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Johannes 11:11
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from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
he saith: John 3:29, John 15:13-15, Exodus 33:11, 2 Chronicles 20:7, Isaiah 41:8, James 2:23
sleepeth: John 11:13, Deuteronomy 31:16, Daniel 12:2, Matthew 9:24, Mark 5:39, Acts 7:60, 1 Corinthians 15:18, 1 Corinthians 15:51, 1 Thessalonians 4:14, 1 Thessalonians 4:15, 1 Thessalonians 5:10
awake: John 11:43, John 11:44, John 5:25-29, Daniel 12:2, 1 Corinthians 15:34, Ephesians 5:14
Reciprocal: 2 Kings 4:31 - not awaked Job 14:12 - awake Luke 8:52 - she Acts 20:10 - Trouble 1 Thessalonians 4:13 - which are
Gill's Notes on the Bible
These things said he,.... In answer to his disciples, and made a pause.
And after that he saith unto them, our friend Lazarus sleepeth; meaning, that he was dead; in which sense the word is often used in the Old Testament, and in the common dialect of the Jews, and frequently in their writings; and especially it is so used of good men: and it is an observation of theirs b, that
"it is usual to say of the righteous, that there is no death in them, אלא שינה, "but sleep";''
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but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep; that is, to raise him from the dead, for, the resurrection of the dead is expressed by awaking; see Psalms 17:15; which for Christ to do, was as easy as to awake a man out of natural sleep: these words respecting Lazarus's sleeping and awaking, express both the omniscience and omnipotence of Christ; his omniscience, that he should know that Lazarus was dead; when at such a distance from him; and his omnipotence, that he could raise him from the dead; and yet his great modesty to signify it in, such covert language, though not difficult to be understood.
b Gloss in T. Hieros. Celaim in En Yaacob, fol. 4. 4.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Lazarus sleepeth - Is dead. The word “sleep” is applied to death,
- Because of the resemblance between them, as sleep is the “kinsman of death.” In this sense it is often used by pagan writers.
- However, in the Scriptures it is used to intimate that death will not be final: that there will be an awaking out of this sleep, or a resurrection. It is a beautiful and tender expression, removing all that is dreadful in death, and filling the mind with the idea of calm repose after a life of toil, with a reference to a future resurrection in increased vigor and renovated powers. In this sense it is applied in the Scriptures usually to the saints, 1 Corinthians 11:30; 1 Corinthians 15:51; 1Th 4:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:10; Matthew 9:24.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse John 11:11. Lazarus sleepeth — It was very common among the Jews to express death by sleep; and the expression, falling asleep - sleeping with their fathers, &c., were in great use among them. The Hebrews probably used this form of speech to signify their belief in the immortality of the soul, and the resurrection of the body.
It is certain that our Lord received no intimation of Lazarus's death from any person, and that he knew it through that power by which he knows all things.