John 11:1

Lazarus is ill

1 A certain man, Lazarus, was ill. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. (

John 11:1 Meaning and Commentary

John 11:1

Now a certain man was sick
Very likely of a fever; Nonnus calls it a morbid fire, a hot and burning disease:

[named] Lazarus of Bethany;
for his name, which the Ethiopic version reads "Eleazar", and the Persic version "Gazarus", (See Gill on Luke 16:24); and for the place Bethany, (See Gill on Matthew 21:1), (See Gill on Matthew 21:17).

The town of Mary and her sister Martha;
where they were both born, as well as Lazarus, or at least where they dwelt; of the former, some account is, given in the next verse, and of the latter, (See Gill on Luke 10:38).

John 11:1 In-Context

1 A certain man, Lazarus, was ill. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. (

2 This was the Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped his feet with her hair. Her brother Lazarus was ill.)

3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, saying, "Lord, the one whom you love is ill."

4 When he heard this, Jesus said, "This illness isn't fatal. It's for the glory of God so that God's Son can be glorified through it."

5 Jesus loved Martha, her sister, and Lazarus.