But some of them asked, “Could not this man who opened the eyes of the blind also have kept Lazarus from dying?”
Parallel translations
- WEB Some of them said, “Couldn’t this man, who opened the eyes of him who was blind, have also kept this man from dying?”
- KJV And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?
- NKJV And some of them said, “Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?”
- NASB But some of them said, “Could this Man, who opened the eyes of the man who was blind, not have also kept this man from dying?”
- NLT But some said, “This man healed a blind man. Couldn’t he have kept Lazarus from dying?”
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
Some wonder why the one who healed the blind could not have prevented Lazarus' death. Their question mixes faith with doubt.
Overview
Recalling the healing of the man born blind, some bystanders question Jesus' apparent inaction. Their words contain a measure of faith in his power but also an implicit reproach. The verse heightens the tension, for Jesus is about to do something far greater than prevent death, namely reverse it.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- John 9:6–7When Jesus had said this, He spit on the ground, made some mud, and applied it to the man’s eyes.
- Luke 23:39One of the criminals who hung there heaped abuse on Him. “Are You not the Christ?” he said. “Save Yourself and us!”
- Luke 23:35The people stood watching, and the rulers sneered at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.”
- Ps 78:19–20They spoke against God, saying, “Can God really prepare a table in the wilderness?
- Matt 27:40–42and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross!”
- John 11:32When Mary came to Jesus and saw Him, she fell at His feet and said, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”
- John 11:21Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.
- Mark 15:32Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, so that we may see and believe!” And even those who were crucified with Him berated 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.
How John 11:37 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.