John 11 31

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 verses

John 11 31 Meaning

John 11:31 describes the immediate reaction of the mourners accompanying Mary during her sister Martha's initial conversation with Jesus. Upon seeing Mary abruptly rise and leave the house, the "Jews" (a term referring here to the assembled mourners, mostly from Jerusalem) followed her. Their assumption, deeply rooted in the Jewish mourning customs of that time, was that Mary was heading to Lazarus's tomb to weep there, a customary act of grief. This verse sets the scene for Jesus' climactic encounter with Mary and the subsequent raising of Lazarus, highlighting the mourners' profound misunderstanding of the true purpose of Mary's departure.

John 11 31 Context

John 11:31 is set in the dramatic unfolding of Lazarus's death and Jesus's eventual arrival in Bethany. Lazarus, Mary and Martha's brother, has been dead for four days. Martha had already met Jesus outside the village, where she confessed her faith in Him as the Christ and the Resurrection and the Life (Jn 11:21-27). She then returned to quietly inform Mary that Jesus was calling for her (Jn 11:28).

Culturally, Jewish mourning customs were very public and communal. Extended family, friends, and even professional mourners would gather at the bereaved house for a seven-day period. Weeping and lamentation were prominent parts of this process, and visiting the tomb to continue grieving was a common and expected practice. The house was a place of intense, open sorrow. The mourners from Jerusalem were likely prominent citizens, fulfilling the social obligation of comforting the grieving sisters. Their immediate assumption in this verse is entirely consistent with the expected behaviors surrounding death and grief in that era.

John 11 31 Word analysis

• The Jews (οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι, hoi Ioudaioi): In John's Gospel, this term has varied uses. Here, it generally refers to the people, especially the mourners, who had come from Jerusalem to console Mary and Martha (Jn 11:19). While sometimes referring to hostile religious authorities in other contexts, here it signifies a crowd of Jewish people, largely observers.
• who had come with her into the house: Emphasizes their role as comforters and participants in the communal mourning rituals. Their presence highlights the scale of the grief.
• when they saw: Their actions are based on observation and a natural human interpretation of events, rather than spiritual insight.
• that Mary rose up quickly (ἀνέστη ταχὺ, anestē tachy): "Rose up" indicates a decisive movement. "Quickly" emphasizes Mary's immediate, eager, and urgent response to the call from Jesus through Martha. It highlights her fervent desire to meet Jesus.
• and went out (ἐξῆλθεν, exēlthen): Signifies a direct departure from the confines of the mourning house, toward an unknown (to the onlookers) destination.
• followed her (ἠκολούθησαν αὐτῇ, ēkolouthēsan autē): Their physical act of pursuing Mary. It implies both concern for her and a desire to continue observing or participating in the mourning process. This is a physical following, distinct from spiritual discipleship.
• supposing (δοκοῦντες, dokountes): Denotes an assumption or belief based on incomplete information or conventional understanding. It directly indicates their misinterpretation of Mary's true purpose. Their expectation is grounded in human custom, not divine purpose.
• that she was going to the tomb (ὑπάγειν εἰς τὸ μνημεῖον, hypagein eis to mnēmeion): The tomb was the central location for ongoing grief. This assumption perfectly aligns with cultural expectations for mourners in ancient Judaism, especially on the fourth day after death when decay was believed to set in.
• to weep there (ἵνα κλαύσῃ ἐκεῖ, hina klausē ekei): This states the assumed reason for her visit to the tomb. It reflects the expected expression of grief—continual lamentation at the gravesite.

Words-group analysis

• "The Jews who had come with her into the house": This group represents the social obligation of comfort and shared grief within the community. They are observers and participants in human ritual, unaware of the divine drama about to unfold.
• "rose up quickly and went out": This phrase encapsulates Mary's eager and immediate obedience to Jesus' call, showcasing her devotion and quick faith. It is an abrupt change from the expected posture of a bereaved sister.
• "followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there": This entire clause reveals the dramatic irony of the situation. The mourners, attempting to continue their comfort and shared grief, are led directly to the very location where Jesus is about to display His ultimate power over death, completely misinterpreting Mary's divine appointment. Their human custom-bound logic blinds them to the deeper reality.

John 11 31 Bonus section

• Dramatic Irony: The mourners' intention to follow Mary to weep at the tomb unknowingly leads them to the very place where weeping is about to turn into rejoicing through a miraculous resurrection. This is a classic example of dramatic irony, a common literary device in John's Gospel.
• The Power of a Call: Mary's immediate, "quick" response to the discreet call from Jesus (through Martha) demonstrates profound respect and faith. It underlines the importance of being responsive to the Lord's presence and invitation.
• The Bystander Effect: While following Mary, the mourners remain passive until the miracle. Their role is to witness and provide testimony, transitioning from empathetic comforters to awe-struck spectators. This collective witness adds significant weight to the miracle of Lazarus's raising.
• Preparation for Revelation: The gathering of a significant crowd (the mourners) at the tomb serves God's purpose by providing many eyewitnesses to the greatest public sign of Jesus' divinity recorded in John's Gospel, setting the stage for one of Jesus' most profound "I Am" statements: "I am the resurrection and the life."

John 11 31 Commentary

John 11:31 succinctly captures the deep cultural immersion in Jewish mourning rites and presents a striking example of human misunderstanding juxtaposed against divine purpose. The mourners, accustomed to specific protocols for death, naturally assumed Mary's quick departure signified an intense episode of private grief at her brother's gravesite. This human expectation sets up the powerful revelation of Jesus' authority over death, the very reality Mary was rushing to meet. Her "quick" action is significant, not just a matter of pace, but an eagerness rooted in faith and devotion to Jesus, contrasting with the purely emotional or ritualistic weeping. The irony is profound: these witnesses are following her not to the tomb for weeping, but, unwittingly, to witness the Resurrection and the Life personified. Their presence becomes crucial, providing a crowd to attest to the coming miracle, making them unexpected participants in God's grand plan, even in their misapprehension.