Yochanan 11:1

1 1 Now there was a certain man, a choleh (sick man), El’azar from Beit-Anyah (Bethany), the shtetl of Miryam and Marta her achot.

Yochanan 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).

Yochanan 11:1 In-Context

1 1 Now there was a certain man, a choleh (sick man), El’azar from Beit-Anyah (Bethany), the shtetl of Miryam and Marta her achot.

2 Now this was the same Miryam that anointed Adoneinu with mishcha (ointment, 12:3) and wiped his feet with her hair. It was she whose ach El’azar was choleh.

3 Therefore, the achayot (sisters) sent to Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, saying, Adoni, hinei, the one who is your chaver haahuv is choleh.

4 And having heard this, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said, This machla (illness, krankeit) is not unto mavet (death), but for the kavod Hashem, that the Ben HaElohim may receive kavod through it.

5 Now Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach had ahavah for Marta, and her achot and El’azar.