John 11 34

John 11:34 kjv

And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.

John 11:34 nkjv

And He said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to Him, "Lord, come and see."

John 11:34 niv

"Where have you laid him?" he asked. "Come and see, Lord," they replied.

John 11:34 esv

And he said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to him, "Lord, come and see."

John 11:34 nlt

"Where have you put him?" he asked them. They told him, "Lord, come and see."

John 11 verses

John 11 34 Meaning

John 11:34 records Jesus' direct inquiry, "Where have you laid him?", addressing those present at Lazarus's home after his death. This question, though seemingly seeking information, serves deeper theological and narrative purposes. It draws the human participants into the dramatic events that are about to unfold, acknowledges the physical reality of death and burial from a human perspective, and directly sets the scene for Jesus to demonstrate His divine authority over life and death, culminating in Lazarus's resurrection. It is not a question born of ignorance, but an intentional engagement with the human situation.

John 11 34 Context

John 11:34 occurs during Jesus' journey to Bethany after hearing of Lazarus's illness and eventual death. He intentionally delays his arrival until four days after Lazarus has been entombed, underscoring the finality of the death by cultural standards and Martha's observation of decay (v.39). Mary and Martha, Lazarus's sisters, are in deep mourning, surrounded by other grievers. When Jesus arrives, Mary falls at his feet, expressing her belief that Lazarus would not have died had Jesus been there. The verse immediately follows Jesus being "deeply moved in spirit and troubled" (v.33) as he witnesses their profound sorrow, indicating his profound empathy and emotional connection to the human experience of loss, leading to the short but profound statement "Jesus wept" (v.35). Historically, Jewish burial customs involved swift burial in rock-cut tombs, with the body laid wrapped in linen, and sealed with a stone, which reinforces the seemingly irreversible situation.

John 11 34 Word analysis

• Where (Ποῦ - Pou): An adverb of place, interrogative, meaning "at what place" or "to what place." It demands a specific location. In the context of Jesus, this is not an expression of ignorance, as He has already stated Lazarus is dead and has divine foreknowledge (Jn 11:11,14). Instead, it serves to direct the conversation, involve the mourners in the narrative, and specifically pinpoint the site where His mighty act will be performed. It compels human participation and leads them to the tomb.

• have you laid (τέθεικατε - tetheikate): This is the perfect active indicative, second person plural of the verb τίθημι (tithēmi), meaning "to place," "to lay," or "to put." The perfect tense is crucial here; it signifies a completed action in the past whose results continue into the present. Lazarus has been laid in the tomb, and he remains laid there. This conveys a sense of finality and permanence from a human perspective – a sealed and settled fact of death. The "you" (plural) addresses Martha, Mary, and perhaps the surrounding mourners, involving them in the responsibility of the burial.

• him (αὐτόν - auton): The masculine accusative singular pronoun, directly referring to Lazarus, whose body is the subject of the previous action ("laid"). It centers the focus on the specific person who is deceased and in the tomb.

• he asked (εἶπεν - eipen): This simple past tense of λέγω (legō), "to say" or "to speak," clearly attributes the question to Jesus. It indicates a direct verbal inquiry. Jesus' initiative in asking underscores His active engagement and leadership in the situation.

• "Where have you laid him?": This complete phrase, though a question, functions as a powerful pivot. It acknowledges the sorrow, the human ritual of burial, and the perceived finality of death, all while serving as a precursor to Jesus's miraculous intervention. The question is loaded; it elicits a geographical direction (to the tomb) but anticipates a theological revelation (the triumph over death at that very spot). It ensures that all witnesses will understand the grave's location, making the subsequent resurrection unmistakable.

John 11 34 Bonus section

The deliberate action of Jesus asking about the tomb's location highlights a pattern where Jesus often uses physical proximity and observable reality as a backdrop for His spiritual and miraculous work. He often required people to physically present issues (blind man, sick) or direct Him to the problem (as in this case with the tomb). This also relates to His Incarnation, as He enters fully into the human experience, operating within its parameters even when transcending them. His question ensures that everyone involved becomes a direct participant and witness, grounding the impending miracle firmly in their reality.

John 11 34 Commentary

John 11:34 encapsulates Jesus' unique interaction with human grief and the reality of death. His question, "Where have you laid him?", is a deeply empathetic and strategically important inquiry rather than a request for unknown information. It invites Mary and Martha to lead Him to the place of their sorrow and hopelessness, involving them actively in the journey to confront death head-on. By directing them to point out the specific location, Jesus highlights the human act of burial and the finality it signifies from their perspective. This setting of the scene – moving from general sorrow to the exact site of death's apparent victory – is essential for the dramatic display of His divine authority and power to reverse death, establishing Him as "the resurrection and the life" (Jn 11:25). His genuine empathy, evidenced by His preceding and subsequent emotions (troubled spirit, weeping), coexists with His sovereign intent to overcome death, marking this moment as a profound intersection of His humanity and divinity.