John 11 38

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 verses

John 11 38 Meaning

John 11:38 describes Jesus' inner turmoil as He approaches the tomb of Lazarus. He is again deeply agitated and indignant within Himself, moving towards the burial place. The verse then factually details the tomb as a cave with a large stone sealing its entrance, setting the physical scene for the profound event to follow. It highlights Jesus' intense emotional connection to the suffering caused by death, juxtaposed with the stark reality of the finality of a sealed tomb.

John 11 38 Context

John chapter 11 narrates the story of Lazarus' sickness, death, and resurrection, which serves as a pivotal moment revealing Jesus' identity as the Lord of life and death. Prior to verse 38, Jesus had deliberately delayed His arrival, allowing Lazarus to die and be buried for four days. He then had a theological discourse with Martha, declaring Himself "the resurrection and the life." Upon arriving at the tomb, Jesus encountered the profound grief of Mary and the other mourners, prompting Him to be "deeply moved in His spirit and troubled" (v. 33) and even to weep (v. 35). Verse 38 specifically details Jesus' second experience of this intense internal agitation as He directly approaches the physical location where death had exerted its claim. The description of the tomb, a cave sealed by a stone, firmly establishes the concrete reality of Lazarus' death and the seemingly impossible situation Jesus was about to confront. This immediate context underscores Jesus' humanity, His deep empathy for suffering, and simultaneously prepares the reader for the dramatic display of His divine power over death itself. Historically and culturally, cave burials sealed with heavy stones were common Jewish practice, signifying the finality of death and securing the resting place.

John 11 38 Word analysis

• Then Jesus: (Greek: Ὁ οὖν Ἰησοῦς - Ho oun Iesous) The conjunction "oun" (then, therefore, accordingly) links this action directly to the previous scene of collective weeping and Jesus' earlier intense emotional response in verse 33. It emphasizes Jesus' deliberate and consequential move toward the tomb.
• deeply moved: (Greek: ἐμβριμώμενος - embrimōmenos) A powerful Greek term. It doesn't merely mean sadness or compassion but suggests a strong, indignant agitation, an inner commotion or even anger. Here, it likely conveys Jesus' righteous anger against death and the devastation it brings, viewing death as an enemy and an unnatural consequence of sin. It can also imply a stern command or a deeply felt spiritual struggle.
• again: (Greek: πάλιν - palin) This adverb is crucial, linking back to Jesus' first "deeply moved" state in verse 33. It signifies a recurrence of this intense emotional, perhaps indignant, agitation. It underlines the profound impact of witnessing human grief and the reality of death on Jesus.
• within himself: (Greek: ἐν ἑαυτῷ - en heautō) Emphasizes that this emotion was internal, a deep personal experience and struggle, not just an outward display. It was a profound churning within His spirit and being.
• came: (Greek: ἔρχεται - erchetai) The present tense form, often used in narrative to convey immediacy and vividness. It depicts Jesus' purposeful and resolute approach to the tomb.
• to the tomb: (Greek: εἰς τὸ μνημεῖον - eis to mnēmeion) Refers to the memorial or burial place. It's the destination of death's apparent victory.
• It was a cave: (Greek: Ἦν δὲ σπήλαιον - Ēn de spēlaion) A descriptive detail, noting that the tomb was a natural grotto or a rock-cut chamber, typical for burials in the Judean hills. This specifies the type of grave, setting the physical stage for the miracle.
• and a stone lay: (Greek: καὶ λίθος ἐπέκειτο - kai lithos epekeito) "A stone" (lithos) was a common feature, often a large, heavy disc rolled into a groove or a heavy block fitted over the entrance. "Lay upon/against" (epekeito) vividly describes how it sealed the entrance, signifying permanence and finality in ancient burial customs.
• against it: (Greek: ἐπ’ αὐτοῦ - ep' autou) Specifies the placement of the stone, securely closing the cave's opening.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "Then Jesus, deeply moved again within himself": This phrase encapsulates Jesus' profound human and divine emotional response. His "deeply moved again" signals a double wave of powerful agitation, demonstrating His shared human suffering but also His divine righteous indignation against death, a consequence of sin that violates God's created order. It shows His perfect empathy, experiencing sorrow while also spiritually warring against the cause of that sorrow.
• "came to the tomb": This is a decisive, purposeful action. Jesus' physical movement towards the tomb signifies His direct confrontation with death. He is not merely observing but is actively engaging with the realm where death holds sway. This physical journey represents the ultimate spiritual battle he is about to wage.
• "It was a cave, and a stone lay against it": This descriptive detail grounds the narrative in physical reality. The "cave" and the "stone" underscore the undisputed finality of Lazarus' death from a human perspective. The heavy stone serves as a concrete symbol of death's seal, emphasizing the seemingly impossible barrier that Jesus is about to overcome. It prepares the reader for the magnitude of the miracle, as there could be no doubt of Lazarus' four-day death once that stone was removed.

John 11 38 Bonus section

• Polemics Against Contemporary Beliefs: In this era, some Jewish traditions emphasized a final resurrection, but not necessarily in the way Jesus demonstrated His immediate power over it. Jesus' action here could be seen as a challenge to any limiting human understanding of divine power or timing concerning death and resurrection, affirming that "I am the resurrection" here and now, not just in the eschatological future.
• Anticipation of Resurrection: The explicit detail of the sealed stone, a barrier humanly impenetrable for resurrection without intervention, directly foreshadows the empty tomb of Jesus' own resurrection. The removal of the stone from Lazarus' tomb by command will echo in the rolling away of the stone from Jesus' tomb by angelic power, demonstrating absolute victory over death.
• Significance of "Embrimōmenos": This intense word points beyond mere sympathy. It signifies Jesus’ full identification with suffering humanity, battling against the very curse that afflicts them. It reveals a fierce compassion that manifests as righteous indignation against sin's ultimate consequence, death. This emotion is often glossed over, but it offers a profound insight into the Savior's heart.

John 11 38 Commentary

John 11:38 presents a powerful intersection of Jesus' humanity and deity. His "deeply moved again within himself" speaks to a profound inner conflict – not just sorrow for the deceased and the bereaved, but a righteous indignation against the ultimate enemy, Death, and the spiritual darkness it represents. This second instance of emotional turmoil highlights the intense personal battle Jesus was fighting even before uttering a command. He approached the tomb, the physical domain of death, with a storm of emotion within. The detailed description of the tomb – a cave sealed by a stone – serves a crucial narrative purpose. It solidifies the irreversible reality of Lazarus' death and burial from a human perspective, removing any ambiguity about his state. This concrete, immovable barrier amplifies the dramatic tension and prepares the ground for an indisputable miracle. Jesus, through His shared grief and fierce resolve, was about to challenge death directly, setting the stage for one of His most magnificent demonstrations of power, declaring Himself not only to be with the grieving, but to be the One who triumphs over the very cause of their grief.