Devine Scripture

John 11:26

What does John 11:26 mean?

A plain-English look at John 11:26 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What John 11:26 means

Jesus continues, promising that whoever lives and believes in Him shall never die, and He asks Martha, “Believest thou this?” He presses for a personal response, moving from truth declared to faith embraced. The promise is of unbroken life—though the body may die, the believer’s life in Him does not cease. By coupling life with belief, He calls for trust that rests in Him as the source. The question invites Martha to step beyond general assent to a confession anchored in His person. Faith here is not abstract; it is relational and decisive.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

and whosoever liveth and believeth on me shall never die. Believest thou this?

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

and whosoever liveth and believeth on me shall never die. Believest thou this?

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And no one who is living and has faith in me will ever see death. Is this your faith?

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and every one who is living and believing in me shall not die--to the age;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And every one that liveth and believeth in me shall not die for ever. Believest thou this?

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and every one who lives and believes on me shall never die. Believest thou this?

Context

Having declared Himself the resurrection and the life, Jesus applies the truth to Martha with a direct question. This summons a confession that will serve as a model of faith in the face of death. The next verse records her strong affirmation of His identity as the Christ, the Son of God. This completes the theological dialogue and sets the stage for shifting attention to Mary and the gathered mourners, through whom the miracle will be publicly displayed.

v.25Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth on me, though he die, yet shall he live;

v.26This passage

v.27She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I have believed that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, even he that cometh into the world.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • John 9:35

    Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and finding him, he said, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?

  • John 6:50

    This is the bread which cometh down out of heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.

  • Matthew 26:53

    Or thinkest thou that I cannot beseech my Father, and he shall even now send me more than twelve legions of angels?

  • John 14:10

    Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I say unto you I speak not from myself: but the Father abiding in me doeth his works.

  • John 8:51

    Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my word, he shall never see death.

  • 1 John 5:10

    He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in him: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he hath not believed in the witness that God hath borne concerning his Son.

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