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?
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?”
- BSB But some of them asked, “Could not this man who opened the eyes of the blind also have kept Lazarus from dying?”
- 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 he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,
- Luke 23:39And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
- Luke 23:35And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.
- Ps 78:19–20Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?
- Matt 27:40–42And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
- John 11:32Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
- John 11:21Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
- Mark 15:32Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled 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.