Bible Strands
John 11:20
So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet Him, but Mary stayed at home.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Martha acts upon learning Jesus is approaching, leaving the house where mourners have gathered for Lazarus, while Mary remains inside.
The words — οὖν (oun) translates literally as "Therefore" or "So," establishing narrative sequence, while ἤκουσεν (ēkousen) means "she heard," marking the direct trigger for her departure.
The thread — The pattern of going out to meet a central figure appears in Luke 10:38, Matthew 25:1, and 1 Thessalonians 4:17.
Why it lands — It demands that hearing of Christ’s presence requires immediate physical response rather than continued passive waiting.
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
Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.
Cross-references
- 1 Thessalonians 4:17 After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.
- Luke 10:38 As they traveled along, Jesus entered a village where a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home.
- Matthew 25:1 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
- John 11:30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met Him.
- Matthew 25:6 At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
- Acts 10:25 As Peter was about to enter, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet to worship him.
- Acts 28:15 The brothers there had heard about us and traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he was encouraged and gave thanks to God.