John 11:38 kjv
Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.
John 11:38 nkjv
Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it.
John 11:38 niv
Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance.
John 11:38 esv
Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it.
John 11:38 nlt
Jesus was still angry as he arrived at the tomb, a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance.
John 11 38 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 11:41 | "...Jesus lifted up His eyes..." | Jesus' prayer before raising Lazarus |
| Luke 23:53 | "...He rolled it away..." | The tomb of Jesus |
| John 19:41 | "Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden..." | Location of Jesus' tomb |
| Matthew 27:60 | "and placed it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out of the rock..." | Joseph of Arimathea's tomb |
| Mark 16:3 | "...who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?" | Women at Jesus' tomb |
| Romans 4:17 | "...God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did." | God's power over life and death |
| Ezekiel 37:1-14 | Vision of the valley of dry bones | God's power to revive the lifeless |
| Genesis 18:14 | "Is anything too hard for the LORD?" | God's omnipotence |
| 2 Corinthians 5:17 | "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation..." | Resurrection as new life |
| Romans 6:4 | "Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death..." | Baptism symbolizing death and resurrection |
| John 5:28-29 | "Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is..." | Future resurrection |
| Luke 1:37 | "For with God nothing will be impossible." | God's unlimited power |
| Philippians 3:10-11 | "...that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection..." | The power of Christ's resurrection |
| 1 Corinthians 15:20 | "But now Christ is risen from the dead..." | Christ's resurrection as a fact |
| Isaiah 26:19 | "Your dead shall live; together with my dead body they shall arise..." | Resurrection promise |
| Acts 2:24 | "whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it." | Christ's resurrection |
| Psalm 118:22 | "The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone." | Jesus as the rejected cornerstone |
| John 1:5 | "And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." | Light overcoming darkness |
| John 11:25 | "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life.'" | Jesus' declaration about Himself |
| John 20:27 | "Then He said to Thomas, 'Reach your finger here, and look at My hands...'" | Jesus showing His resurrected body |
John 11 verses
John 11 38 Meaning
Jesus, deeply moved, approached the tomb where Lazarus had been placed. The tomb was a cave, secured by a large stone. Jesus commanded, "Take away the stone," indicating that the physical barrier to death's grip must be removed for life to be restored. This act signified overcoming obstacles and the willingness to embrace God's power.
John 11 38 Context
In John chapter 11, Jesus arrives at Bethany four days after Lazarus’ death. Mary and Martha express their sorrow and their belief in Jesus' power, though they are confused why He didn't prevent Lazarus' death. Jesus, deeply moved by their grief and His own anticipation of the miracle, leads them to Lazarus' tomb. This event occurs shortly before Jesus' own crucifixion and resurrection, highlighting His authority over death and serving as a foreshadowing of His ultimate victory.
John 11 38 Word Analysis
- Again (πάλιν - palin): Not explicitly in this verse, but the theme of overcoming death is a repeat of previous miracles (e.g., raising Jairus' daughter). It speaks to Jesus' consistent power.
- there (ἐκεῖ - ekei): Indicates the location; a specific tomb, a place of finality for humans.
- was (ἦν - en): Imperfect tense, indicating a continuous state; it was a tomb.
- a tomb (μνῆμα - mnēma): Means a memorial, a grave, a place of burial. This is where death's victory was perceived to reside.
- and (καὶ - kai): Conjunction, connecting phrases.
- a stone (λίθος - lithos): A heavy, often large, stone used to seal the entrance of a tomb.
- lay (κείμενος - keimenos): A participle, meaning "lying," or "placed." The stone was in position.
- thereof (αὐτοῦ - autou): Possessive pronoun, referring to the tomb.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "was a tomb": Emphasizes the reality and finality of death that had taken hold of Lazarus.
- "and a stone lay thereof": Highlights the barrier that symbolized death's power and separation from life, preventing access.
John 11 38 Bonus Section
The command "Take away the stone" is a pivotal moment, moving from the emotional sorrow of death to the active demonstration of resurrection power. It’s not about God needing us to remove barriers, but about including us in His work. The stone, in Jewish custom, often served a significant purpose beyond sealing; it could have intricate carving and represented permanence. Its removal signifies a reversal of permanence and a challenge to the established order of death. This scene is often studied to understand God’s method of working miracles, which can involve preparatory human action before divine intervention.
John 11 38 Commentary
Jesus, facing the physical evidence of death (Lazarus entombed), issues a command that requires human participation and overcomes an immediate obstacle. The removal of the stone was not to allow Jesus in, but to allow Him to reveal His power over death to witnesses. This demonstrates that God's power often works in conjunction with our cooperation. It underscores that no barrier, not even the stone sealing death's domain, is insurmountable for Christ. The act is also a symbolic representation of the tomb being emptied of its occupant, anticipating Jesus' own resurrection.