Bible Strands
John 11:1
At this time a man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator introduces the scene at the moment preceding the miracle, identifying Lazarus, Mary, and Martha in Bethany. This establishes the human subjects and location before the divine action begins.
The words — Ἦν (Ēn) = was and ἀσθενῶν (asthenōn) = ailing. The Greek uses the imperfect tense for "was" to indicate ongoing sickness, paired with "ailing" to describe Lazarus's condition.
The thread — Luke 10:38 introduces Martha welcoming Jesus into her home. John 12:17 records witnesses testifying about the raising of Lazarus, while John 12:9 notes a crowd gathering to see Jesus and the raised Lazarus.
Why it lands — It grounds the upcoming resurrection in a specific family and village, requiring the reader to recognize the miracle as an intervention in a real, documented human situation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.
Cross-references
- Luke 10:38 As they traveled along, Jesus entered a village where a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home.
- John 12:17 Meanwhile, many people who had been with Jesus when He called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to testify.
- John 12:9 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews learned that Jesus was there. And they came not only because of Him, but also to see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead.
- 2 Kings 20:1 In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came to him and said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Put your house in order, for you are about to die; you will not recover.’”
- John 11:11 After He had said this, He told them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to wake him up.”
- Matthew 21:17 Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where He spent the night.
- John 11:3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one You love is sick.”
- John 11:5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
- Acts 9:37 At that time, however, she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upper room.
- Mark 11:1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent out two of His disciples