John 11:31 kjv
The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there.
John 11:31 nkjv
Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and comforting her, when they saw that Mary rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying, "She is going to the tomb to weep there."
John 11:31 niv
When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.
John 11:31 esv
When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there.
John 11:31 nlt
When the people who were at the house consoling Mary saw her leave so hastily, they assumed she was going to Lazarus's grave to weep. So they followed her there.
John 11 31 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 11:3 | "Lord, if you had been here..." | Relationship of Lazarus, Martha, Mary to Jesus |
| John 11:5 | "Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus." | Jesus' affection |
| John 11:17 | "Jesus arrived and found that Lazarus had been in the tomb..." | Timing of Jesus' arrival |
| John 11:33 | "When Jesus saw her weeping..." | Jesus' emotional response |
| John 11:35 | "Jesus wept." | Compassion for grief |
| John 11:38 | "Jesus, once more groaning inwardly, came to the tomb." | Inner turmoil and resolve |
| John 11:41 | "Jesus looked up toward heaven and said..." | Prayer and divine connection |
| John 11:43 | "and he called out in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!"" | Authority over death |
| Luke 7:13 | "And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her..." | Jesus' compassion on mourners |
| Luke 19:41 | "As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it..." | Jesus' grief over sin and destiny |
| Psalm 30:5 | "weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes with the morning." | Passage from Old Testament |
| Psalm 119:136 | "My eyes stream with tears, because people disobey your law." | Weeping due to sin/disobedience |
| Jeremiah 9:1 | "Oh, that my head were water and my eyes a fountain of tears! I would weep day and night..." | Prophet's sorrow for his people |
| Romans 12:15 | "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn." | Believers called to share grief |
| Hebrews 5:7 | "During the days of his life on earth, he offered up prayers and requests, with loud cries and tears..." | Jesus' prayer with tears |
| Genesis 50:17 | "Tell them, ‘This is what Joseph says: I ask you to forgive your brothers’ sin and the wrong they did to you.'" | Forgiveness among brethren |
| Isaiah 53:3 | "He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain." | Jesus' suffering nature |
| 1 Corinthians 12:26 | "If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it." | The body of Christ sharing experience |
| Matthew 26:38 | "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death." | Jesus' intense inner grief |
| John 13:23 | "One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him." | Proximity to Jesus in deep moments |
John 11 verses
John 11 31 Meaning
The Jews, following Mary, believed Jesus was grieving with them over Lazarus' death, attributing his emotional state to their shared sorrow. They interpreted his weeping as a sign of profound personal attachment to Lazarus.
John 11 31 Context
The preceding verses (John 11:17-30) establish that Jesus arrived four days after Lazarus' death. Martha, the sister of Lazarus, encountered Jesus and expressed her belief that if Jesus had been there, Lazarus would not have died. She affirmed her faith in Jesus' ability to do anything, and Jesus declared that Lazarus would rise again. Jesus then declared himself to be the resurrection and the life. Martha declared her belief in Jesus. Jesus then inquired about the location of Lazarus' tomb. Meanwhile, Mary, who was at home, was told that Jesus had arrived and was calling for her. Upon hearing this, Mary quickly went to meet Jesus. The Jews who were with Mary at home saw her leaving hastily and followed her, assuming she was going to the tomb to weep.
John 11 31 Word Analysis
- οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι (hoi Ioudaioi): "the Jews." This phrase refers to the specific group of Jewish mourners accompanying Mary, not the entire Jewish population. They were present in Bethany due to Lazarus' death and to comfort Mary and Martha.
- πλανῶσαι (planōsai): "to lead astray" or "to deceive." Here, it implies they thought Mary was going to the tomb, misleading them from understanding the true reason for her movement. It can also suggest they thought Jesus was being deceived or misinformed.
- νομίζουσιν (nomizousin): "supposed," "thought," or "believed." This imperfect tense indicates an ongoing or developing thought process of the Jewish group.
- πορεύεται (poreuetai): "is going." Present tense indicates the immediate action of Mary.
- εἰς τὸ μνημεῖον (eis to mnēmeion): "to the tomb." The destination Mary was perceived to be going to.
- ἐκεῖ κλαίουσαν (ekei klaiousan): "weeping there." This participle describes Mary's expected state at the tomb.
John 11 31 Bonus Section
The scene highlights the contrast between human understanding and divine reality. While the Jews saw a woman going to weep at a tomb, Jesus saw an opportunity to reveal his glory. This moment also foreshadows Jesus’ own journey to death and resurrection. The deep emotion Jesus displays, though misinterpreted by some, is a profound expression of His humanity and compassion, drawing on His connection to Lazarus and the sorrow of His friends, and anticipating His own confrontation with death. The deliberate delay by Jesus (John 11:6) amplifies the impact of His later actions and teachings on the resurrection.
John 11 31 Commentary
The Jews present with Mary misunderstood her hasty departure. They interpreted her movement not as an urgent meeting with Jesus, but as a return to the tomb for continued mourning. Their assumption ("supposed that she was going to the tomb to weep") reveals their focus on outward expressions of grief. They failed to grasp the spiritual dimension of Mary’s urgent summons to Jesus, which was motivated by faith and hope in his presence, not mere sentimental attachment or prolonged sorrow. Their perspective is rooted in conventional mourning practices and an inability to recognize Jesus' divine power over death.