John 11:13

Contemporary English Version

Jesus really meant that Lazarus was dead, but they thought he was talking only about sleep.

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
They thought Jesus meant that Lazarus was literally sleeping, but he really meant that Lazarus was dead.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
How be it Iesus spake of his deeth: but they thought yt he had spoke of ye naturall slepe.

Hebrew Names Version
Now Yeshua had spoken of his death, but they thought that he spoke of taking rest in sleep.

International Standard Version
Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he was speaking about resting or sleeping.

New American Standard Bible
Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about actual sleep.

New Century Version
Jesus meant that Lazarus was dead, but his followers thought he meant Lazarus was really sleeping.

Update Bible Version
Now Jesus had spoken of his death: but they thought that he spoke of taking rest in sleep.

Webster's Bible Translation
Now Jesus spoke of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking rest in sleep.

English Standard Version
Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep.

World English Bible
Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he spoke of taking rest in sleep.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Jesus spake of his death, but they thought he had spoken of the natural rest in sleep.

Weymouth's New Testament
Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought He referred to the rest taken in ordinary sleep.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
But Jhesus hadde seid of his deth; but thei gessiden, that he seide of slepyng of sleep.

English Revised Version
Now Jesus had spoken of his death: but they thought that he spake of taking rest in sleep.

Berean Standard Bible
They thought that Jesus was talking about actual sleep, but He was speaking about the death of Lazarus.

Amplified Bible
However, Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was referring to natural sleep.

American Standard Version
Now Jesus had spoken of his death: but they thought that he spake of taking rest in sleep.

Bible in Basic English
Jesus, however, was talking of his death: but they had the idea that he was talking about taking rest in sleep.

Complete Jewish Bible
Now Yeshua had used the phrase to speak about El‘azar's death, but they thought he had been talking literally about sleep.

Darby Translation
But Jesus spoke of his death, but *they* thought that he spoke of the rest of sleep.

Etheridge Translation
But Jeshu spake concerning his death; and they thought that concerning the repose of sleep he spake.

Murdock Translation
But Jesus spoke of his death; and they thought, he spoke of the sleep of repose.

King James Version (1611)
Howbeit Iesus spake of his death: but they thought that hee had spoken of taking of rest in sleepe.

New Living Translation
They thought Jesus meant Lazarus was simply sleeping, but Jesus meant Lazarus had died.

New Life Bible
But Jesus meant Lazarus was dead. They thought He meant Lazarus was resting in sleep.

New Revised Standard
Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he was referring merely to sleep.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Howbeit, Iesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of the naturall sleepe.

George Lamsa Translation
But Jesus spoke of his death; and they thought that what he said was sleeping in bed.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But Jesus had spoken concerning his death; whereas, they, supposed that, concerning the taking of rest in sleep, he had been speaking.

Douay-Rheims Bible
But Jesus spoke of his death: and they thought that he spoke of the repose of sleep.

Revised Standard Version
Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Howbeit, Iesus spake of his death, but they thought that he had spoken of the naturall slepe.

Good News Translation
Jesus meant that Lazarus had died, but they thought he meant natural sleep.

Christian Standard Bible®
Jesus, however, was speaking about his death, but they thought he was speaking about natural sleep.

King James Version
Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.

Lexham English Bible
(Now Jesus had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he was speaking about real sleep.)

Literal Translation
But Jesus had spoken about his death, but they thought that He spoke of the sleep of slumber.

Young's Literal Translation
but Jesus had spoken about his death, but they thought that about the repose of sleep he speaketh.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
(Howbeyt Iesus spake of his death but they thought yt he had spoke of ye bodely slepe.)

Mace New Testament (1729)
though Jesus meant it of Lazarus's death: but they understood it of the natural rest in sleep.

New English Translation
(Now Jesus had been talking about his death, but they thought he had been talking about real sleep.)

New King James Version
However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep.

Simplified Cowboy Version
They didn't realize Jesus was saying Lazarus was dead.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking of literal sleep.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking of actual sleep.

Contextual Overview

¹A man by the name of Lazarus was sick in the village of Bethany. He had two sisters, Mary and Martha. This was the same Mary who later poured perfume on the Lord's head and wiped his feet with her hair. ³ The sisters sent a message to the Lord and told him that his good friend Lazarus was sick. ⁴ When Jesus heard this, he said, "His sickness won't end in death. It will bring glory to God and his Son." ⁵ Jesus loved Martha and her sister and brother. ⁶ But he stayed where he was for two more days. ⁷ Then he said to his disciples, "Now we will go back to Judea." ⁸ "Teacher," they said, "the people there want to stone you to death! Why do you want to go back?" ⁹ Jesus answered, "Aren't there twelve hours in each day? If you walk during the day, you will have light from the sun, and you won't stumble. ¹⁰ But if you walk during the night, you will stumble, because you don't have any light." ¹¹ Then he told them, "Our friend Lazarus is asleep, and I am going there to wake him up."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Reciprocal: John 11:11 - sleepeth

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Howbeit Jesus spake of his death,.... Under the figurative phrase of sleeping:

but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep; in a literal and natural sense.