we may live together with Him.
• John 11:43And when He had said this, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”

Commentaries on John 11:11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11Lazarus sleepeth - It was very common among the Jews to express death by sleep; and the expression, falling asleep - sleeping with their fathers, etc., were in great use among them. The Hebrews probably used this form of speech to signify their belief in the immortality of the soul, and the resurrection of the body. It is certain that our Lord received no intimation of Lazarus's death from any person, and that he knew it through that power by which he…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11Lazarus sleepeth - Is dead. The word “sleep” is applied to death, 1.Because of the resemblance between them, as sleep is the “kinsman of death.” In this sense it is often used by pagan writers. 2.However, in the Scriptures it is used to intimate that death will not be final: that there will be an awaking out of this sleep, or a resurrection. It is a beautiful and tender expression, removing all that is dreadful in death, and filling the mind with the idea…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-16Verses 11-16 Since we are sure to rise again at the last, why should not the believing hope of that resurrection to eternal life, make it as easy for us to put off the body and die, as it is to put off our clothes and go to sleep? A true Christian, when he dies, does but sleep; he rests from the labours of the past day. Nay, herein death is better than sleep, that sleep is only a short rest, but death is the end of earthly cares and toils. The disciples…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-57The resurrection of Lazarus points to the future death and resurrection of Jesus. The description of Lazarus’s tomb is similar to the description of the tomb Jesus was placed in after he died (11:38, 44; 20:1, 7). Both accounts mention a cave and burial cloths. These details connect the two events and help us see that Lazarus’s story is a sign. Soon after Lazarus was raised, a woman anointed Jesus for burial (12:3). This act prepared him for his coming…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 11-1611-16. Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go that I may wake him out of sleep--Illustrious title! "Our friend Lazarus." To Abraham only is it accorded in the Old Testament, and not till after his death, (2Ch 20:7; Is 41:8), to which our attention is called in the New Testament (Jas 2:23). When Jesus came in the flesh, His forerunner applied this name, in a certain sense, to himself (Joh 3:29); and into the same fellowship the Lord's chosen disciples are…Read the comment

Topics related to John 11:11

• Death
• Friendship
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Lazarus
• Miracles
• Sleep

In the dictionaries

• Lazarus
• Awake
• Martha
• Mourn
• Asleep
• Bethany
• Eschatology of the New Testament
• Jesus Christ
• John, Gospel of
• Olives, Mount 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