John 11:13
◄  John 11:13  ►
New International Version (©2011)
Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.

New Living Translation (©2007)
They thought Jesus meant Lazarus was simply sleeping, but Jesus meant Lazarus had died.

English Standard Version (©2001)
Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking of literal sleep.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
Jesus, however, was speaking about his death, but they thought He was speaking about natural sleep.

International Standard Version (©2012)
Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he was speaking about resting or sleeping.

NET Bible (©2006)
(Now Jesus had been talking about his death, but they thought he had been talking about real sleep.)

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
But Yeshua spoke about his death, and they had thought that he had been talking about lying down, taking sleep.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Jesus meant that Lazarus was dead, but the disciples thought Jesus meant that Lazarus was only sleeping.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
However Jesus spoke of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.

American King James Version
However, Jesus spoke of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.

American Standard Version
Now Jesus had spoken of his death: but they thought that he spake of taking rest in sleep.

Douay-Rheims Bible
But Jesus spoke of his death; and they thought that he spoke of the repose of sleep.

Darby Bible Translation
But Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that he spoke of the rest of sleep.

English Revised Version
Now Jesus had spoken of his death: but they thought that he spake of taking rest in sleep.

Webster's Bible Translation
Now Jesus spoke of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking rest in sleep.

Weymouth New Testament
Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought He referred to the rest taken in ordinary sleep.

World English Bible
Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he spoke of taking rest in sleep.

Young's Literal Translation
but Jesus had spoken about his death, but they thought that about the repose of sleep he speaketh.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

11:11-16 Since we are sure to rise again at the last, why should not the believing hope of that resurrection to eternal life, make it as easy for us to put off the body and die, as it is to put off our clothes and go to sleep? A true Christian, when he dies, does but sleep; he rests from the labours of the past day. Nay, herein death is better than sleep, that sleep is only a short rest, but death is the end of earthly cares and toils. The disciples thought that it was now needless for Christ to go to Lazarus, and expose himself and them. Thus we often hope that the good work we are called to do, will be done by some other hand, if there be peril in the doing of it. But when Christ raised Lazarus from the dead, many were brought to believe on him; and there was much done to make perfect the faith of those that believed. Let us go to him; death cannot separate from the love of Christ, nor put us out of the reach of his call. Like Thomas, in difficult times Christians should encourage one another. The dying of the Lord Jesus should make us willing to die whenever God calls us.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 13. - Now Jesus had spoken of his death: but they thought that he spake of taking rest in sleep. Λέγει, though in the present tense, represents a time anterior to the time of ἔδοξαν. Κοίμησις is found in Ecclus. 46:19. This is an explanation of the misunderstanding, occasioned, perhaps, by the statement of ver. 4, and further elucidated by what follows. A difference prevails between κοίμησις and ὕπνος as both words are used for sleep; but the former has rather the idea of the repose accompanying sleep, the latter the phenomenon itself. With one or two exceptions, κοιμᾶσθαι is always used in the New Testament of the sleep of death, ὑπνός never.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Howbeit Jesus spake of his death,.... Under the figurative phrase of sleeping:

but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep; in a literal and natural sense.

John 11:13 Parallel Commentaries

John 11:13 NIV
John 11:13 NLT
John 11:13 ESV
John 11:13 NASB
John 11:13 KJV

Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


The Death of Lazarus
…12Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. 13However, Jesus spoke of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. 14Then said Jesus to them plainly, Lazarus is dead. …

Matthew 9:24 he said, "Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep." But they laughed at him.
Luke 8:52 Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. "Stop wailing," Jesus said. "She is not dead but asleep."
John 11:11 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up."
John 11:12 His disciples replied, "Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better."
John 11:14 So then he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead,