John 11 · Verse 19

John 11:19

And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.
John 11:19, King James Version

John 11:19 in other translations

BSBand many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them in the loss of their brother.
WEBMany of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to console them concerning their brother.
ASVand many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, to console them concerning their brother.
YLTand many of the Jews had come unto Martha and Mary, that they might comfort them concerning their brother;
DARBYand many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, that they might console them concerning their brother.
BBEAnd a number of Jews had come to Martha and Mary to give them comfort about their brother.
WebsterAnd many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.

What does John 11:19 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 11:17-19

17-19. when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days--If he died on the day the tidings came of his illness--and was, according to the Jewish custom, buried the same day (see Jahn's Archæology, and Joh 11:39; Ac 5:5, 6, 10)--and if Jesus, after two days' further stay in Perea, set out on the day following for Bethany, some ten hours' journey, that would make out the four days; the first and last…

Read the full comment on John 11:17-19 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 19. Many of the Jews. Probably their distant relatives or their friends.

To comfort. These visits of consolation were commonly extended to seven days (Grotius; Lightfoot).

(k) "comfort" 1Chr 7:22, Job 2:11, 42:11, Rom 12:15, 1Thes 4:18

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 19 Many of the Jews came - Bethany being so nigh to Jerusalem, many of the relatives and friends of the family came, according to the Jewish custom, to mourn with the afflicted sisters. Mourning, among the Jews, lasted about thirty days: the three first days were termed days of weeping: then followed seven of lamentation. During the three days, the mourner did no servile work; and, if any one saluted him, he did not return the salutation. During the seven days, he did no servile work, except in private - lay with his bed on the floor - did not put on his sandals - did not wash nor anoint himself - had his head covered - and neither read in the law, the Mishnah, nor the Talmud. All the thirty days he continued unshaven, wore no white or new clothes, and did not sew up the rents which he had made in his garments. See Lightfoot, and see on Joh 11:31 (note).

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 11:17-32

Here was a house where the fear of God was, and on which his blessing rested; yet it was made a house of mourning. Grace will keep sorrow from the heart, but not from the house. When God, by his grace and providence, is coming towards us in ways of mercy and comfort, we should, like Martha, go forth by faith, hope, and prayer, to meet him. When Martha went to meet Jesus, Mary sat still in the house; this temper…

Read the full comment on John 11:17-32 →

John 11:19 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.

ΠολλοὶPolloiManyG4183
ἐκekofG1537
τῶνtōntheG3588
ἸουδαίωνIoudaiōnJewsG2453
ἐληλύθεισανelēlutheisanhad comeG2064
πρὸςprosuntoG4314
τὴνtēn<the>G3588
ΜάρθανMarthanMarthaG3136
καὶkaiandG2532
ΜαριὰμMariamMaryG3137
ἵναinathatG2443
παραμυθήσωνταιparamuthēsōntaithey may consoleG3888
αὐτὰςautasthemG846
περὶpericoncerningG4012
τοῦtoutheG3588
ἀδελφοῦadelphoubrotherG80

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

Cross references for John 11:19

  • Job 2:11

    Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:11

    Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

  • John 11:31

    The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there.

  • 2 Corinthians 1:4

    Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

  • 1 Thessalonians 4:18

    Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

  • Job 42:11

    Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the Lord had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an earring of gold.

  • Romans 12:15

    Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

  • Lamentations 2:13

    What thing shall I take to witness for thee? what thing shall I liken to thee, O daughter of Jerusalem? what shall I equal to thee, that I may comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Zion? for thy breach is great like the sea: who can heal thee?

  • 2 Samuel 10:2

    Then said David, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father shewed kindness unto me. And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father. And David’s servants came into the land of the children of Ammon.

  • Genesis 37:35

    And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him.

  • Lamentations 1:2

    She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks: among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her: all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they are become her enemies.

  • Lamentations 1:9

    Her filthiness is in her skirts; she remembereth not her last end; therefore she came down wonderfully: she had no comforter. O Lord, behold my affliction: for the enemy hath magnified himself.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
to comfort.
Ge 37:35; 2Sa 10:2; 1Ch 7:21,22; Job 2:11; 42:11; Ec 7:2; Isa 51:19
Jer 16:5-7; La 1:2,9,16,21; 2:13; Ro 12:15; 2Co 1:4; 1Th 4:18; 5:11

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

Context

  • John 11:18

    Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:

  • John 11:19

    And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.

  • John 11:20

    Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.

Read all of John 11

John 11:19 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y muchos de los Judíos habían venido á Marta y á María, á consolarlas de su hermano.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et plusieurs d’entre les Juifs étaient venus auprès de Marthe et de Marie, pour les consoler au sujet de leur frère.
German
Elberfelder 1871		und viele von den Juden waren zu Martha und Maria gekommen, auf daß sie dieselben über ihren Bruder trösteten.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Multi autem ex Judæis venerant ad Martham et Mariam, ut consolarentur eas de fratre suo.