John 11:12 kjv
Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.
John 11:12 nkjv
Then His disciples said, "Lord, if he sleeps he will get well."
John 11:12 niv
His disciples replied, "Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better."
John 11:12 esv
The disciples said to him, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover."
John 11:12 nlt
The disciples said, "Lord, if he is sleeping, he will soon get better!"
John 11 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Sleep as Death | ||
| Jn 11:11 | "Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up." | Jesus' initial metaphorical statement. |
| Jn 11:13 | "Jesus had spoken of his death, but that they supposed that He had meant literal sleep." | Explicit clarification by John the Apostle. |
| Deut 31:16 | "And the LORD said to Moses, 'Behold, you are about to sleep with your fathers...'" | OT uses "sleep" for death. |
| Job 14:12 | "so man lies down and does not rise; till the heavens are no more, they will not awake or be roused from their sleep." | Poetic usage of "sleep" for death. |
| Ps 13:3 | "Consider and answer me, O LORD my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death..." | A direct prayer fearing the "sleep of death." |
| Jer 51:39 | "while they are inflamed I will prepare them a feast and make them drunk, that they may become merry and then sleep a perpetual sleep and not wake, declares the LORD." | "Perpetual sleep" refers to death. |
| Dan 12:2 | "And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake..." | Reference to resurrection from the dead. |
| Acts 7:60 | "And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, 'Lord, do not hold this sin against them.' And when he had said this, he fell asleep." | Stephen's death described as "falling asleep." |
| 1 Cor 15:6 | "Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep." | Paul uses "fallen asleep" for deceased believers. |
| 1 Thes 4:13 | "But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope." | Comfort concerning dead believers referred to as "asleep." |
| Disciples' Misunderstanding | ||
| Mk 9:31-32 | "he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, 'The Son of Man is going to be delivered... and after three days He will rise.' But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid..." | Disciples' difficulty grasping Jesus' deeper truths, especially regarding His death. |
| Jn 2:19-21 | "Jesus answered them, 'Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.' ...But he was speaking about the temple of His body." | Misunderstanding of Jesus' metaphorical language about His body/resurrection. |
| Jn 4:31-34 | "Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, 'Rabbi, eat.' But he said to them, 'I have food to eat that you do not know about.'" | Misunderstanding about Jesus' true source of nourishment/purpose. |
| Mt 16:5-12 | "Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees." | Disciples initially interpret Jesus' warning literally, then later understand His spiritual meaning. |
| Jesus' Power over Death/Resurrection | ||
| Jn 11:25-26 | "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.'" | Jesus' declaration of His ultimate authority over death, providing context for His action regarding Lazarus. |
| Jn 5:21 | "For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will." | Jesus' divine power to give life. |
| Lk 7:11-17 | Jesus raises the widow's son. | Prior example of Jesus raising someone from the dead, foreshadowing Lazarus. |
| Mk 5:35-43 | Jesus raises Jairus' daughter. | Another example of Jesus raising someone described as "sleeping" from death. |
| Eph 5:14 | "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." | Spiritual call to awaken from spiritual death, echoing the literal idea of rising from sleep. |
| Rom 6:4 | "We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." | Metaphorical death and resurrection in Christian life. |
| "Recover" (σωθήσεται - sōthēsetai) | ||
| Acts 14:9-10 | "...heard Paul speaking. And looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well (σωθῆναι), Paul said... 'Stand upright on your feet!'" | Example of "saved" or "made well/healed" in a physical context. |
| Lk 17:19 | "And he said to him, 'Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well (σεσωκέν σε).'" | Used in context of physical healing/being made whole. |
| Jam 5:15 | "And the prayer of faith will save (σώσει) the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up..." | Connecting prayer and physical recovery, using "save." |
John 11 verses
John 11 12 Meaning
John 11:12 presents a misunderstanding by Jesus' disciples. When Jesus uses the metaphor of "sleep" to describe Lazarus' death, they interpret it literally, believing that if Lazarus is merely sleeping, he will naturally recover from his illness. This highlights their limited, human perspective compared to Jesus' divine knowledge and purpose, setting the stage for the dramatic revelation of His power over death.
John 11 12 Context
John 11:12 occurs immediately after Jesus informs His disciples that "Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up" (Jn 11:11). The immediate context is Jesus' delayed departure to Bethany, even after hearing that Lazarus was sick, which seemed counterintuitive to His disciples and to Lazarus' sisters. The cultural context of the time understood physical sleep as a state of rest and potential recovery from illness. In Jewish thought, death was also metaphorically referred to as sleep, particularly awaiting resurrection (e.g., Dan 12:2). However, the disciples' literal interpretation of Jesus' words here (that Lazarus would simply "recover" if "sleeping") shows their current focus on earthly, natural processes and a lack of spiritual insight into Jesus' deeper divine purpose. This sets up the dramatic unveiling of Jesus' true identity as the Resurrection and the Life in John 11:25. The exchange also highlights the constant struggle the disciples had in understanding Jesus' parabolic or metaphorical language throughout His ministry.
