Juan 11:20

Filipino Cebuano Bible

20 Ug sa pagkadungog ni Maria nga si Jesus nagsingabut na, siya miadto ug misugat kaniya, samtang si Maria nagpabilin nga naglingkod sa sulod sa balay.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

as soon: John 11:30, Matthew 25:1, Matthew 25:6, Acts 10:25, Acts 28:15, 1 Thessalonians 4:17

Reciprocal: John 11:28 - and called

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming,.... Which she might hear of, either by a messenger sent by Christ to her, to acquaint her of it; or rather by some of the people of the town, who knew him, and ran and told her of it; and she being an active person, and stirring about house, might receive the report unknown to her sister, as it seems she did; and as soon as she had the hint, without staying to communicate it to her sister,

went and met him; either through her great affection to him, and eager desire of seeing him; or to consult his safety, and let him know what number of Jews were in their house, that he might consider whether it would be safe for him to be at their house or not.

But Mary sat [still] in the house; not out of disrespect to Jesus, or through want of affection to him, or through any indifference and sloth, but because she knew not that Jesus was coming; see

John 11:28.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Then Martha ... - To Martha was intrusted the management of the affairs of the family, Luke 10:40. It is probable that she first heard of his coming, and, without waiting to inform her sister, went immediately out to meet him. See John 11:28.

Sat still in the house - The word “still” is not in the original. It means that she remained sitting in the house. The common posture of grief among the Jews was that of sitting, Job 2:8; Ezekiel 8:14. Often this grief was so excessive as to fix the person in astonishment, and render him immovable, or prevent his being affected by any external objects. It is possible that the evangelist meant to intimate this of Mary’s grief. Compare Ezra 9:3-4; Nehemiah 1:4; Isaiah 47:1.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse John 11:20. Martha - went and met him — Some suppose she was the eldest of the two sisters - she seems to have had the management of the house. See Luke 10:40.

Mary sat still in the house. — It is likely that by this circumstance the evangelist intended to convey the idea of her sorrow and distress; because anciently afflicted persons were accustomed to put themselves in this posture, as expressive of their distress; their grief having rendered them as it were immovable. See Ezra 9:3-4; Nehemiah 1:4; Psalms 137:1; Isaiah 47:1; Luke 1:79; and Matthew 27:61.