11:34a

Where have you put him?: Jesus asked where Lazarus’ tomb was. He probably asked Martha and Mary because Mary last spoke and the ones who answer in 11:34b call him “Lord.” The mourners had placed Lazarus’ body in a cave tomb. It was not the custom to bury bodies underground. See 11:17. If you use a word meaning “buried,” check that people will not think that Lazarus was placed under the ground. Here are other ways to translate this question:

Where did you put Lazarus? (God’s Word)
-or-
Where have you put his body? (Contemporary English Version)

He asked: This phrase introduces a question Jesus asked the mourners. In some languages it is more natural to say:

he asked them (New Living Translation (2004))

11:34b

Come and see: The word Come here implies “come with us (excl.).” The sisters wanted to take Jesus with them to the place where Lazarus was buried.

Lord: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Lord is the same as in 11:3b, 11:21, and 11:32c. Translate it the same way in all these verses.

they answered: The pronoun they probably refers to the sisters Martha and Mary. Here is another way to translate this expression:

⌊The sisters⌋ answered him

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