John 11 12 Word analysis
Then (οὖν - oun): A transitional particle, often implying a logical sequence or consequence. Here, it indicates the disciples' immediate response after Jesus' previous statement, showing their thought process following His words.
His disciples (οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ - hoi mathētai autou): Emphasizes those closest to Jesus, yet still prone to human misinterpretation. Despite their direct proximity and teaching from Him, their earthly understanding limits their grasp of divine truth. This group, while privileged, often struggles to grasp spiritual realities.
said (εἶπον - eipon): A straightforward verb indicating spoken communication. The simple act of speaking reveals their current assessment of the situation.
Lord (Κύριε - Kyrios): A title of respect and authority. While acknowledging Jesus' position, it doesn't necessarily imply a full grasp of His deity in this context. Their "Lord" here is still seen through a human lens, expecting natural processes.
if (εἰ - ei): Introduces a conditional clause, presenting a logical conclusion based on a premise. It implies a rational assessment from their human perspective.
he sleeps (κοιμᾶται - koimatai):
- This is the pivotal word. It's in the present indicative, indicating a current state.
- Literally means "is sleeping" or "rests."
- Biblical usage: "To sleep" is frequently used as a euphemism for death in the Bible, both in the Old Testament (e.g., Deut 31:16; Job 14:12; Jer 51:39; Dan 12:2) and the New Testament (e.g., Acts 7:60; 1 Cor 15:6, 51; 1 Thes 4:13). This was a common idiom of the day.
- Disciples' interpretation: They understand "sleeps" only in its literal, physical sense, indicating a mild ailment from which one recovers. They missed Jesus' spiritual implication entirely.
he will recover (σωθήσεται - sōthēsetai):
- From the verb σῴζω (sōzō), meaning "to save," "to heal," "to preserve," or "to make well."
- In this context, given the disciples' premise of literal sleep, "to be healed" or "to get well" is the intended meaning. They connect sleeping to the natural healing process after an illness, presuming that the worst is over.
- The deeper theological meaning of σῴζω – referring to salvation from sin and spiritual death – is not in their mind, which emphasizes their physical-world outlook.
"Then His disciples said, 'Lord, if he sleeps, he will recover'": This phrase perfectly encapsulates the disciples' human and literalistic perspective. They hear Jesus use a common idiom for death ("sleep") but fail to grasp its deeper, intended meaning, instead applying their natural, earthly logic. This misunderstanding highlights the fundamental gap between Jesus' divine revelation and His followers' limited comprehension, preparing the ground for a greater display of God's power. It underscores the recurring theme in John's Gospel where characters interpret Jesus' spiritual teachings in purely physical terms.
John 11 12 Bonus section
The exchange in John 11:11-14 functions as a teaching moment not just for the disciples, but for the readers. By explicitly stating that the disciples misunderstood, John prepares the audience to appreciate Jesus' true intent and the profound significance of His actions concerning Lazarus. This initial misinterpretation is crucial for setting up the contrast with Jesus' true power. The phrase also showcases the gentle irony often present in the Gospels: the disciples' common-sense conclusion, born of love and concern for Lazarus, inadvertently highlights the supernatural reality that Jesus is about to unfold—a reality that far transcends mere "recovery." Their expectation of a simple recovery makes Jesus' eventual act of raising Lazarus from the dead even more staggering and undeniable as a divine act.
John 11 12 Commentary
John 11:12 provides a stark illustration of the consistent theme throughout John's Gospel: the contrast between spiritual truth and human perception. When Jesus speaks of "sleep," He is deliberately using a veiled statement, an idiom for death that nonetheless hints at its temporary nature from a divine perspective—a mere resting state from which He can awaken someone. However, the disciples, focused on physical healing and earthly realities, assume that if Lazarus is "sleeping," it means the fever has broken, the illness has passed, and recovery is naturally underway. Their logic is sound from a human standpoint: sleep often aids in convalescence. This simple phrase, "if he sleeps, he will recover," thus reveals their complete inability to grasp the spiritual magnitude of Jesus' words and purpose. It underscores that even those closest to Jesus could struggle to understand His divine mission, serving as a powerful setup for Jesus' impending miracle and declaration as the Resurrection and the Life. Their physical-mindedness acts as a foil, enhancing the profound spiritual reality Jesus is about to demonstrate.