John 11 17

John 11:17 kjv

Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.

John 11:17 nkjv

So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days.

John 11:17 niv

On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.

John 11:17 esv

Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days.

John 11:17 nlt

When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he was told that Lazarus had already been in his grave for four days.

John 11 verses

John 11 17 Meaning

Jesus arriving at Bethany found Lazarus had been dead for four days. His arrival signified a new dimension of divine intervention. His sorrow indicated his humanity and deep love for his friends, yet it was a sorrow not of hopelessness but of empathy for those grieving.

John 11 17 Context

Jesus and his disciples were traveling when they heard Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, was gravely ill. Jesus deliberately delayed his return for two days. Upon hearing of Lazarus' death, Jesus declared that this sickness was not unto death, but for the glory of God and the glory of the Son of God. When Jesus finally arrived in Bethany, Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. This established fact was known to all present, emphasizing the miraculous nature of what was about to occur. Martha, upon hearing Jesus was coming, went to meet him, expressing her belief in Jesus' power but also her grief and assumption of Lazarus' finality. Jesus' arrival disrupted the narrative of death that had settled upon the family and the community.

John 11 17 Word Analysis

• "Then" (τότε, tote): Indicates sequence and transition to the next event.
• "Jesus" (Ἰησοῦς, Iēsous): The central figure, the Son of God.
• "when" (ἐλθών, elthōn): Aorist participle, meaning "having come."
• "he" (αὐτός, autos): Refers to Jesus.
• "came" (ἐπῆλθεν, epēlthen): Aorist indicative of ἐπέρχομαι (eperchomai), meaning to come upon or arrive.
• "found" (εὗρεν, heurēn): Aorist indicative of εὑρίσκω (heuriskō), meaning to find or discover.
• "that" (ὅτι, hoti): A conjunction introducing a factual statement.
• "he" (αὐτός, autos): Refers to Lazarus.
• "had been" (ἦν, ēn): Imperfect indicative of εἰμί (eimi), to be. Denotes a continuous state.
• "now" (ἤδη, ēdē): Already.
• "four" (τέσσαρας, tessaras): Cardinal number four.
• "days" (ἡμέρας, hēmeras): Accusative plural of ἡμέρα (hēmera), day.
• "in" (ἐν, en): A preposition indicating location or state.
• "the" (τῇ, tē): Feminine definite article.
• "tomb" (μνημείῳ, mnēmeiō): Dative singular of μνημεῖον (mnēmeion), tomb or monument.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "four days" (τέσσαρας ἡμέρας, tessaras hēmeras): The phrase "four days" is significant in Jewish tradition. It was believed that by the fourth day, the soul’s departure and the body’s decay were irreversible. This detail intensifies the hopelessness of the situation and underscores the magnitude of Jesus’ power over death, as he arrives when death is considered utterly final. This also ties into ancient traditions concerning the departed and the processing of death.
• "in the tomb" (ἐν τῇ μνημείῳ, en tē mnēmeiō): Emphasizes the physical reality of Lazarus' death and burial, presenting a stark contrast to the impending life Jesus is about to impart. The tomb represents the finality of the grave and the power of death.

John 11 17 Bonus Section

The theological significance of the "fourth day" touches upon early Jewish thought about the departure of the soul and the beginning of decomposition. While not an explicitly stated biblical doctrine, it was a widespread cultural understanding that influenced how Lazarus' death was perceived by Martha and others. This detail serves to magnify the power displayed by Jesus, proving that his resurrection of Lazarus was undeniably supernatural and not a mere resuscitation. This event also foreshadows Jesus’ own resurrection and serves as a powerful sign to His disciples and the world about His identity as the resurrection and the life. It is a testament to God’s power to bring life from absolute desolation, mirroring the promise found in Ezekiel's vision of the dry bones.

John 11 17 Commentary

Jesus arriving and finding Lazarus dead for four days heightens the miraculous nature of the resurrection. This was not an illness where resuscitation was still possible. Four days marked the point of irreversible death in ancient Jewish understanding. Jesus’ personal grief, as expressed elsewhere in the chapter ("Jesus wept"), highlights his profound love and empathy for humanity’s suffering and his sorrow over sin’s destructive power, even as he knew he would overcome it. This encounter sets the stage for one of his most significant miracles, demonstrating his divine authority over death itself. His timing, deliberately after four days, was not a failure to act but a strategic demonstration of God’s power entering fully into the finality of death and triumphing over it. It serves as a prefigurement of his own resurrection and the resurrection of all believers.