John 11:14 kjv
Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
John 11:14 nkjv
Then Jesus said to them plainly, "Lazarus is dead.
John 11:14 niv
So then he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead,
John 11:14 esv
Then Jesus told them plainly, "Lazarus has died,
John 11:14 nlt
So he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead.
John 11 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jn 11:11 | "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him." | Jesus' initial, metaphorical statement about death. |
| Jn 11:4 | "This illness does not lead to death. It is for God’s glory..." | Purpose of Lazarus's death for divine glory. |
| Jn 11:15 | "...and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe." | The purpose of Jesus' delay for strengthening faith. |
| Jn 11:25 | Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life..." | Jesus' ultimate power over death and promise of life. |
| Jn 11:39 | Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of the dead man... | Confirms Lazarus's death and duration of burial. |
| Jn 5:25 | "Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live." | Jesus' authority to raise the dead. |
| Jn 6:39-40 | "And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing..." | Promise of resurrection for believers at the last day. |
| Rev 1:18 | "I am the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore...I have the keys of Death and Hades." | Jesus holds ultimate authority over death. |
| Heb 2:14 | "...that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil." | Jesus' victory over death's dominion. |
| Mk 5:39 | "When he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.”" | Jesus uses "sleep" for death, but sometimes to mean truly sleeping. |
| 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. | Death described as 'sleeping' for believers. |
| 1 Thes 4:13 | "...that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope." | Encouragement regarding death, viewed as sleep. |
| Jn 16:25 | "I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father." | Jesus' eventual practice of speaking plainly. |
| Mt 13:34 | All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables... | Jesus often spoke indirectly or in parables. |
| Jn 11:43 | When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out." | Jesus' authoritative command to the dead. |
| Rom 4:17 | "...God, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence things that do not exist." | God's power as life-giver to the dead. |
| Col 2:3 | "...in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." | Jesus' divine omniscience and knowledge. |
| Isa 46:9-10 | "...for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done..." | God's foreknowledge and sovereign plan. |
| Phil 3:21 | "...who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself." | The promise of a resurrected, glorious body. |
| Jn 20:31 | But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ... | The purpose of John's gospel to evoke belief. |
| Lk 24:6-7 | "He is not here, but has risen." | The central event of Christ's resurrection. |
| Ps 16:10 | "...nor will you let your Holy One see corruption." | Prophetic anticipation of resurrection (Messiah). |
John 11 verses
John 11 14 Meaning
John 11:14 is a pivotal declaration by Jesus, clearly stating the death of Lazarus to His disciples, resolving their misunderstanding regarding His earlier use of "sleep." This unequivocal statement sets the stage for the miraculous resurrection to follow, emphasizing Jesus' divine knowledge of events far away and preparing the disciples for an even greater demonstration of His power over death, for the glory of God and their strengthened faith.
John 11 14 Context
John 11:14 occurs after Jesus has received word that Lazarus, His beloved friend, is ill. Jesus deliberately delays His arrival in Bethany for two days. When He finally informs His disciples of His intention to return to Judea, He uses a metaphor, stating, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him" (Jn 11:11). The disciples misunderstand this, believing He means natural sleep, and counsel Him against returning to the dangerous Judea. To correct their misapprehension and clarify the grave reality of the situation before an impending miracle, Jesus speaks "plainly" in verse 14. This clarity prepares them for the profound revelation of His power and sets up one of the most significant public demonstrations of Jesus' authority over death, culminating in the resurrection of Lazarus after four days. Culturally, Jewish belief held that the soul might linger near the body for up to three days, offering a slight hope of return; beyond that, decomposition rendered resurrection highly improbable, making Lazarus's four-day death a sign of utter finality. Jesus' actions directly confront this expectation, underscoring that His power transcends natural and theological limitations.
John 11 14 Word analysis
- Then (Τότε, Tote): This temporal adverb signifies a point in time, specifically following the disciples' misunderstanding of Jesus' 'sleep' analogy. It marks a shift from metaphorical language to direct assertion.
