John 11:13
11 After He had said this, He told them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to wake him up.”
12 His disciples replied, “Lord, if he is sleeping, he will get better.”
They thought that Jesus was talking about actual sleep, but He was speaking about the death of Lazarus.
14 So Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead,
15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- They thought that Jesus was talking about actual sleep, but He was speaking about the death of Lazarus.
- KJV
- Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.
- WEB
- Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he spoke of taking rest in sleep.
- ASV
- Now Jesus had spoken of his death: but they thought that he spake of taking rest in sleep.
- DARBY
- But Jesus spoke of his death, but *they* thought that he spoke of the rest of sleep.
- BLB
- Now Jesus had spoken about his death; but they thought that He speaks about the rest of sleep.
- ÅB
- Jesus hadde talt om hans død; men de tenkte at han talte om almindelig søvn.
- OTB
- Jesus hadde snakket om hans bortgang, men disiplene trodde Han refererte til naturlig søvn.
- B1930
- Jesus hadde talt om hans død; men de tenkte at han talte om almindelig søvn.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Matthew 9:24
“Go away,” He told them. “The girl is not dead, but asleep.” And they laughed at Him.
Read in context