John 11 11

John 11:11 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.

John 11:11 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."

John 11:11 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."

John 11:11 esv

After saying these things, he said to them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him."

John 11:11 nlt

Then he said, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up."

John 11 verses

John 11 11 Meaning

John 11:11 conveys Jesus' pronouncement to His disciples concerning Lazarus, stating that Lazarus has "fallen asleep" and that He intends to go and "wake him up." This verse reveals Jesus' unique perspective on death, His divine foreknowledge of Lazarus's state (knowing he was already dead but describing it as "sleep"), and His sovereign power over life and death. It sets the stage for the miraculous raising of Lazarus, a preeminent sign pointing to Jesus as the resurrection and the life.

John 11 11 Context

This verse is spoken by Jesus to His disciples following His decision to return to Judea, despite the recent threats to His life there. The disciples had urged caution (John 11:7-8). Before this verse, Jesus had been informed that Lazarus, His beloved friend, was ill (John 11:1-3). Rather than rushing immediately, Jesus intentionally waited two days (John 11:6). His pronouncement in verse 11 is given after this deliberate delay and serves to clarify His purpose in going to Bethany, home of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. Historically and culturally, in the Jewish world, death was viewed with deep sorrow and ritual mourning, often lasting for days. The idea of "sleep" as a euphemism for death was understood in their Scriptures (Old Testament), particularly regarding the deceased righteous, awaiting resurrection. Jesus' use of this term here, knowing Lazarus had already died, was meant to elevate their understanding beyond the common experience of physical death, hinting at a temporary state from which He held the power to reverse. It sets up a divine test and a demonstration of God's glory through the Son.

John 11 11 Word analysis

• After he had said this: This links directly to Jesus' previous discourse in John 11:7-10, where He asserted His divine timing and purpose ("Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble..."). It signals a new revelation building upon what was just communicated.
• he went on to tell them: This indicates Jesus' proactive communication and further instruction to His disciples, moving from abstract principle to a specific, imminent event.
• Our friend Lazarus:
  • Our: Emphasizes a shared relationship, establishing common ground with His disciples, and highlights Jesus' genuine affection and humanity.
  • friend (Greek: philos - φίλος): Denotes a deeply personal, loving bond, not merely an acquaintance. This intimate relationship makes the upcoming demonstration of power even more poignant.
  • Lazarus: A specific individual, grounding the theological truth in a concrete historical event.
• has fallen asleep (Greek: kekomaī - κεκοίμηται):
  • Fallen asleep: This is a biblical euphemism for death, particularly for those who die in God's will or in Christ. It minimizes death's finality and suggests a temporary state, awaiting awakening. The perfect passive indicative form implies a completed state with ongoing effects—he is in a state of sleep.
  • Significance: While Jesus knew Lazarus was literally dead (as confirmed in John 11:14), He uses this term to reframe death from a divine perspective. For believers, death is not an absolute end but a peaceful rest from which resurrection is assured. It prefigures His ultimate victory over death, mirroring how believers will be "raised."
• but I am going there:
  • But: A strong contrast to the state of "sleep," signifying a decisive and active intervention.
  • I am going: Jesus' deliberate intention and control. He is not forced or hurried; He acts with divine purpose.
  • there: Refers specifically to Bethany, where Lazarus was.
• to wake him up (Greek: exypnisō - ἐξυπνίσω):
  • Wake him up: Directly juxtaposes with "fallen asleep," showing Jesus' power to reverse death as easily as waking someone from ordinary sleep. It is a bold statement of authority over mortality.
  • Significance: This declaration reveals Jesus' intent to perform a resurrection miracle, not merely a healing. It emphasizes His unique divine power to restore life.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep": This phrase underlines the deep personal connection between Jesus and the deceased, reframing the tragic reality of death with a powerful spiritual euphemism. It sets the narrative with human pathos, immediately countered by divine insight.
• "but I am going there to wake him up": This clause directly contrasts the euphemism of sleep with a declarative statement of intentional divine action. It highlights Jesus' sovereignty, demonstrating His active purpose and power to overcome what humanity perceives as an absolute end. This powerful juxtaposition builds dramatic tension for the coming miracle.

John 11 11 Bonus section

The disciples' literal interpretation of "sleep" in John 11:12 ("Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover") highlights a recurring theme in John's Gospel and the Synoptics: the disciples' struggle to grasp Jesus' deeper spiritual truths, often taking His metaphorical language literally. This provides a narrative device through which Jesus can further elaborate and reveal profound truths, serving to instruct both the disciples then and the readers now. The irony of their statement is that recovery from illness is often not the path to glory, but a dramatic intervention from death itself is. This moment of misunderstanding directly paves the way for Jesus to explicitly declare Lazarus's death and His unique intention, underscoring His omniscient foresight despite the physical distance from Bethany. This event not only serves as a miracle but also as a powerful lesson in Christology, showcasing Jesus' absolute authority as the Lord of life and death, even before His own resurrection.

John 11 11 Commentary

John 11:11 serves as a pivotal statement in the narrative of Lazarus's resurrection, profoundly revealing Jesus' nature and purpose. When Jesus declared Lazarus "has fallen asleep," He was using a familiar biblical euphemism for death, often applied to the righteous. This was not a literal misunderstanding on Jesus' part—He knew Lazarus was dead (as He explicitly clarifies in John 11:14)—but a theological framing of death from the divine perspective. For God, and for those in Christ, physical death is akin to a temporary slumber, a state from which an awakening is guaranteed by the power of the Resurrected One. This challenges the common human view of death as a final, unconquerable barrier.

Jesus' subsequent declaration, "but I am going there to wake him up," reveals His unparalleled authority over life and death. This is not a hesitant attempt to heal, but a confident assertion of His power to resurrect. The disciples, interpreting "sleep" literally, illustrate common human limited understanding versus Jesus' divine insight. Their initial misinterpretation sets up the profound revelation to follow. This event anticipates Jesus' own death and resurrection, and the future resurrection of all believers. It solidifies His claim, later made explicit in John 11:25, "I am the resurrection and the life," showing that He not only bestows life but is the very source of it and holds power to recall it. The purpose of this interaction and the ensuing miracle is, as stated earlier in John 11:4, "for God's glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it."

• Example for Practical Usage: For believers facing the death of a loved one who died in Christ, understanding "fallen asleep" brings comfort, reframing grief with the hope of future awakening (1 Thes 4:13-14). It underscores that death for a Christian is not an ending but a transition, held securely in Jesus' hand.