John 11:38

Again groaning in himself (palin embrimwmeno en eautwi). Direct reference to the use of this same word (present middle participle here) in verse Hebrews 33 , only with en eautwi (in himself) rather than twi pneumati (in his spirit), practically the same idea. The speculation concerning his power stirred the depths of his nature again. Cometh to the tomb (ercetai ei to mnhmeion). Vivid historical present. A cave (sphlaion). Old word (from speo, cavern). Cf. Matthew 21:13 . Lay against it (epekeito ep autwi). Imperfect middle of epikeimai, old verb to lie upon as in Matthew 21:9 and figuratively ( 1 Corinthians 9:16 ). Note repetition of epi with locative case. The use of a cave for burial was common ( Genesis 23:19 ). Either the body was let down through a horizontal opening (hardly so here) or put in a tomb cut in the face of the rock (if so, epi can mean "against"). The stones were used to keep away wild animals from the bodies.