John 11 37

John 11:37 kjv

And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?

John 11:37 nkjv

And some of them said, "Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?"

John 11:37 niv

But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?"

John 11:37 esv

But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?"

John 11:37 nlt

But some said, "This man healed a blind man. Couldn't he have kept Lazarus from dying?"

John 11 verses

John 11 37 Meaning

John 11:37 reveals the divided sentiment among the onlookers at Lazarus's tomb. While acknowledging Jesus's widely recognized miracle of opening the eyes of the blind man, some skeptically question why he did not exercise similar power to prevent Lazarus's death. This verse underscores the limited human perspective that often fails to grasp God's deeper purpose and timing, viewing Jesus's power in terms of preventing suffering rather than conquering death itself.

John 11 37 Context

John chapter 11 narrates one of Jesus's most profound miracles: the raising of Lazarus from the dead. The verse immediately follows Jesus's deeply moved and troubled emotional reaction to the overwhelming grief of Mary and the other mourners, culminating in His weeping. Jesus has already revealed to Martha His identity as the "resurrection and the life" (Jn 11:25-26), but the public spectacle at the tomb is meant to reveal this truth powerfully to a wider audience, including potential skeptics. Historically, Jewish mourning practices were elaborate and involved many people, some professional mourners, making Lazarus's funeral a significant gathering. This large crowd, with its diverse opinions and reactions, sets the stage for Jesus's greatest public demonstration of power before His own crucifixion. The specific mention of the blind man from John 9 grounds their question in a widely recognized, undeniable past miracle, making their present skepticism more pointed and dramatic.

John 11 37 Word analysis

• But: Greek δὲ (de). Marks a shift or contrast in thought, indicating a differing opinion from those who wept with Mary and Martha.
• some of them: Greek τίνες ἐξ αὐτῶν (tines ex auton). Not all, suggesting a division in belief or understanding among the crowd present. It isolates those expressing doubt.
• said: Greek ἔλεγον (elegon). Imperfect tense, meaning "they were saying" or "kept saying," implying a murmuring or ongoing discussion, not a singular statement. This adds to the sense of a public deliberation.
• Could not: Greek οὐκ ἠδύνατο (ouk edynato). The negative particle οὐκ combined with the imperfect verb "was able" forms a rhetorical question expecting an affirmative answer, yet expressing surprise or skepticism: "Surely he could have, couldn't he? So why didn't he?"
• he who opened: Greek ὁ ἀνοίξας (ho anoixas). Refers to Jesus, using a participial phrase to clearly identify Him by His previous, powerful, and undeniable miracle.
• the eyes of the blind man: Greek τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς τοῦ τυφλοῦ (tous ophthalmous tou typhlou). A direct and undisputed reference to the miracle in John 9, which deeply impressed the people and affirmed Jesus's divine power.
• have kept: Greek ποιῆσαι (poiēsai) linked with ἵνα (hina) "to make so that." Expresses the intention of an action, focusing on preventing death rather than overcoming it.
• this man also: Greek καὶ οὗτος (kai houtos). "This one too." Implies that if he did it for the blind man, he should have done it for Lazarus as well, demonstrating a consistent, immediate power.
• from dying: Greek μὴ ἀποθάνῃ (mē apothanē). The negative μὴ (mē) prevents death, showing their focus on the absence of death rather than resurrection.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "But some of them said": This phrasing highlights the existence of unbelief and questioning even within the mourning crowd, setting a tension between acknowledged past power and perceived present inaction. It indicates not all present shared the same grief or belief in Jesus.
• "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man": This is an undeniable premise for their question. They are not doubting his ability to heal a significant ailment. This acknowledges Jesus's miraculous power from a previous well-known event (John 9), which implicitly strengthens their expectation for him to act now.
• "have kept this man also from dying?": This part reveals the crux of their doubt and limited understanding. They question Jesus's consistency, compassion, or full power. They limit His work to prevention of death, missing His higher purpose of demonstrating victory over death. It contrasts their expectation of physical intervention with Jesus's plan for spiritual revelation.

John 11 37 Bonus section

The question posed in John 11:37, while seemingly skeptical, is rooted in an imperfect but genuine recognition of Jesus's divine power. It represents a threshold of belief – acknowledging His capacity for miracles, yet unable to fully comprehend His sovereignty over life and death or His strategic delays for a greater demonstration of glory. This limited faith provides a perfect foil for the impending miracle, showcasing that Jesus operates on a timetable and with intentions far beyond human reasoning. It underscores a key Johannine theme: that signs (miracles) are meant to lead to deeper faith, yet even impressive signs do not always prevent lingering doubt, especially among those resistant to a fuller understanding of Jesus's messianic claims. This initial questioning prepares the reader to witness the unparalleled glory of the Resurrection and the Life.

John 11 37 Commentary

John 11:37 captures a moment of human wrestling with the apparent incongruity between God's demonstrated power and seemingly unanswered prayers or allowed suffering. The onlookers, having witnessed or heard of Jesus's remarkable miracle in John 9, acknowledge His power to heal and restore. Their question, "Could not he... have kept this man also from dying?" is not a direct denial of His ability, but rather a profound bewilderment, an emotional challenge rooted in their finite perspective. They seek an explanation for what they perceive as inconsistency or a lack of immediate, life-saving intervention. This challenge ironically sets the stage for a far greater display of Jesus's power: the raising of Lazarus, which transcends mere prevention of death to an outright conquest over it. The verse powerfully demonstrates that God's plans are often grander than our immediate desires, requiring us to look beyond temporary relief to eternal resurrection.

Example: Much like how we might question why God allows suffering or illness, even after witnessing past acts of healing or provision, these mourners reflect the universal human tendency to interpret God's will through our limited understanding of His timing and ultimate purpose.