John 11:12 BSB — MannaFest

John 11:12

His disciples replied, “Lord, if he is sleeping, he will get better.”

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

The disciples therefore said unto him, Lord, if he is fallen asleep, he will recover.

KJV

Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.

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Commentary

6 voices

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on John (1107)

The disciples, wishing to keep Him from traveling there, say: "It is enough if he has fallen asleep; if he has fallen asleep, he will recover; therefore we have no need to go, for there is no necessity." Although the Lord, speaking of Lazarus, added …

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

John Gill

1697–1771

Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748)

Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep,.... Soundly, quietly, and comfortably, and takes rest in it: he shall do well; or "be saved" from the disease; he will be delivered from it; he will recover out of it; it is a sign the distemper is leaving him, and he is growing better, and will be restored to his health again: the Ethiopic version renders it by many words, "he will be well", and "will awake", and "will live". Sound sleep is a sign of health.

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

Sleep is often nature's physic, and reviving to its weak and weary powers. This is true of the sleep of death; if a good Christian so sleep, he shall do well, better than he did here. [2.] A greater concern for themselves; for hereby they insinuate that it was now needless for Christ to go to him, and expose himself and them.

The Nineteenth Century3 voices

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible (1832)

If he sleep, he shall do well - That is, if he sleep only, etc. Though the word sleep frequently meant death, (see Act 7:60; 1Co 11:30; 1Co 15:18, 1Co 15:20), yet, as it was an ambiguous term, the disciples appear here to have mistaken its meaning. Because, in certain acute disorders, the composing the patient to rest was a favorable sign; therefore the words, If he sleep, he shall do well, or recover, became a proverbial forth of speech among the Jews.

J.C. Ryle

1816–1900

Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: John (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1869)

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

9 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
εἶπαν	eipan	Said	G2036 →
οὖν	oun	therefore	G3767 →
οἱ	hoi	the	G3588 →
μαθηταὶ	mathētai	disciples	G3101 →
αὐτῷ·	autō	to Him;	G846 →
κύριε,	kurie	Lord,	G2962 →
εἰ	ei	if	G1487 →
κεκοίμηται,	kekoimētai	he has fallen asleep,	G2837 →
σωθήσεται.	sōthēsetai	he will get well.	G4982 →