When the people who were at the house consoling Mary saw her leave so hastily, they assumed she was going to Lazarus’s grave to weep. So they followed her there.
Parallel translations
- WEB Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and were consoling her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying, “She is going to the tomb to weep there.”
- KJV The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there.
- BSB When the Jews who were in the house consoling Mary saw how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.
- NKJV Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and comforting her, when they saw that Mary rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying, “She is going to the tomb to weep there.”
- NASB Then the Jews who were with her in the house and were consoling her, when they saw that Mary had gotten up quickly and left, they followed her, thinking that she was going to the tomb to weep there.
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
The mourners follow Mary, assuming she is going to weep at the tomb. God uses their mistaken assumption to bring witnesses to the miracle.
Overview
The Jewish friends consoling Mary trail after her, supposing grief leads her to the grave. Their presence, though prompted by a wrong guess, ensures many will witness Lazarus being raised. The verse shows God's providence weaving even ordinary human motives into his purposes to display Christ's glory.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- John 11:19Many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to console them concerning their brother.
- Gen 37:35All his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. He said, “For I will go down to Sheol to my son mourning.” His father wept for him.
- 2 Sam 12:16–18David therefore begged God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night on the ground.
- 1 Cor 2:15But he who is spiritual discerns all things, and he himself is judged by no one.
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Original language
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