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John 11:39

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does John 11:39 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Jesus saith, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time the body decayeth; for he hath been [dead] four days.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Jesus saith, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time the body decayeth; for he hath been [dead] four days.
John 11:39 — American Standard Version

Context — John 11

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
36The Jews therefore said, Behold how he loved him!
37But some of them said, Could not this man, who opened the eyes of him that was blind, have caused that this man also should not die?
38Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone lay against it.
39Jesus saith, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time the body decayeth; for he hath been [dead] four days.
40Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou believedst, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
41So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou heardest me.
42And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the multitude that standeth around I said it, that they may believe that thou didst send me.
← John 11:38John 11:40 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Jesus said, take ye away the stone, etc.] This was said either to the Jews, or rather to the servants that came along with Martha and Mary; and this he ordered, not to facilitate the resurrection, or merely in order to make way for Lazarus: he that could command him to come forth, could have commanded away the stone, but he chose to have it removed this way, that the corpse might be seen, and even smelt; and that it might be manifest, there was no fallacy, nor any intrigue between him, and the sisters of the deceased in this matter: this order was contrary to a rule of the Jews, which forbid the opening of a grave after it was stopped up f515; but a greater than the fathers of the traditions…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Jesus said, Take ye away the stone--spoken to the attendants of Martha and Mary; for it was a work of no little labor [GROTIUS]. According to the Talmudists, it was forbidden to open a grave after the stone was placed upon it. Besides other dangers, they were apprehensive of legal impurity by contact with the dead. Hence they avoided coming nearer a grave than four cubits [MAIMONIDES in LAMPE]. But He who touched the leper, and the bier of the widow of Nain's son, rises here also above these Judaic memorials of evils, every one of which He had come to roll away. Observe here what our Lord did Himself, and what He made others do. As Elijah himself repaired the altar on Carmel, arranged the…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Four days - This proves that there could be no deception, for it could not have been a case of suspended animation. All these circumstances are mentioned to show that there was no imposture. Impostors do not mention minute circumstances like these. They deal in generals only. Every part of this narrative bears the marks of truth. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Lord, by this time he stinketh - Thus did reason and faith struggle together. John 11:40”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“11:39 Lazarus was buried in a tomb cut from the rocky hillside; such tombs were common. The tomb was closed and opened for further burials with a rolling stone that covered the entrance. A central door led to a cave room where burial benches were carved in stone along the inner wall. Horizontal burial chambers were cut along the top edge of the benches.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Take: Mar 16:3 Lord: Joh 11:17; Gen 3:19, Gen 23:4; Psa 49:7, Psa 49:9, Psa 49:14; Act 2:27, Act 13:36; Phi 3:21 John 11:40”
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Related study paths

Read John 11 in contextBrowse Greek word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification