John 11:34

Joh 11:34 . His intense feeling prompts Him to end the scene, and He asks, Ποῦ τεθείκατε αὐτόν ; He asks because He did not know. They reply, but probably with no expectation of what was to happen, ἔρχου καὶ ἴδε . As He went ἐδάκρυσεν , “He shed tears”. To assert that such tears could only be theatrical because He knew that shortly Lazarus would live, is to show profound ignorance of human nature. And it also shows ignorance of the true sympathy requisite for miracle. “It is not with a heart of stone that the dead are raised.”

The Expositor's Greek Testament, edited by W. Robertson Nicoll (1897–1910) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Where have ye laid him? . . . Lord, come and see--Perhaps it was to retain composure enough to ask this question, and on receiving the answer to proceed with them to the spot, that He checked Himself.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

(34) Where have ye laid him?—The question is directed, of course, to the sisters. This is further shown by the answer, “Lord, come and see.” Both question and answer are expressed in the shortest form. Grief speaks in the fewest possible words.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

34. Where have ye laid him?] This question is against the supposition, based on Joh_11:31, that the place where Jesus halted outside the village was close to the grave.

They say unto him] ‘They’ are the two sisters: on both sides “grief speaks in the fewest possible words.”

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Jesus wept. As he was going along to the grave, see Joh 11:28; as he was meditating upon the state of his friend Lazarus, the distress his two sisters were in, and the greater damnation that would befall the Jews then present, who, notwithstanding the miracle, would not believe in him. This shows him to be truly and really man, subject to like passions, only without sin.

John 11:36

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

34 And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.

Ver. 34. Where have ye laid him?] He could tell well enough; but yet would be told by them. So, he knows our wants before we open them, and sometimes is pleased to prevent us with a supply; but usually he will hear from us. Come he will to our relief and help, but he will have his people’s prayers lead him. "I came for thy words," saith the angel, Dan 10:12; Dan 9:21. While he was speaking in prayer, Gabriel came with "weariness of flight," and touched him "about the evening oblation," which was the hour of prayer.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Where have ye laid him? - Jesus spoke as a man. In all this transaction he manifested the deep sympathies of a man; and though he who could raise the dead man up could also know where he was, yet he chose to lead them to the grave by inducing them to point the way, and hence, he asked this question.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Where have you laid him? He asks what he knows, says St. Augustine, to raise their attention, their faith, hope, &c. (Witham)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

Weeping is not of itself a sinful, but a natural passion, which (as was said before) doth very well agree with Christ, having voluntarily taken upon him our nature, and natural infirmities.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

And he said, Where have ye laid him? They say unto him, Lord, come and see. A strange echo of Joh_1:39 (cf. Rev_6:1, Rev_6:5, Rev_6:7) Christ asking for information. The Lord was answered out of his own words. His mind was made up.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

34. ποῦ τεθ. αὐτόν; Again He does not use His supernatural powers (Joh 11:17). With ἔρχου κ. ἴδε contrast Joh 1:47. On both sides “grief speaks in the fewest possible words.”

Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges (Cambridge University Press, 1896; 21 vols, various authors incl. Carr, Maclear, Plummer, Farrar, Lumby, Moule, M. R. James, Simcox) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

34. καὶ εἶπεν Ποῦ τεθείκατε αὐτόν; “Where have you laid him?” This is a simple request for information. See on 6:6 for other examples of questions asked by Jesus.

λέγουσιν αὐτῷ, sc. (apparently) Martha and Mary, who preface their reply with the κύριε of respect (see on v. 3).

ἔρχου καὶ ἴδε. Cf. 1:39.

International Critical Commentary — older volumes (1896–1929), various authors — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.