John 11:37

THE MESSAGE

Others among them said, "Well, if he loved him so much, why didn't he do something to keep him from dying? After all, he opened the eyes of a blind man."

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
But some of them said, “Couldn’t he who opened the blind man’s eyes also have kept this man from dying?”

King James Version (1611)
And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blinde, haue caused that euen this man should not haue died?

King James Version
And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?

English Standard Version
But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?"

New American Standard Bible
But some of them said, "Could this Man, who opened the eyes of the man who was blind, not have also kept this man from dying?"

New Century Version
But some of them said, "If Jesus opened the eyes of the blind man, why couldn't he keep Lazarus from dying?"

Amplified Bible
But some of them said, "Could not this Man, who opened the blind man's eyes, have kept this man from dying?"

New American Standard Bible (1995)
But some of them said, "Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind man, have kept this man also from dying?"

Legacy Standard Bible
But some of them said, "Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind man, have kept this man also from dying?"

Berean Standard Bible
But some of them asked, "Could not this man who opened the eyes of the blind also have kept Lazarus from dying?"

Contemporary English Version
Some of them said, "He gives sight to the blind. Why couldn't he have kept Lazarus from dying?"

Complete Jewish Bible
But some of them said, "He opened the blind man's eyes. Couldn't he have kept this one from dying?"

Darby Translation
And some of them said, Could not this [man], who has opened the eyes of the blind [man], have caused that this [man] also should not have died?

Easy-to-Read Version
But some of them said, "Jesus healed the eyes of the blind man. Why didn't he help Lazarus and stop him from dying?"

Geneva Bible (1587)
And some of them saide, Coulde not he, which opened the eyes of the blinde, haue made also, that this man should not haue died?

George Lamsa Translation
Some of them said, Could not this man, who opened the eyes of that blind man, have also kept this man from dying?

Good News Translation
But some of them said, "He gave sight to the blind man, didn't he? Could he not have kept Lazarus from dying?"

Lexham English Bible
But some of them said, "Was not this man who opened the eyes of the blind able to do something so that this man also would not have died?"

Literal Translation
But some of them said, Was this One, the One opening the eyes of the blind, not able to have caused that this one should not die?

American Standard Version
But some of them said, Could not this man, who opened the eyes of him that was blind, have caused that this man also should not die?

Bible in Basic English
But some of them said, This man, who made open the eyes of the blind man, was he not able to keep his friend from death?

Hebrew Names Version
Some of them said, "Couldn't this man, who opened the eyes of him who was blind, have also caused that this man wouldn't die?"

International Standard Version
But some of them said, "Surely the one who opened the eyes of the blind man could have kept this man from dying, couldn't he?"John 9:6;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
But some of them said, Could not this who opened the eyes of that blind have caused also that this should not have died ?

Murdock Translation
And some of them said: Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man, have caused that this also should not have died?

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And some of them sayde: Coulde not he which opened the eyes of the blinde, haue made also, that this man shoulde not haue dyed?

English Revised Version
But some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of him that was blind, have caused that this man also should not die?

World English Bible
Some of them said, "Couldn't this man, who opened the eyes of him who was blind, have also caused that this man wouldn't die?"

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Could not this person, who opened the eyes of the blind, have even caused that this man should not have died?

Weymouth's New Testament
But others of them asked, "Was this man who opened the blind man's eyes unable to prevent this man from dying?"

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And summe of hem seiden, Whethir this man that openyde the iyen of the borun blynde man, myyte not make that this schulde not die?

Update Bible Version
But some of them said, Could not this man, who opened the eyes of him that was blind, have caused that this man also should not die?

Webster's Bible Translation
And some of them said, Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?

New English Translation
But some of them said, "This is the man who caused the blind man to see! Couldn't he have done something to keep Lazarus from dying?"

New King James Version
And some of them said, "Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?"

New Living Translation
But some said, "This man healed a blind man. Couldn't he have kept Lazarus from dying?"

New Life Bible
Some of them said, "This Man opened the eyes of the blind man. Could He not have kept this man from dying?"

New Revised Standard
But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?"

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But, some from among them, said - Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that, this one also, should not have died?

