John 11:19

¹⁷ Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.

¹⁸ Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:

And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.

²⁰ Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.

²¹ Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

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: and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them in the loss of their brother.
KJV: And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.
WEB: Many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to console them concerning their brother.
ASV: and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, to console them concerning their brother.
DARBY: and many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, that they might console them concerning their brother.
BLB: And many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, so that they might console them concerning [their] brother.

ÅB: og mange av jødene var kommet til Marta og Maria for å trøste dem i sorgen over deres bror.
OTB: og mange jøder hadde kommet til Marta og Maria for å trøste dem angående deres bror.
B1930: og mange av jødene var kommet til Marta og Maria for å trøste dem i sorgen over deres bror.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Job 2:11
Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.
Read in context
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
Read in context
John 11:31
The 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.
Read in context
2 Corinthians 1:4
Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
Read in context
1 Thessalonians 4:18
Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Read in context
Job 42:11
Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an earring of gold.
Read in context
Romans 12:15
Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
Read in context
Lamentations 2:13
What thing shall I take to witness for thee? what thing shall I liken to thee, O daughter of Jerusalem? what shall I equal to thee, that I may comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Zion? for thy breach is great like the sea: who can heal thee?
Read in context