The people who were standing nearby said, “See how much he loved him!”
Parallel translations
- WEB The Jews therefore said, “See how much affection he had for him!”
- KJV Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!
- BSB Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!”
- NKJV Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!”
- NASB So the Jews were saying, “See how He loved him!”
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 onlookers remark on Jesus' evident love for Lazarus. His tears testify to genuine affection.
Overview
The Jews rightly read Jesus' weeping as a sign of deep love for his friend. Their observation underscores the authenticity of his emotion. Yet, as the next verse shows, even sincere observers can misjudge his power, setting up the contrast between human assessment and divine intention.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- John 11:3The sisters therefore sent to him, saying, “Lord, behold, he for whom you have great affection is sick.”
- 1 Jn 3:1See how great a love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God! For this cause the world doesn’t know us, because it didn’t know him.
- 1 Jn 4:9–10By this God’s love was revealed in us, that God has sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.
- Rev 1:5and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us, and washed us from our sins by his blood;
- Eph 5:2Walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance.
- 2 Cor 8:8–9I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your love.
- Eph 5:25Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly, and gave himself up for it;
- John 14:21–23One who has my commandments, and keeps them, that person is one who loves me. One who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him, and will reveal myself to him.”
- John 21:15–17So when they had eaten their breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I have affection for you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
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.
How John 11:36 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.