John 11:38
What does John 11:38 mean?
A plain-English look at John 11:38 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 11:38 means
Deeply moved again, Jesus comes to the tomb, a cave with a stone against it. The description situates the drama in a tomb typical of the time, emphasizing the finality of Lazarus’s condition. Jesus’ continued groaning shows He does not approach death lightly; He confronts it with solemn resolve. The stone, sealing the cave, represents the barrier no human can move spiritually. Standing before this obstacle, Jesus is poised to command what only He can command. The verse creates a stark contrast between the heavy stone of death and the living voice that will soon break its hold.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone lay against it.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone lay against it.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949So Jesus, deeply troubled in heart, came to the place of the dead. It was a hole in the rock, and a stone was over the opening.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Jesus, therefore, again groaning in himself, cometh to the tomb, and it was a cave, and a stone was lying upon it,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Jesus therefore again groaning in himself, cometh to the sepulchre. Now it was a cave; and a stone was laid over it.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Jesus therefore, again deeply moved in himself, comes to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.
Context
Following the mixed reactions of the crowd, Jesus approaches the tomb in visible agitation. The narrative now fixes our eyes on the place of death, with all the physical details in view. The next verse records His command to remove the stone and Martha’s concern about decay after four days. This sets up Jesus’ insistence on faith and prepares for the public prayer and the authoritative call that will bring Lazarus out.
v.37But some of them said, Could not this man, who opened the eyes of him that was blind, have caused that this man also should not die?
v.38This passage
v.39Jesus saith, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time the body decayeth; for he hath been dead four days.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Ezekiel 9:4
And Jehovah said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry over all the abominations that are done in the midst thereof.
- Genesis 49:29
And he charged them, and said unto them, I am to be gathered unto my people: bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite,
- Luke 24:2
And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb.
- Ezekiel 21:6
Sigh therefore, thou son of man; with the breaking of thy loins and with bitterness shalt thou sigh before their eyes.
- Mark 15:46
And he bought a linen cloth, and taking him down, wound him in the linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb which had been hewn out of a rock; and he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb.
- Isaiah 22:16
What doest thou here? and whom hast thou here, that thou hast hewed thee out here a sepulchre? hewing him out a sepulchre on high, graving a habitation for himself in the rock!
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