Douay-Rheims Bible
But some of them said: Could not he that opened the eyes of the man born blind have caused that this man should not die?

Revised Standard Version
But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?"

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And some of the sayde: coulde not he which openned the eyes of the blynde have made also that this man shuld not have dyed?

Young's Literal Translation
and certain of them said, `Was not this one, who did open the eyes of the blind man, able to cause that also this one might not have died?'

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But some of the saide: Coulde no the which opened the eyes of ye blynde, haue made also, that this ma shulde not haue dyed?

Mace New Testament (1729)
but some of them said, this man who has given sight to the blind, could not he have prevented Lazarus's death?

Simplified Cowboy Version
but some people said it was his fault Lazarus had died. Some of them said, "If he could heal the blind, he could have healed his friend if he cared that much."

Contextual Overview

³³When Jesus saw her sobbing and the Jews with her sobbing, a deep anger welled up within him. He said, "Where did you put him?" "Master, come and see," they said. Now Jesus wept. The Jews said, "Look how deeply he loved him." Others among them said, "Well, if he loved him so much, why didn't he do something to keep him from dying? After all, he opened the eyes of a blind man." Then Jesus, the anger again welling up within him, arrived at the tomb. It was a simple cave in the hillside with a slab of stone laid against it. Jesus said, "Remove the stone." The sister of the dead man, Martha, said, "Master, by this time there's a stench. He's been dead four days!" Jesus looked her in the eye. "Didn't I tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" Then, to the others, "Go ahead, take away the stone." They removed the stone. Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and prayed, "Father, I'm grateful that you have listened to me. I know you always do listen, but on account of this crowd standing here I've spoken so that they might believe that you sent me." Then he shouted, "Lazarus, come out!" And he came out, a cadaver, wrapped from head to toe, and with a kerchief over his face. Jesus told them, "Unwrap him and let him loose." That was a turnaround for many of the Jews who were with Mary. They saw what Jesus did, and believed in him. But some went back to the Pharisees and told on Jesus. The high priests and Pharisees called a meeting of the Jewish ruling body. "What do we do now?" they asked. "This man keeps on doing things, creating God-signs. If we let him go on, pretty soon everyone will be believing in him and the Romans will come and remove what little power and privilege we still have." Then one of them—it was Caiaphas, the designated Chief Priest that year—spoke up, "Don't you know anything? Can't you see that it's to our advantage that one man dies for the people rather than the whole nation be destroyed?" He didn't say this of his own accord, but as Chief Priest that year he unwittingly prophesied that Jesus was about to die sacrificially for the nation, and not only for the nation but so that all God's exile-scattered children might be gathered together into one people. From that day on, they plotted to kill him. So Jesus no longer went out in public among the Jews. He withdrew into the country bordering the desert to a town called Ephraim and secluded himself there with his disciples. The Jewish Passover was coming up. Crowds of people were making their way from the country up to Jerusalem to get themselves ready for the Feast. They were curious about Jesus. There was a lot of talk of him among those standing around in the Temple: "What do you think? Do you think he'll show up at the Feast or not?" Meanwhile, the high priests and Pharisees gave out the word that anyone getting wind of him should inform them. They were all set to arrest him. ³⁵The Death of Lazarus A man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. This was the same Mary who massaged the Lord's feet with aromatic oils and then wiped them with her hair. It was her brother Lazarus who was sick. So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Master, the one you love so very much is sick." When Jesus got the message, he said, "This sickness is not fatal. It will become an occasion to show God's glory by glorifying God's Son." Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, but oddly, when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed on where he was for two more days. After the two days, he said to his disciples, "Let's go back to Judea." They said, "Rabbi, you can't do that. The Jews are out to kill you, and you're going back?" Jesus replied, "Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in daylight doesn't stumble because there's plenty of light from the sun. Walking at night, he might very well stumble because he can't see where he's going." He said these things, and then announced, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep. I'm going to wake him up." The disciples said, "Master, if he's gone to sleep, he'll get a good rest and wake up feeling fine." Jesus was talking about death, while his disciples thought he was talking about taking a nap. Then Jesus became explicit: "Lazarus died. And I am glad for your sakes that I wasn't there. You're about to be given new grounds for believing. Now let's go to him." That's when Thomas, the one called the Twin, said to his companions, "Come along. We might as well die with him." When Jesus finally got there, he found Lazarus already four days dead. Bethany was near Jerusalem, only a couple of miles away, and many of the Jews were visiting Martha and Mary, sympathizing with them over their brother. Martha heard Jesus was coming and went out to meet him. Mary remained in the house. Martha said, "Master, if you'd been here, my brother wouldn't have died. Even now, I know that whatever you ask God he will give you." Jesus said, "Your brother will be raised up." Martha replied, "I know that he will be raised up in the resurrection at the end of time." "You don't have to wait for the End. I am, right now, Resurrection and Life. The one who believes in me, even though he or she dies, will live. And everyone who lives believing in me does not ultimately die at all. Do you believe this?" "Yes, Master. All along I have believed that you are the Messiah, the Son of God who comes into the world." After saying this, she went to her sister Mary and whispered in her ear, "The Teacher is here and is asking for you." The moment she heard that, she jumped up and ran out to him. Jesus had not yet entered the town but was still at the place where Martha had met him. When her sympathizing Jewish friends saw Mary run off, they followed her, thinking she was on her way to the tomb to weep there. Mary came to where Jesus was waiting and fell at his feet, saying, "Master, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died." When Jesus saw her sobbing and the Jews with her sobbing, a deep anger welled up within him. He said, "Where did you put him?" "Master, come and see," they said. Now Jesus wept. ³⁶ The Jews said, "Look how deeply he loved him." ³⁷ Others among them said, "Well, if he loved him so much, why didn't he do something to keep him from dying? After all, he opened the eyes of a blind man." ³⁸Then Jesus, the anger again welling up within him, arrived at the tomb. It was a simple cave in the hillside with a slab of stone laid against it. Jesus said, "Remove the stone." The sister of the dead man, Martha, said, "Master, by this time there's a stench. He's been dead four days!" ⁴⁰ Jesus looked her in the eye. "Didn't I tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" ⁴¹Then, to the others, "Go ahead, take away the stone." They removed the stone. Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and prayed, "Father, I'm grateful that you have listened to me. I know you always do listen, but on account of this crowd standing here I've spoken so that they might believe that you sent me." ⁴³Then he shouted, "Lazarus, come out!" And he came out, a cadaver, wrapped from head to toe, and with a kerchief over his face. Jesus told them, "Unwrap him and let him loose."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Could: John 9:6, Psalms 78:19, Psalms 78:20, Matthew 27:40-42, Mark 15:32, Luke 23:35, Luke 23:39

