John 11 44

John 11:44 kjv

And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

John 11:44 nkjv

And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Loose him, and let him go."

John 11:44 niv

The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go."

John 11:44 esv

The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go."

John 11:44 nlt

And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, "Unwrap him and let him go!"

John 11 verses

John 11 44 Meaning

John 11:44 describes the moment Lazarus emerges from the tomb, alive and still bound in his grave cloths, following Jesus's command to "Come out!" Jesus then instructs those present to remove the bindings, symbolizing complete freedom and release from the power and restrictions of death. This verse signifies Jesus's ultimate authority over death and the tangible manifestation of His life-giving power, yet it also highlights the human role in fully experiencing and actualizing that newfound freedom.

John 11 44 Context

John 11 is one of the most profound narratives in the Gospels, detailing Jesus's delay in responding to Lazarus's illness, His subsequent journey to Bethany, and the miraculous raising of Lazarus from the dead. This event serves as a climactic "sign" in John's Gospel, definitively demonstrating Jesus's claim to be "the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25-26). By waiting four days, Jesus ensured that Lazarus was truly dead and decomposition had begun (v.39), removing any doubt about the miracle's authenticity and increasing its impact. This powerful display of divine authority deeply impressed some but infuriated others, leading directly to the chief priests and Pharisees plotting to kill Jesus (John 11:47-53).

The historical and cultural context involves Jewish burial practices. Upon death, a body was washed and then wrapped in long strips of linen cloth, sometimes treated with spices (John 19:39-40, though Lazarus's family might not have afforded/had time for that, given the swift burial mentioned). A separate cloth, called a soudarion, would cover the face. These wrappings, especially for the hands and feet (kéria), would tightly bind the body, making movement impossible. For Lazarus to walk out while still bound highlights the supernatural power at play, yet the command to "unbind him" shows his continued human condition, distinct from Jesus's resurrection body.

John 11 44 Word analysis

• The man who had died: (ὁ τεθνηκώς - ho tethnekōs) Greek for "the one having died." The perfect active participle emphasizes his past state as undeniably and definitively dead.
• came out: (ἐξῆλθεν - exēlchen) Aorist active indicative, simply "he came out." A direct, immediate, and visible action, in response to Jesus's call.
• his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen: (δεδεμένος τοὺς πόδας καὶ τὰς χεῖρας κειρίαις - dedemenos tous podas kai tas cheiras keiriais)
  • wrapped: (δεδεμένος - dedemenos) Perfect passive participle, meaning "having been bound." It describes Lazarus's condition upon exiting the tomb – still in the state of being bound.
  • strips of linen: (κειρίαις - keiriais) Refers to long bands or strips of cloth used for wrapping the dead. These were restrictive, preventing movement.
• and a cloth around his face: (καὶ ἡ ὄψις αὐτοῦ σουδαρίῳ περιεδέδετο - kai hē opsis autou soudariō periededeto)
  • cloth: (σουδαρίῳ - soudariō) Refers to a face-cloth, a smaller linen cloth that would cover the face, distinct from the body wrappings. It further signifies the state of death and impedes vision and breath.
  • around: (περιεδέδετο - periededeto) Imperfect passive verb, indicating he was still wrapped around the face, emphasizing the ongoing condition from the moment of death.
• Jesus said to them: Demonstrates Jesus's continued active role and directive authority.
• Take off the grave clothes: (Λύσατε αὐτόν - Lysate auton) Literally, "Loosen him!" An imperative command, emphasizing the act of untying and unbinding. This implies the removal of the specific restrictive wrappings.
• and let him go: (καὶ ἀφετε ὑπάγειν - kai aphete hypagein) Another imperative, meaning "permit him to go" or "release him." This completes the liberation, granting him full freedom of movement.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "The man who had died came out": This phrase dramatically underscores the supernatural reality of the event. A physically dead and decomposing body responds to Jesus's voice and emerges.
• "his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face": This vivid description confirms the reality of Lazarus's death and burial, highlighting the practical impediment to movement. He is alive, but not yet free to fully live.
• "Jesus said to them, 'Take off the grave clothes and let him go.'": This is a powerful two-part command from Jesus. "Take off" addresses the physical restraints, requiring human participation. "Let him go" declares his full freedom, empowering his integration back into life without the physical symbols of death's bondage. It's a cooperative act; Jesus gives life, but humans can facilitate the full experience of that life by removing lingering restraints.

John 11 44 Bonus section

• Contrast with Jesus's own resurrection: In John 20:5-7, when Peter and John enter Jesus's tomb, they find the grave clothes neatly folded and left behind. This is a crucial distinction from Lazarus. Lazarus was brought back to his mortal life and body, thus needing to be unbound. Jesus, however, rose in a glorified body, having utterly conquered death; the grave clothes were no longer necessary, signifying not just a return to life, but a new, completely transformed kind of life, free from the constraints of the old. He didn't just come out of the grave; He transcended it.
• The communal aspect of liberation: Jesus instructs them (the crowd) to "Take off the grave clothes." This implies that while new life comes from Christ alone, sometimes fellow believers are instruments in helping others shed their spiritual "grave clothes"—old habits, sins, or mistaken beliefs that prevent them from fully embracing their freedom in Christ. This highlights the importance of spiritual community and discipleship.
• Polemics against contemporary beliefs: The raising of Lazarus was a direct challenge to the Sadducees, a prominent Jewish sect who denied the resurrection of the dead. This miracle offered undeniable proof, witnessed by many, of God's power to grant life beyond the grave. It also showed Jesus's divine authority, surpassing even the prophets who had previously raised the dead (Elijah, Elisha), as Jesus spoke to the dead directly by His own power.

John 11 44 Commentary

John 11:44 serves as a profound illustration of Jesus's power over physical death and its symbolic extension to spiritual rebirth. Jesus resurrects Lazarus, a truly dead man, proving His identity as the source of all life. However, Lazarus, though alive, is not immediately fully free. He is bound by the garments of his prior death. Jesus's command, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go," is significant: while divine power initiates new life, human agency (here, the disciples and witnesses) is often involved in the complete liberation process. These grave clothes can be seen as representing the remnants of a past life, sins, old habits, or spiritual hindrances that, even after a spiritual awakening, can still bind believers. True freedom in Christ means not only being made alive but also actively shedding those things that keep us from walking fully in the newness of life. It’s a call to both accept God’s miraculous work and engage in the practical work of sanctification.