Section 11:28–37

Jesus wept

In this section, Mary came out to greet Jesus. She also told him that if he had been there, Lazarus would still be alive. Jesus saw her weeping and was disturbed and wept himself. Some said that that showed his love for Lazarus. But others wondered why he did not heal him.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

Jesus saw Mary crying and cried himself
-or-
Mary went to meet Jesus

Paragraph 11:28–31

Martha told Mary that Jesus had come, and Mary went to meet Jesus.

11:28a

After Martha had said this: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as After Martha had said this introduces what happened next. Introduce what Martha did next in a way that is natural in your language. For example:

So saying (Revised English Bible)
-or-
After saying this
-or-
Then (New Living Translation (2004))

she went back: This clause indicates that Martha returned to their house, where Mary was. It may be natural to make it clearer where she went back to. For example:

she went back home (God’s Word)

General Comment on 11:28a

In some languages you may want to make it clear whom the pronoun “she” refers to. For example:

And when she had said this, Martha went (NET Bible Bible)
-or-
After Martha said this, she went (Contemporary English Version)

11:28b

called her sister Mary: This phrase indicates that Martha asked Mary to come to her. It does not in this context mean that she spoke loudly.

her sister Mary: Mary was probably Martha’s younger sister, but this is not stated explicitly. See how you referred to her in 11:1.

aside to tell her: This phrase indicates that Martha talked to Mary alone, quietly. She did that so other people could not hear what she said. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

saying in a low voice (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
taking her aside (Revised English Bible)
-or-
to talk to her alone

11:28c

The Teacher is here: The phrase The Teacher refers to Jesus. Teacher was a title of respect for a Jewish man who had authority to teach about God. It is the same Greek word that is used to describe Jesus in 3:2. See the note there. It is not the same word translated “Rabbi” in 11:8.

is here: This phrase in this context indicates that Jesus was nearby, just outside the village.

is asking for you: This phrase indicates that Jesus wanted Mary to come to him. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

he wants to see you (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
says, “Send Mary to me”

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