Reciprocal: Isaiah 35:5 - the eyes Isaiah 42:20 - Seeing John 5:36 - the works John 9:7 - and came John 11:21 - if John 11:32 - if Acts 9:37 - she was

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And some of them said,.... Who were averse to him, and bore him a secret grudge, and were willing to put the worst construction on every action of his:

could not this man which opened the eyes of the blind; as it is said, at least pretended, that he did, John 9:6, for this must be understood as calling the miracle into question, and as a sneer upon it, and not as taking it for granted that so it was; and even supposing that, it is mentioned to his reproach, since if so, he might

have caused that, even this man should not died: for either the above cure was a sham, or, if it was a real thing, he who did that could have prevented Lazarus's death; and if he could, and would not, where is his friendship? and what must be thought of all this show of affection to him? and what are these tears, but crocodile ones? but this reasoning, as specious as it may seem, was very fallacious; for he that cured the man born blind could raise Lazarus from the dead, which he intended; and therefore did not prevent his death, that he might still give more joy to the family, bring more glory to God, and himself, and more shame and confusion to his enemies.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 37. Could not this man, which opened the eyes, c.] Through the maliciousness of their hearts, these Jews considered the tears of Jesus as a proof of his weakness. We may suppose them to have spoken thus: "If he loved him so well, why did he not heal him? And if he could have healed him, why did he not do it, seeing he testifies so much sorrow at his death? Let none hereafter vaunt the miracle of the blind man's cure if he had been capable of doing that, he would not have permitted his friend to die." Thus will men reason, or rather madden, concerning the works and providence of God; till, by his farther miracles of mercy or judgment, he converts or confounds them.