John 11:20 kjv
Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.
John 11:20 nkjv
Now Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house.
John 11:20 niv
When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.
John 11:20 esv
So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house.
John 11:20 nlt
When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him. But Mary stayed in the house.
John 11 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 11:21 | "Lord," said Martha, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died." | Martha's earlier faith |
| John 11:22 | But even now I know that whatever you ask God, God will give you." | Affirmation of Jesus' power with God |
| John 11:23 | Jesus answered, "Your brother will rise again." | Jesus' statement about resurrection |
| John 11:24 | Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day." | Belief in future resurrection |
| John 11:25 | Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live | Jesus as the source of resurrection and life |
| John 3:16 | For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. | Belief leads to eternal life |
| John 6:39 | And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose all that he has given me, and I should raise them up at the last day. | Jesus' will concerning resurrection |
| John 5:21 | For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, so also the Son gives life to whomever he will. | Jesus' power over life and death |
| Luke 10:38-42 | Martha's hospitality towards Jesus | Historical setting |
| Psalm 30:3 | O LORD, you have brought up my soul from Sheol; you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit. | God's power to restore life |
| Psalm 118:17 | I shall not die, but I will live, and report the works of the LORD. | Declaration of life through God's works |
| Isaiah 25:8 | He will swallow up death forever; the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces; the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken. | Future victory over death |
| Hosea 13:14 | Shall I ransom them from death? Shall I redeem them from Sheol? O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? | Questioning death's power |
| Acts 1:4 | And while staying with them he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, you have heard from me | The promise of the Spirit |
| 1 Corinthians 15:20 | But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. | Christ's resurrection as firstfruits |
| 1 Corinthians 15:54-57 | So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. | Victory over death |
| Philippians 3:10-11 | that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. | Paul's desire to know Christ's resurrection power |
| 1 Thessalonians 4:14 | For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. | Believers' resurrection through Jesus |
| Revelation 1:18 | and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I hold the keys of death and Hades. | Jesus' authority over death and Hades |
| Romans 8:11 | If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to mortal bodies through his Spirit dwelling in you. | The Spirit's power in resurrection |
John 11 verses
John 11 20 Meaning
Jesus had just raised Lazarus from the dead. Martha, Lazarus' sister, expressed her faith that whatever Jesus asked God, God would give Him. Her statement reflects her belief in Jesus' divine ability, which she had expressed earlier when she said He was the Christ, the Son of God.
John 11 20 Context
This verse is part of the narrative of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead in John chapter 11. Martha, along with her sister Mary and brother Lazarus, were dear friends of Jesus. When Lazarus fell ill, the sisters sent word to Jesus. However, Jesus delayed his arrival for two days, by which time Lazarus had died and had been in the tomb for four days. This delay was purposeful, as Jesus later states it was "for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by means of it" (John 11:4). Upon Jesus' arrival, Martha goes out to meet Him, expressing her belief in His divine power, even in the face of her brother's death and decay. The entire chapter highlights Jesus' power over death and serves as a pivotal sign pointing to His identity as the resurrection and the life.
John 11 20 Word Analysis
"Martha": The Greek name for a female disciple. She is depicted here as expressing her faith and understanding of Jesus' power, though with a limited grasp of His immediate intention.
"said": From the Greek word legei (λέγει), meaning to speak, to say. Martha is articulating her belief.
"unto": Indicates the recipient of her statement.
"him": Refers to Jesus.
"Lord": In Greek, kyrie (κύριε), an address of respect and acknowledgment of authority.
"if": A conditional particle, introducing a hypothetical situation.
"thou": Second person singular pronoun, referring to Jesus.
"hadst": Past perfect tense of "to have," indicating a past completed action.
"been": Past participle of "to be," indicating a state of being.
"here": In this place.
"my": Possessive pronoun, belonging to Martha.
"brother": Lazarus.
"had": Past perfect tense of "to have."
"not": Negation.
"died": From the Greek apothnesko (ἀποθνῄσκω), meaning to die, to perish.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Lord, if thou hadst been here": Martha's expression is not an accusation, but a statement of the reality of the situation. It acknowledges Jesus' authority ("Lord") while lamenting His absence.
- "my brother had not died": This phrase reflects Martha's understanding of a cause-and-effect relationship linked to Jesus' presence. It implies that Jesus' proximity prevents death, reflecting her belief in His power.
John 11 20 Bonus Section
Martha's statement, while containing a hint of sorrow for Jesus' absence, is remarkably not an accusation. This is important. It shows her faith is not destroyed by the event. Her faith is real but is still in process of understanding the full scope of Jesus' identity and mission. Her subsequent interaction with Jesus where she professes belief in His resurrection confirms her underlying, albeit temporarily tested, faith. The encounter emphasizes the human element of grief and doubt alongside unwavering faith, a relatable aspect of discipleship highlighted in the Gospels.
John 11 20 Commentary
Martha, upon encountering Jesus, articulates her profound respect and faith, addressing Him as "Lord." Her statement, "if You had been here, my brother would not have died," reveals a deeply held conviction that Jesus’ presence inherently held the power to avert death. While she acknowledges His authority and ability to influence outcomes, her faith, at this moment, is still limited by her human understanding of timing and divine intervention. She trusts in His potential power, but is currently grappling with the finality of death and His perceived delayed arrival. This verse is crucial as it bridges Martha's existing faith with Jesus' impending demonstration of His ultimate power over death itself, leading into His famous declaration in the following verses.