John 11 6

John 11:6 kjv

When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.

John 11:6 nkjv

So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was.

John 11:6 niv

So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days,

John 11:6 esv

So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.

John 11:6 nlt

he stayed where he was for the next two days.

John 11 verses

John 11 6 Meaning

John 11:6 describes Jesus' intentional delay in responding to the news of Lazarus' severe illness. Despite hearing that Lazarus, whom He loved, was sick unto death, Jesus remained in the place He was for two more days. This delay, from a human perspective, appears counterintuitive or even unloving, but it was a purposeful act, designed by divine wisdom, to allow Lazarus to die and for a greater miracle – his resurrection – to occur, thereby magnifying the glory of God and revealing Jesus as the "Resurrection and the Life."

John 11 6 Context

John chapter 11 opens with the critical news that Lazarus of Bethany, whom Jesus loved, was gravely ill. Mary and Martha, his sisters, send word to Jesus, clearly expecting immediate action and healing, as Jesus had healed many others (Jn 11:3). Jesus was at this time likely in Perea, beyond the Jordan (Jn 10:40), a significant distance from Bethany. This particular context is crucial because Jewish custom dictated burial on the day of death, and there was a widespread belief that the soul lingered near the body for three days before finally departing. By delaying His arrival, Jesus ensured that Lazarus would be four days in the tomb, far beyond any natural possibility of recovery or resuscitation, removing all doubt about Lazarus's genuine death and subsequent divine resurrection. This set the stage for one of Jesus' most profound miracles, revealing His power over death and His identity as the source of all life. The event also served as a catalyst for the escalating plot against Jesus, as it solidified the resolve of His enemies to put Him to death (Jn 11:47-53).

John 11 6 Word analysis

• So (οὖν - oun): A transitional particle, "therefore" or "so," indicating a logical consequence or progression based on the preceding information (Jesus receiving news of Lazarus' sickness and his love for him). It highlights that Jesus' subsequent action (or inaction) is deliberate.
• when He heard (ὅτε ἤκουσεν - hote ēkousen): "Hote" signifies the specific moment. "Ēkousen" is aorist active, pointing to a definitive past action – He certainly heard the news. This confirms Jesus' full awareness of Lazarus' state.
• that he was sick (ὅτι ἀσθενεῖ - hoti asthenei): "Hoti" introduces the content of what was heard. "Asthenei" (present active indicative) denotes "is weak," "is sick," "is without strength." It strongly suggests a life-threatening illness, as implied by the plea for Jesus' help (Jn 11:3) and the eventual outcome. It conveys the immediacy and severity of Lazarus' condition from the perspective of the messengers.
• He then stayed (αὐτὸς μὲν ἔμεινεν - autos men emeinen):
  • He (autos): The emphatic pronoun "he himself," underscoring that Jesus' decision was personal and intentional. It highlights His sovereign will in this moment.
  • then (men): A particle often used to indicate a contrast or concession, here emphasizing the deliberate nature of His stay despite the urgent news. It can be translated as "indeed" or "certainly," drawing attention to the unexpected action.
  • stayed (emeinen): From "menō" (μένω), meaning "remained," "abode," "continued to stay." The aorist tense implies a definite decision to extend His current dwelling.
• two days more (δύο ἡμέρας ἔτι - dyo hēmeras eti):
  • two days (dyo hēmeras): A specific duration, precisely calculated in God's plan.
  • more (eti): "Yet," "still," "besides." It indicates that the delay was an addition to the normal expectation of immediate travel, further underscoring the deliberate nature of the postponement.
• in the place where He was (ἐν ᾧ ἦν τόπῳ - en hō ēn topō): "En hō" means "in which." "En topō" means "in the place." "Ēn" (imperfect indicative) signifies "He was," indicating His ongoing presence there before the news. This phrase highlights Jesus' physical location and His conscious choice to remain there for the specified time.

Words-group analysis:

• So, when He heard that he was sick: Establishes Jesus' complete knowledge of the critical situation. This is not a lapse of information but a sovereign response. The phrase highlights Jesus' compassion ("the one he loved is sick"), yet immediately contrasts it with His counterintuitive delay.
• He then stayed two days more in the place where He was: This is the core of the verse, demonstrating Jesus' intentional, divinely-guided delay. This phrase indicates divine strategy, allowing sufficient time for Lazarus to not just die, but also to be buried and for his physical decomposition to begin, making the future miracle undeniable proof of God's power over ultimate death. It shows a higher purpose at work than immediate human comfort.

John 11 6 Bonus section

The deliberate "two days more" period is a key theological and strategic element in John's narrative. From a Jewish cultural standpoint, a person was generally considered definitively dead after three days, as belief held that the soul might linger until then. By ensuring Lazarus was in the tomb for four days upon His arrival, Jesus transcended all common understanding of death and all hope of mere resuscitation, guaranteeing that no one could attribute Lazarus's return to life to natural means or magical trickery. This particular detail emphasizes the truly supernatural nature of the miracle. The narrative subtly challenges conventional human wisdom about urgency and intervention, portraying Jesus not merely as a healer who could prevent death, but as the master of death itself.

John 11 6 Commentary

John 11:6 is pivotal in the narrative of Lazarus's resurrection, serving as the theological linchpin for understanding God's timing and purposes. Jesus's delay was not out of indifference but was a calculated act of divine strategy. By allowing Lazarus to die and remain in the tomb for an undeniable period (which would total four days by Jesus's arrival, including travel time), Jesus ensured that the subsequent resurrection would be undeniably miraculous and a profound demonstration of His identity as the Lord of life and death, thereby bringing greater glory to God. This action reveals several truths: God's thoughts are higher than human thoughts (Isa 55:8-9); His power is most fully displayed when human remedies are exhausted; and His delays are not denials, but often preparations for greater blessings or revelations. The delay deepened the faith of the disciples and witnesses (Jn 11:15) and set the stage for the bold declaration by Jesus: "I am the resurrection and the life" (Jn 11:25). It reminds believers that waiting on God's timing, though often difficult, always serves His ultimate, good, and glorious purposes.