And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
Parallel translations
- WEB I know that you always listen to me, but because of the multitude that stands around I said this, that they may believe that you sent me.”
- BSB I knew that You always hear Me, but I say this for the benefit of the people standing here, so they may believe that You sent Me.”
- NKJV And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.”
- NASB But I knew that You always hear Me; nevertheless, because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me.”
- NLT You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.”
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
Jesus prays aloud for the crowd's sake, that they might believe the Father sent him. The miracle is meant to confirm his divine mission.
Overview
Jesus explains that his audible prayer serves to strengthen the faith of the onlookers, not to inform the Father. The raising of Lazarus is a sign authenticating Jesus as the one sent from God. This reflects John's purpose that signs lead to belief in Jesus as the Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 24
- John 3:17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
- John 17:21That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
- 1 Jn 4:14And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
- Heb 7:25Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
- John 17:25O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.
- John 20:31But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
- Heb 5:7Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
- Matt 26:53Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
- John 11:22But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.
- John 17:8For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.
- John 7:28–29Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not.
- Rom 8:3For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
- 1 Jn 4:9–10In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
- John 12:27–30Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.
- Matt 12:22–24Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.
- John 6:38–40For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
- John 8:16And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.
- John 11:45–50Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.
- John 8:29And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
- John 10:36–38Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?
- John 11:31The 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.
- John 9:24–34Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.
- John 8:42Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
- Gal 4:4But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 11:42 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.