Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he spoke of taking rest in sleep.
Parallel translations
- KJV Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.
- BSB They thought that Jesus was talking about actual sleep, but He was speaking about the death of Lazarus.
- NKJV However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep.
- NASB Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about actual sleep.
- NLT They thought Jesus meant Lazarus was simply sleeping, but Jesus meant Lazarus had died.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
John explains that Jesus meant Lazarus' death, though the disciples thought He meant ordinary sleep. The narrator clarifies the misunderstanding.
Overview
This editorial note removes any ambiguity about Jesus' words. It underscores how readily Jesus' deeper meaning was missed. The clarification prepares for His plain announcement that Lazarus has died.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 1
- Matt 9:24he said to them, “Make room, because the girl isn’t dead, but sleeping.” They were ridiculing him.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.
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Original language
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