Bible Strands
John 11:19
and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them in the loss of their brother.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The narrator describes the immediate aftermath of Lazarus’s death, noting that a large group has gathered at Martha and Mary’s home in Bethany. This occurs just before Jesus arrives and before Martha departs to meet Him.
The words — Πολλοὶ (Polloi) translates literally as "Many," and ἐληλύθεισαν (elēlutheisan) means "had come," marking a completed arrival rather than a casual visit.
The thread — This pattern of mourners arriving at a grieving household appears in Job 2:11 and is echoed in John 11:31 when the same group follows Mary outside. The practice of communal consolation is later commanded as a standard practice for believers in 1 Thessalonians 5:11.
Why it lands — The text states that comfort requires physical presence and direct action, not abstract sympathy. It asks the reader to treat consolation as a concrete duty rather than an optional courtesy.
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
And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.
Cross-references
- Job 2:11 Now when Job’s three friends—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite—heard about all this adversity that had come upon him, each of them came from his home, and they met together to go and sympathize with Job and comfort him.
- John 11:31 When the Jews who were in the house consoling Mary saw how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing.
- 2 Corinthians 1:4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
- Job 42:11 All his brothers and sisters and prior acquaintances came and dined with him in his house. They consoled him and comforted him over all the adversity that the LORD had brought upon him. And each one gave him a piece of silver and a gold ring.
- Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
- Genesis 37:35 All his sons and daughters tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said. “I will go down to Sheol mourning for my son.” So his father wept for him.
- 2 Samuel 10:2 And David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent some of his servants to console Hanun concerning his father. But when they arrived in the land of the Ammonites,
- Jeremiah 16:5 Indeed, this is what the LORD says: “Do not enter a house where there is a funeral meal. Do not go to mourn or show sympathy, for I have removed from this people My peace, My loving devotion, and My compassion,” declares the LORD.