John 11 · Verse 15

John 11:15

And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.
John 11:15, King James Version

John 11:15 in other translations

BSBand for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
WEBI am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe. Nevertheless, let’s go to him.”
ASVAnd I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.
YLTand I rejoice, for your sake, (that ye may believe,) that I was not there; but we may go to him;'
DARBYAnd I rejoice on your account that I was not there, in order that ye may believe. But let us go to him.
BBEAnd because of you I am glad I was not there, so that you may have faith; but let us go to him.
WebsterAnd I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless, let us go to him.

What does John 11:15 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 11:11-16

11-16. Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go that I may wake him out of sleep--Illustrious title! "Our friend Lazarus." To Abraham only is it accorded in the Old Testament, and not till after his death, (2Ch 20:7; Is 41:8), to which our attention is called in the New Testament (Jas 2:23). When Jesus came in the flesh, His forerunner applied this name, in a certain sense, to himself (Joh 3:29); and into the same…

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Barnes' Notes
Verse 15. I am glad, &c. The meaning of this verse may be thus expressed:
"If I had been there during his sickness, the
entreaties of his sisters and friends would have
prevailed with me to restore him to health. I
could not have refused them without appearing
to be unkind. Though a restoration to health
would have been a miracle, and sufficient to
convince you, yet the miracle of raising him
after four days dead will be far more impressive, and
on that account I rejoice that an opportunity is
thus given so strikingly to confirm your faith."


To the intent. To furnish you evidence on which you might be established in the belief that I am the Messiah.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 15 I am glad for your sakes that I was not there - "I tell you plainly, Lazarus is dead: and I am glad I was not there - if I had been, I should have been prevailed on to have healed him almost as soon as he fell sick, and I should not have had so striking an occasion to manifest the glory of God to you, and to establish you in the faith." It was a miracle to discover that Lazarus was dead, as no person had come to announce it. It was a greater miracle to raise a dead man than to cure a sick man. And it was a still greater miracle, to raise one that was three or four days buried, and in whose body putrefaction might have begun to take place, than to raise one that was but newly dead. See Joh 11:39.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 11:11-16

Since we are sure to rise again at the last, why should not the believing hope of that resurrection to eternal life, make it as easy for us to put off the body and die, as it is to put off our clothes and go to sleep? A true Christian, when he dies, does but sleep; he rests from the labours of the past day. Nay, herein death is better than sleep, that sleep is only a short rest, but death is the end of earthly cares…

Read the full comment on John 11:11-16 →

John 11:15 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καὶkaiAndG2532
χαίρωchairōI rejoiceG5463
δι᾽di᾽for sake ofG1223
ὑμᾶς,humasyou,G4771
ἵναinain order thatG2443
πιστεύσητε,pisteusēteyou may believe,G4100
ὅτιhotithatG3754
οὐκouknotG3756
ἤμηνēmēnI wasG1510
ἐκεῖ·ekeithere;G1563
ἀλλ᾽all᾽ButG235
ἄγωμενagōmenlet us goG71
πρὸςprostoG4314
αὐτόν.¶autonhim.G846

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for John 11:15

  • 2 Timothy 2:10

    Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

  • John 14:10-11

    Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.

  • 1 John 5:13

    These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

  • John 11:4

    When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.

  • Isaiah 54:15

    Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake.

  • John 11:35-36

    Jesus wept. Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!

  • Isaiah 65:8

    Thus saith the Lord, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants’ sakes, that I may not destroy them all.

  • John 2:11

    This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.

  • John 17:19

    And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

  • 2 Corinthians 4:15

    For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

  • John 12:30

    Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.

  • Genesis 39:5

    And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
I am glad.
35,36
for.
12:30; 17:19; Ge 26:24; 39:5; Ps 105:14; Isa 54:15; 65:8; 2Co 4:15
2Ti 2:10
to.
4; 2:11; 14:10,11; 1Jo 5:13

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • John 11:14

    Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

  • John 11:15

    And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.

  • John 11:16

    Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.

Read all of John 11

John 11:15 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y huélgome por vosotros, que yo no haya estado allí, para que creáis: mas vamos á él.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		et je me réjouis, à cause de vous, de ce que je n’étais pas là, afin que vous croyiez. Mais allons vers lui.
German
Elberfelder 1871		und ich bin froh um euretwillen, daß ich nicht dort war, auf daß ihr glaubet; aber laßt uns zu ihm gehen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		et gaudeo propter vos, ut credatis, quoniam non eram ibi, sed eamus ad eum.