John 11 · Verse 6

John 11:6

When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.
John 11:6, King James Version

John 11:6 in other translations

BSBSo on hearing that Lazarus was sick, He stayed where He was for two days,
WEBWhen therefore he heard that he was sick, he stayed two days in the place where he was.
ASVWhen therefore he heard that he was sick, he abode at that time two days in the place where he was.
YLTwhen, therefore, he heard that he is ailing, then indeed he remained in the place in which he was two days,
DARBYWhen therefore he heard, He is sick, he remained two days then in the place where he was.
BBESo when the news came to him that Lazarus was ill, he did not go from the place where he was for two days.
WebsterWhen therefore he had heard that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.

What does John 11:6 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
6. When he heard he was sick, he abode two days still ... where he was--at least twenty-five miles off. Beyond all doubt this was just to let things come to their worst, in order to display His glory. But how trying, meantime, to the faith of his friends, and how unlike the way in which love to a dying friend usually shows itself, on which it is plain that Mary reckoned. But the ways of divine are not as the ways of human love. Often they are the reverse. When His people are sick, in body or spirit; when their case is waxing more and more desperate every day; when all hope of recovery is about to expire--just then and therefore it is that "He abides two days still in the same place where He is." Can they still hope against hope? Often they do not; but "this is their infirmity." For it is His chosen style of acting. We have been well taught it, and should not now have the lesson to learn. From the days of Moses was it given sublimely forth as the character of His grandest interpositions, that "the Lord will judge His people and repent Himself for His servants"--when He seeth that their power is gone (De 32:36).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 6. He abode two days. Probably Lazarus died soon after the messengers left him. Jesus knew that (Jn 11:11) and did not hasten to Judea, but remained two days longer where he was, that there might not be the possibility of doubt that he was dead, so that when he came there he had been dead four days, Jn 11:39. This shows, moreover, that he intended to raise him up. If he had not, it could hardly be reconciled with friendship thus to remain, without any reason, away from an afflicted family.

Where he was. At Bethabara (Jn 1:28, 10:40), about 30 miles from Bethany. This was about a day's journey, and it renders it probable that Lazarus died soon after the message was sent. One day would be occupied before the message came to him; two days he remained; one day would be occupied by him in going to Bethany; so that Lazarus had been dead four days (Jn 11:39) when he arrived.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 11:1-6

It is no new thing for those whom Christ loves, to be sick; bodily distempers correct the corruption, and try the graces of God's people. He came not to preserve his people from these afflictions, but to save them from their sins, and from the wrath to come; however, it behoves us to apply to Him in behalf of our friends and relatives when sick and afflicted. Let this reconcile us to the darkest dealings of…

Read the full comment on John 11:1-6 →

John 11:6 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.

ὡςhōsWhenG5613
οὖνounthereforeG3767
ἤκουσενēkousenHe heardG191
ὅτιhotithatG3754
ἀσθενεῖ,astheneihe is sick,G770
τότεtotethenG5119
μὲνmenindeedG3303
ἔμεινενemeinenHe remainedG3306
ἐνeninG1722
ᾧhōwhichG3739
ἦνēnHe wasG1510
τόπῳtopō[the] placeG5117
δύοduotwoG1417
ἡμέρας.hēmerasdays.G2250

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

Cross references for John 11:6

  • Isaiah 30:18

    And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the Lord is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.

  • Isaiah 55:8-9

    For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

  • Genesis 42:24

    And he turned himself about from them, and wept; and returned to them again, and communed with them, and took from them Simeon, and bound him before their eyes.

  • Genesis 22:14

    And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah–jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.

  • Genesis 43:29-31

    And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, and said, Is this your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son. And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there. And he washed his face, and went out, and refrained himself, and said, Set on bread.

  • Matthew 15:22-28

    And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. …

  • Genesis 45:1-5

    Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren. And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard. And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence. And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. …

  • Genesis 44:1-5

    And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man’s money in his sack’s mouth. And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack’s mouth of the youngest, and his corn money. And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken. As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses. And when they were gone out of the city, and not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good? …

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
he abode.
Ge 22:14; 42:24; 43:29-31; 44:1-5; 45:1-5; Isa 30:18; 55:8,9
Mt 15:22-28

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

Context

  • John 11:5

    Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.

  • John 11:6

    When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.

  • John 11:7

    Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judea again.

Read all of John 11

John 11:6 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Como oyó pues que estaba enfermo, quedóse aún dos días en aquel lugar donde estaba.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Après donc qu’il eut entendu que Lazare était malade, il demeura encore deux jours au lieu où il était.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Als er nun hörte, daß er krank sei, blieb er noch zwei Tage an dem Orte, wo er war.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ut ergo audivit quia infirmabatur, tunc quidem mansit in eodem loco duobus diebus;