Devine Scripture

John 11:40

What does John 11:40 mean?

A plain-English look at John 11:40 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What John 11:40 means

Jesus answers Martha, reminding her of His earlier assurance: if she believed, she would see the glory of God. He draws a direct line between trusting Him and witnessing God’s manifest power. This is not a formula but a relational promise: faith opens the eyes to what God is doing in and through His Son. The focus is on God’s glory, not merely on relief from grief. Jesus is about to reveal that glory in a way no one expected. The call is to trust His word beyond what senses report, so that God’s reality will be seen in the darkest place.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou believedst, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou believedst, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Jesus said to her, Did I not say to you that if you had faith you would see the glory of God?

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

Jesus saith to her, `Said I not to thee, that if thou mayest believe, thou shalt see the glory of God?'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Jesus saith to her: Did not I say to thee that if thou believe, thou shalt see the glory of God?

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Jesus says to her, Did I not say to thee, that if thou shouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory ofGod?

Context

This reply follows Martha’s concern about decay. Jesus brings her back to the central lesson of the chapter: belief leading to the sight of God’s glory. Having secured her trust, the narrative will move to action. The next verse shows the stone being taken away, and Jesus lifting His eyes in thanksgiving to the Father. The miracle is now framed as a revelation to faith and a testimony to the unity of the Father and the Son.

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.

v.40This passage

v.41So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou heardest me.

Cross references

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

  • John 9:3

    Jesus answered, Neither did this man sin, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

  • 2 Corinthians 3:18

    But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit.

  • John 12:41

    These things said Isaiah, because he saw his glory; and he spake of him.

  • John 11:23

    Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.

  • John 1:14

    And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth.

  • 2 Chronicles 20:20

    And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem: believe in Jehovah your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.

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