John 11 42

John 11:42 kjv

And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.

John 11:42 nkjv

And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me."

John 11:42 niv

I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me."

John 11:42 esv

I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me."

John 11:42 nlt

You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me."

John 11 verses

John 11 42 Meaning

Jesus' statement in John 11:42 reveals His intimate and constant communion with God the Father. He openly acknowledges His assurance that the Father always hears Him, signifying a perfect unity of will and purpose. However, the true intent of His public declaration, especially His thanksgiving, was not for His own benefit, but specifically for the benefit of the multitude witnessing the event. Jesus explicitly states His desire that through this demonstration, people would be moved to believe in His divine origin and mission—that God Himself sent Him. This underscores the pedagogical and evangelistic purpose behind Jesus' miracles and public ministry.

John 11 42 Context

John 11:42 is situated at a pivotal moment in Jesus' ministry—the raising of Lazarus from the dead. This event, occurring just before the Passover, represents the peak of Jesus' public miracles and a decisive turning point towards His own crucifixion. Lazarus, a beloved friend, had been dead and buried for four days, assuring physical death had occurred. Martha, Mary, and a crowd of mourners and onlookers, including some hostile Jewish leaders, were present at the tomb. Before commanding Lazarus to come out, Jesus offers this prayer of thanksgiving to the Father (Jn 11:41-42) and it serves as the preface to the most dramatic demonstration of His power over death thus far. The immediate context of this statement clarifies that Jesus is intentionally performing a public act, making sure those present understand the divine origin of the power about to be displayed. Historically, the Jews of this era held diverse views on resurrection (Pharisees affirmed, Sadducees denied), and this miracle challenged those beliefs and the authority structures of the time. Jesus’ emphasis on being "sent" by God directly confronted any claims that His power was from an illegitimate source, a frequent accusation against Him by the religious establishment.

John 11 42 Word analysis

• And (Καὶ - Kai): Connects Jesus' thanksgiving (Jn 11:41) to the explanation of its purpose. It signifies continuity of thought but also introduces a significant qualification.

• I knew (ἐγὼ ᾔδειν - egō ēdein): "I" (ἐγὼ) is emphatic in Greek, highlighting Jesus' unique personal and settled knowledge. "Knew" (ᾔδειν) is from eidenai, implying intuitive, direct, and continuous comprehension, rather than learned knowledge. Jesus possessed this awareness from His divine nature, not acquired it.

• that (ὅτι - hoti): Introduces the specific content of what Jesus intrinsically knew.

• You always (Πάντοτε σὺ - Pantote sy): "Always" (Πάντοτε) stresses the continuous and uninterrupted nature of the Father's attentiveness to Jesus. "You" (σὺ) is again emphatic, underscoring the specific and perfect relationship between Jesus and His Father.

• hear Me (ἀκούεις μου - akoueis mou): Present active indicative, signifying an ongoing state. The Father consistently and receptively hears Jesus' prayers and desires. This implies perfect unity of will and purpose; Jesus' requests are always in line with the Father's will.

• but because of (ἀλλὰ διὰ - alla dia): "But" (ἀλλὰ) indicates a strong contrast between Jesus' inherent knowledge and His outward action. "Because of" (διὰ) explicitly states the reason or purpose for His verbal prayer.

• the people standing around (τὸν ὄχλον τὸν περιεστῶτα - ton ochlon ton periestōta): Refers to the numerous observers at Lazarus' tomb. "People" (ochlon) encompasses a diverse crowd—friends, mourners, curious onlookers, and likely those skeptical or hostile. "Standing around" (περιεστῶτα) emphasizes their immediate and attentive presence, making them direct witnesses.

• I said this (εἶπον - eipon): "I" is implicit. "Said this" refers to the specific vocalized thanksgiving prayer uttered by Jesus in the preceding verse (Jn 11:41). It's a deliberate, public statement.

• that they may believe (ἵνα πιστεύσωσιν - hina pisteusōsin): A purpose clause (hina with the subjunctive mood). This explicitly states the ultimate goal: the spiritual conversion of the witnesses. "Believe" (pisteusōsin) means to place trust, have faith in, be convinced of.

• that You sent Me (ὅτι σύ με ἀπέστειλας - hoti sy me apesteilas): The core object of their belief. "You" (σὺ) again emphatic, emphasizing divine agency. "Sent" (ἀπέστειλας) signifies a commissioning, an authoritative delegation from the Father to the Son. This points directly to Jesus' unique identity as God's chosen and authorized messenger, emphasizing His divine Sonship and authority rather than merely being a prophet.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "I knew that You always hear Me": This phrase underlines Jesus' unshakeable, internal understanding of His divine Sonship and perfect, unbroken fellowship with the Father. It reveals His profound confidence and peace rooted in constant divine attunement, signifying His full and conscious deity.
  • "but because of the people standing around I said this": This is a deliberate explanation of His public actions. Jesus performs and speaks for others' benefit, not His own. It highlights His self-emptying love and strategic wisdom in His mission to bring salvation through belief. His public prayer serves as a divine object lesson.
  • "that they may believe that You sent Me": This clause encapsulates the central purpose of Jesus' entire ministry in John's Gospel. The miracle of Lazarus' resurrection, preceded by this explicit prayer, is a profound sign intended to lead people to faith in Jesus' unique, divine commission and authority from God the Father.

John 11 42 Bonus section

The significance of Jesus' words "that You sent Me" cannot be overstated in the context of John's Gospel. The term "sent" (ἀπέστειλας) is a central theological concept (Johannine theology) used to define Jesus' identity as the Father's authoritative and divine representative. He is not merely a prophet, but the One with inherent authority from the Father, carrying out the Father's will and embodying His presence. This assertion serves as a polemic against Jewish leaders who perceived Jesus' claims of equality with God as blasphemy. The raising of Lazarus, framed by this statement, provides irrefutable evidence of this divine commission. For some present at the tomb, the impact was profound, leading to belief (Jn 11:45). However, for others, the miracle led to intensified opposition, solidifying their intent to kill Jesus (Jn 11:46-53), underscoring the polarizing effect of encountering divine truth. Jesus' prayer emphasizes that God does not work in secret; His great deeds, particularly through Christ, are meant to be seen and understood by the world to provoke faith.

John 11 42 Commentary

John 11:42 provides profound insight into Jesus' motivations and His relationship with the Father. It is a moment where Jesus pulls back the veil, allowing us a glimpse into His unique intimacy with God while simultaneously addressing the urgent need for human faith. He doesn't pray for the Father's attention, as He already possesses an inherent and constant communion, but rather He prays aloud for the observers. His thanksgiving, not a plea, publicly demonstrates that His power originates entirely from the Father, thereby validating His claims of divine sonship and refuting any accusation that His power comes from another source. This powerful statement preceding the resurrection of Lazarus forces onlookers to confront Jesus’ authority. It presents them with a clear choice: either believe that He is truly sent by God or harden their hearts further against the undeniable evidence. It highlights that God's glory (Jn 11:4) is ultimately manifest through people believing in Jesus as the Son He sent. This is a model for understanding Jesus’ miracles—not as mere spectacles, but as purposeful acts intended to draw people into a saving knowledge of God through Him.