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

This verse establishes the undeniable and irreversible reality of Lazarus's death. By the time Jesus arrived in Bethany, Lazarus had been entombed for four full days, a crucial detail confirming the finality of his physical demise according to Jewish understanding of death and the process of decay. This precise timing sets the stage for a miraculous intervention beyond mere resuscitation.

John 11 17 Context

John chapter 11 narrates one of Jesus' most profound miracles: the raising of Lazarus. This verse strategically situates the narrative after Jesus' intentional two-day delay in response to Lazarus's illness (Jn 11:6) and His journey to Bethany. Upon His arrival, Jesus found a situation beyond simple sickness; Lazarus was already interred. The explicit mention of "four days" is crucial. In first-century Jewish belief and practice, the soul was commonly thought to hover around the body for three days, still retaining some hope of returning to it. By the fourth day, however, the onset of visible decay unequivocally confirmed that death was absolute and irreversible. This detailed timing by the Gospel writer removes any possibility that Lazarus was merely in a coma or in suspended animation, setting up Jesus' subsequent miracle as an undeniable act of divine power over certain death, bolstering His claims as "the resurrection and the life."

John 11 17 Word analysis

• So (Οὖν - Oun): A conjunctive particle, often translated as "therefore" or "then." Here, it logically connects Jesus' arrival to the previous narrative—his deliberate delay, his declaration that Lazarus had "fallen asleep" (Jn 11:11), and his journey from beyond the Jordan. It signifies the result or consequence of His prior actions and intentions.
• when Jesus came (Ἰησοῦς ἐλθὼν - Iēsous elthōn): "Elthōn" (from ἔρχομαι - erchomai, meaning "to come, go") is an aorist active participle, indicating an action that has just taken place, specifically Jesus' arrival at Bethany. His physical presence marks a pivotal turning point in the unfolding drama.
• he found (εὗρεν - heuren): From εὑρίσκω (heuriskō), meaning "to find, discover, obtain." This signifies an observation made upon His arrival. It's a statement of factual discovery, emphasizing the reality of the situation on the ground.
• that Lazarus (τὸν Λάζαρον - ton Lazarov): "Lazarus" (Greek: Λάζαρος, from Hebrew: אֶלְעָזָר - Eleazar, meaning "God has helped"). This name becomes profoundly significant later when God does help him in the most dramatic way possible. The definite article "ton" singles him out.
• had already been (ἤδη... ἔχοντα - ēdē... echonta): "Ēdē" (ἤδη - already, by this time) underscores the established and prolonged duration of Lazarus's state. It eliminates any ambiguity. "Echonta" (ἔχοντα, participle of ἔχω - echō, "to have, hold") implies "having been in a state," not an ongoing action.
• in the tomb (ἐν τῷ μνημείῳ - en tō mnēmeiō): "Mnēmeion" (μνημεῖον), from μνάομαι (mnaomai, "to remember"), refers to a burial place, a sepulcher, a memorial tomb. These were typically rock-hewn caves in that region. This term emphasizes his death and burial.
• four days (τέσσαρας ἡμέρας - tessaras hēmeras): This numerical detail is profoundly significant. Culturally, "four days" marked the point where Jewish belief asserted the soul had entirely departed the body and physical decay had unmistakably begun, making any hope of revival utterly impossible. It serves as irrefutable evidence of definite and advanced death.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "So when Jesus came, he found": This phrase directly contrasts Jesus' arrival with the state of affairs. His delayed but timely presence immediately reveals the full severity of the situation. It prepares the audience for a significant intervention.
• "that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days": This critical clause emphatically declares the duration and certainty of Lazarus's death and burial. The combination of "already," "in the tomb," and "four days" acts as a powerful statement against any interpretation other than complete and irreversible physical death, making the upcoming miracle undeniable evidence of Jesus' authority over death itself.

John 11 17 Bonus section

The precise timing of "four days" in John 11:17 resonates with extra-biblical Jewish traditions. While not a direct command, rabbinic writings from a later period (but likely reflecting earlier beliefs) indicated that visible physical decay, often including odor, became apparent by the fourth day. This tradition, as mentioned in the Babylonian Talmud (e.g., Sanhedrin 47a, Yebamoth 16b), reinforced the absolute finality of death beyond any doubt. This context underscores the deep skepticism Martha expresses later when Jesus orders the stone to be removed, saying, "Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days" (Jn 11:39). The verse's deliberate mention of this duration, therefore, not only confirms death but also builds dramatic tension and sets an extraordinary hurdle for Jesus' divine power to overcome.

John 11 17 Commentary

John 11:17 is a pivotal verse, concise yet packed with theological weight. It serves as the narrative climax regarding the certainty of Lazarus's death before the actual miracle. By meticulously stating that Lazarus had "already been in the tomb four days," the Gospel intentionally highlights the advanced stage of decomposition. In the Jewish mind, this length of time dispelled any lingering hope that the person was merely unconscious or in a deep sleep, ensuring that all understood Lazarus's state as unequivocally final. This detail magnifies Jesus' power and purpose; He isn't reviving someone at the brink of death, but calling back to life one whom death has completely claimed and whose body has begun to decay. The delayed arrival of Jesus, often puzzling to Mary and Martha, is thus revealed as divinely orchestrated, setting the stage for an undeniable act of resurrection that brings greater glory to God and reinforces Jesus' identity as the resurrection and the life. It's a clear demonstration of His sovereign timing and His victory over the most feared enemy—death itself.