11:37a–b
But: The word But introduces a contrast. Some of the Jews reacted to Jesus with criticism instead of sympathy.
some of them asked: The words some of refers to some of the Jewish mourners.
Could not this man who opened the eyes of the blind also have kept Lazarus from dying?: This is a rhetorical question. It says that Jesus could have kept Lazarus from dying. It also expresses doubt and criticism.
The people wondered why Jesus did not heal Lazarus if he loved him. They accepted that Jesus healed the blind man, and they thought that he could have healed Lazarus too. They wondered why he did not do so. They implied that either his power was limited or he did not really love Lazarus.
There are two ways to translate this rhetorical question:
• Use a rhetorical question. For example:
Couldn’t this man who gave a blind man sight keep Lazarus from dying? (God’s Word)
• Use a statement. For example:
This man healed a man born blind and so he should have been able to keep Lazarus from dying.
this man who opened the eyes of the blind: This phrase refers to Jesus and what he did in John 9:1–38.
also have kept Lazarus from dying: This phrase refers to healing Lazarus so that he would not die. In some languages it may be natural to translate this in a positive way. For example:
saved Lazarus’s life
-or-
healed Lazarus so that he would not die
General Comment on 11:37a–b
In some languages it may be natural to translate this verse as two sentences. They may be rhetorical questions or statements. For example:
He gave sight to the blind man, didn’t he? Could he not have kept Lazarus from dying? (Good News Translation)
-or-
This man healed a blind man. Why couldn’t he keep Lazarus from dying? (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
This man healed the blind man. He surely could have saved Lazarus’ life ⌊if he had wanted to⌋ .
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