John 11:19 kjv
And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.
John 11:19 nkjv
And many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.
John 11:19 niv
and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother.
John 11:19 esv
and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother.
John 11:19 nlt
and many of the people had come to console Martha and Mary in their loss.
John 11 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 11:1 | "Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany..." | John 11:1 (Setting the stage) |
| John 11:3 | "...Jesus said, 'This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God...'" | John 11:3 (Jesus' foresight) |
| John 11:17 | "Then when Jesus came, He found that he had already lain in the tomb four days." | John 11:17 (Lazarus dead) |
| John 11:21 | "Then Martha said to Jesus, 'Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.'" | John 11:21 (Martha's faith) |
| John 11:31 | "Then when the Jews who were with her in the house, and who were comforting them, saw that Mary rose up quickly and went out, they followed her..." | John 11:31 (Jews' observation) |
| Luke 10:38-39 | "Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha received Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word." | Luke 10:38-39 (Martha and Mary's discipleship) |
| John 1:46 | "And Nathanael said to him, 'Can anything good come out of Nazareth?' Philip said to him, 'Come and see.'" | John 1:46 (Skepticism and seeing) |
| Psalm 34:18 | "The Lord is near to those who are of a broken heart, And saves such as are of a contrite spirit." | Psalm 34:18 (God's nearness in sorrow) |
| Isaiah 61:2 | "...to comfort all who mourn, To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness..." | Isaiah 61:2 (God's comfort for mourners) |
| 1 Thessalonians 4:13 | "But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope." | 1 Thess 4:13 (Christian hope in grief) |
| Genesis 50:20 | "But as for you, you meant it for evil, but God meant it for good..." | Gen 50:20 (God's purpose in suffering) |
| Job 1:20 | "Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped," | Job 1:20 (Sorrow and worship) |
| John 20:30-31 | "And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name." | John 20:30-31 (Purpose of the Gospels) |
| Romans 8:28 | "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." | Rom 8:28 (God's sovereign purpose) |
| 1 Corinthians 1:27 | "But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;" | 1 Cor 1:27 (God's choice of the weak) |
| Matthew 5:4 | "Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted." | Matt 5:4 (Beatitudes) |
| Psalm 133:1 | "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" | Psalm 133:1 (Unity in community) |
| Jeremiah 8:12 | "Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed; Nor did they consider how to blush..." | Jer 8:12 (Contrast of behavior) |
| Luke 7:11-17 | Jesus raises the widow's son at Nain. | Luke 7:11-17 (Another resurrection) |
| 1 Corinthians 15:20-22 | "...But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead." | 1 Cor 15:20-22 (Christ's resurrection) |
John 11 verses
John 11 19 Meaning
Many Jews from Jerusalem came to comfort Martha and Mary, and also to see Lazarus, because they knew he was ill. This verse highlights the strong communal ties and expressions of sympathy common in that society. It also sets the scene for the greater miracle to follow, by establishing the depth of grief and loss.
John 11 19 Context
This verse, John 11:19, occurs within the narrative of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Martha and Mary, Jesus' close friends, had sent word to Jesus about Lazarus' illness. Jesus intentionally delayed his arrival, arriving four days after Lazarus' death and burial. At this point, the sisters are deep in mourning, and many of their Jewish friends have come from Jerusalem to offer condolences and comfort, a customary practice. The presence of these mourners from Jerusalem indicates the community's awareness of Lazarus' esteemed position and the sisters' deep connection to Jesus. This visit also shows the societal norms for expressing grief and communal support.
John 11 19 Word Analysis
And: Connects this statement to the preceding information or sets up the next action.
many: Implies a significant number, underscoring the importance of the family and the event.
of the Jews: Refers to fellow Jewish believers and sympathizers, signifying shared religious and cultural background. This emphasizes that the people present were familiar with Jewish mourning customs and traditions.
were come: Past tense indicating they had already arrived and were present at the house.
unto Martha and Mary: Specifies the recipients of the condolence visit – the grieving sisters. This shows the personal impact of Lazarus' death on them and the community's response to their sorrow.
to comfort: The purpose of their visit, to offer solace and encouragement during their time of bereavement. This reflects the ancient practice of "sitting shiva" (mourning seven days) and the communal duty of providing support.
them: Refers collectively to Martha and Mary, showing unified sympathy.
concerning: Indicates the subject of the comforting.
their brother: Identifies Lazarus as the shared loss that unites them in grief and comfort.
to see Jesus: This phrase is the most debated. It can mean:
- To see Lazarus: Many scholars suggest "to see Lazarus" was the primary motivation for some, driven by curiosity about the man who had been so sick.
- To see Jesus: Others interpret it as wanting to see Jesus Himself, perhaps expecting Him to be present and offer comfort. This is less likely as Jesus had not yet arrived at this moment in the narrative. The manuscripts here are debated, with some older and more reliable ones reading "to see Lazarus."
John 11 19 Bonus Section
The phrase "to see Lazarus" is crucial for understanding the motivations of the crowd. If it means "to see Lazarus," it implies curiosity about the state of the seriously ill man. If the intended meaning from some manuscript variants is indeed "to see Jesus," then it shifts the focus to the community's desire to interact with the renowned healer, especially in the face of such a tragedy. The specific phrasing and the intent behind their visit underscore the interwoven nature of human relationships, shared faith, and the anticipation surrounding Jesus' ministry. This event further solidifies the bonds of community around the grieving sisters and sets the stage for the profound theological statement Jesus is about to make regarding His identity and power over death.
John 11 19 Commentary
The presence of "many Jews" signifies more than just a casual visit; it represents the community's acknowledgment of the family's sorrow and perhaps a heightened interest in the situation, knowing Lazarus was seriously ill. The dual purpose of offering comfort and observing (or wanting to see Lazarus/Jesus) paints a picture of compassionate community alongside human curiosity. This gathering forms the backdrop against which Jesus’ ultimate act of divine power will unfold, contrasting human comfort with God’s life-restoring intervention. It also highlights that Jesus' followers were embedded within the Jewish community and its customs.