John 11:23
What does John 11:23 mean?
A plain-English look at John 11:23 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 11:23 means
Jesus assures Martha, “Thy brother shall rise again.” The promise is immediate and personal, though Martha will initially understand it in terms of the final resurrection. Jesus’ words carry both the general doctrine and a specific pledge: Lazarus’s story is not finished. He meets Martha’s faith with a concrete hope that reframes her grief. The assurance does not minimize sorrow; it redirects it toward expectation. This promise lays the groundwork for revealing that the power of resurrection is not merely a distant event but is present in the person standing before her.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Jesus said to her, Your brother will come to life again.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Jesus saith to her, `Thy brother shall rise again.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Jesus saith to her: Thy brother shall rise again.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Jesus says to her, Thy brother shall rise again.
Context
Following Martha’s confession of trust in Jesus’ relationship with the Father, Jesus speaks a direct promise. This prompts Martha to express her belief in the last-day resurrection, which is orthodox but incomplete for the moment at hand. The next verses will lift her eyes from a future event to a present Person, as Jesus declares Himself the resurrection and the life. The conversation is narrowing toward a Christ-centered understanding that will soon be confirmed at the tomb.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- John 11:43
And when he had thus spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
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