- Jesus (ὁ Ἰησοῦς, ho Iesous): The Son of God, the Christ, acting with full divine authority and knowledge. His name underscores the central agent of revelation and power.
- said (εἶπεν, eipa from legō): The action of speaking, conveying communication. It denotes a deliberate verbal utterance, an active impartation of truth.
- to them (αὐτοῖς, autois): Refers specifically to the disciples present, the immediate recipients of this vital clarification. Their faith and understanding are Jesus' primary concern here.
- plainly (παρρησίᾳ, parrēsia): This is a crucial Greek term meaning "boldly," "freely," "openly," "without concealment," "without ambiguity," "with all confidence," "unreservedly." It emphasizes the direct and unequivocal nature of Jesus' declaration, contrasting sharply with His earlier metaphorical language and resolving any confusion. This isn't just speaking clearly, but with a confidence born of authority and divine knowledge, cutting through human limitations of understanding.
- Lazarus (Λάζαρος, Lazaros): The personal name of the deceased, identifying the specific individual to whom this death applies. It is a Hellenized form of Eleazar, meaning "God has helped."
- is dead (ἀπέθανεν, apethanen from apothnēskō): This Aorist indicative verb declares a completed fact and a continuing state. It is not "dying" or "was dead" but "has died" or "is dead," asserting the absolute, irreversible fact of his death at that moment. This dispels all ambiguity from the "sleep" metaphor, making the reality undeniable for the disciples.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Then Jesus said to them": This phrase establishes Jesus' direct interaction with His disciples, signifying an important moment of teaching and revelation. It emphasizes Jesus as the authoritative speaker.
- "plainly, Lazarus is dead.": This full phrase is a powerful, concise declaration. "Plainly" preceding "Lazarus is dead" highlights the intentional shift in communication style to unambiguous truth, directly addressing and rectifying the disciples' misunderstanding. It underscores Jesus' omniscience and preparedness to confront the ultimate human enemy—death—with absolute authority.
John 11 14 Bonus section
The word parrēsia ("plainly") holds rich theological weight in John's Gospel, appearing several times to describe Jesus' fearless and open declaration of divine truth, even in the face of hostility (Jn 7:26, 18:20). Here, it indicates not just clarity but the fearless courage with which Jesus addresses the grim reality of death, preparing to overcome it. This declaration also points to the overarching Johannine theme that signs and wonders (like the upcoming resurrection of Lazarus) are performed so that people "may believe" (Jn 20:31). By emphasizing the "dead" status, Jesus heightens the magnitude of the coming miracle, making the faith generated by the resurrection of a four-day deceased Lazarus all the more powerful and undeniable. It is a moment where human misunderstanding meets divine transparency.
John 11 14 Commentary
John 11:14 represents a moment of stark clarity and profound truth-telling by Jesus to His disciples. After employing the gentle euphemism of "sleep" to describe Lazarus's death, which they failed to grasp, Jesus directly states the grim reality: "Lazarus is dead." This declaration, made "plainly" (parrēsia), signifies Jesus’ intentional move beyond figurative language to incontrovertible fact. It eliminates all room for misinterpretation, compelling the disciples to confront the absolute finality of Lazarus's condition, medically and culturally. This open declaration serves multiple purposes: it highlights Jesus' divine foreknowledge, preparing the disciples not for a mere healing, but for a resurrection. It elevates their faith from a common expectation of healing to witnessing God's glory through a demonstrably greater miracle. This direct speech is also a deliberate pedagogical act, training the disciples to understand the depth of Jesus' authority even over death's certainty.
Example for practical usage:
- In moments of uncertainty, a leader or teacher must sometimes abandon comforting euphemisms and speak plainly to convey a critical truth, preparing others for significant action or a major revelation.
- Confronting a difficult truth, like a significant loss or failure, with direct honesty, rather than evasive language, allows for genuine understanding and preparation for a response.