Veritable King James Version
1Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.
2It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill.
3So the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, he whom You love is ill.”
4But when Jesus heard it He said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
5Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
6So, when He heard that Lazarus was ill, He stayed two days longer in the place where He was.
7Then after this He said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.”
8The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone You, and are You going there again?”
9Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.
10But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”
11After saying these things, He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.”
12The disciples said to Him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.”
13Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He meant taking rest in sleep.
14Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died,
15and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
16So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.”
Translation notes
Greek Terms and Choices:
“Lazarus” (Lazaros, masculine) name, retained.
“Bethany” (Bēthania) village near Jerusalem, retained (distinct from John 1:28).
“Mary who anointed” alludes to 12:3, translated as foreshadowing.
“Lord, he whom You love” (kyrie, hon phileis) affectionate (phileis), translated as “love.”
“Illness does not lead to death” (hē astheneia ouk estin pros thanaton) purpose, translated directly.
“Glory of God...Son of God glorified” (doxa tou theou...doxasthē ho huios tou theou) divine revelation, translated as “glory...glorified.”
“Jesus loved” (ēgapa ho Iēsous) ēgapa (imperfect agapao), translated as “loved” for ongoing love.
“Two days longer” (duo hēmeras) deliberate delay, translated literally.
“Rabbi” (rabbi, Aramaic) title, retained.
“Twelve hours in the day” metaphorical for divine timing, translated literally.
“Light of this world” (to phōs tou kosmou toutou) echoes 8:12, translated as “light of this world.”
“Fallen asleep” (kekoimētai, perfect) euphemism for death, translated as “fallen asleep.”
“Awaken him” (exypnisō auton) resurrection metaphor, translated as “awaken.”
“Recover” (sōthēsetai) double meaning (heal/save), translated as “recover.”
“Plainly” (parrēsia) openly, translated as “plainly.”
“Lazarus has died” (Lazaros apethanen, aorist) direct, translated as “has died.”
“Thomas, called the Twin” (Thomas ho legomenos Didymos) epithet, translated as “called the Twin.”
Pronouns:
“Jesus,” “He,” “Him,” “His,” “I,” “You,” “Me,” “My,” “Lord,” “Son of God,” “God” capitalized per VKJV deity convention (*ho Iēsous*, *autos*, *egō*).
“He,” “him,” “his” for Lazarus (*auton*, masculine) lowercase and gender-specific.
“She,” “her” for Mary/Martha (*autē*, feminine) lowercase and gender-specific.
“They,” “them,” “we” for disciples (*autoi*, *hēmeis*) gender-neutral as group.
“This man,” “his parents” (houtos, goneis autou) gender-neutral in context for family.
17Now when Jesus came, He found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days.
18Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off,
19and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother.
20So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met Him, but Mary remained seated in the house.
21Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.
22But even now I know that whatever You ask from God, God will give You.”
23Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
24Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”
25Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live,
26and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
27She said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”
Translation notes
Greek Terms and Choices:
“Four days” (tessaras hēmeras) emphasizes decomposition, translated literally.
“Two miles off” (stadious dekapente, about 15 stadia) converted to modern units.
“Jews” (Ioudaioi) friends/authorities, gender-neutral.
“Console” (paramythēsōntai) comfort, translated as “console.”
“Lord, if You had been here” (kyrie ei ēs hōde) faith/regret, translated directly.
“Rise again” (anastēsetai, future) resurrection, translated as “rise again.”
“Resurrection on the last day” (anastasei en tē eschatē hēmera) eschatological, translated as “resurrection on the last day.”
“I am the resurrection and the life” (egō eimi hē anastasis kai hē zōē) fifth “I am” statement, translated literally.
“Though he die, yet shall he live” (kan apothanē zēsetai) paradox, translated as “though he die, yet shall he live.”
“Never die” (ou mē apothanē eis ton aiōna) eternal, translated as “never die.”
“Christ, the Son of God” (ho Christos ho huios tou theou) confession, capitalized as titles.
Pronouns:
“Jesus,” “He,” “Him,” “His,” “I,” “You,” “Me,” “My,” “Lord,” “God,” “Son of God,” “Christ” capitalized per VKJV deity convention.
“She,” “her” for Martha/Mary (autē, feminine) lowercase and gender-specific.
“Many,” “they” for Jews (polloi, autoi) gender-neutral.
“Whoever,” “everyone” (hos, pas) gender-neutral for believers.
28When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.”
29And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to Him.
30Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met Him.
31When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there.
32Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw Him, she fell at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”
33When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in His spirit and greatly troubled.
34And He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.”
35Jesus wept.
36So the Jews said, “See how He loved him!”
37But some of them said, “Could not He who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?”
Translation notes
Greek Terms and Choices:
“She went and called” (apēlthen kai ephōnēsen) action, translated as “went and called.”
“Teacher” (didaskalos) title for Jesus, translated as “Teacher.”
“Rose quickly” (ēgerthē tacheōs) urgency, translated as “rose quickly.”
“Consoling her” (paramythoumenoi autēn) comfort, translated as “consoling.”
“Fell at His feet” (epesen pros tous podas autou) submission, translated as “fell at His feet.”
“Deeply moved in His spirit and greatly troubled” (enebrimēsato tō pneumati kai etaraxen heauton) emotional response, translated as “deeply moved...greatly troubled.”
“Jesus wept” (edakrysen ho Iēsous) shortest verse, translated literally for impact.
“See how He loved him” (ide pōs ephilei auton) affection (ephilei, imperfect phileo), translated as “loved.”
“Opened the eyes of the blind man” alludes to chapter 9, translated as “opened the eyes.”
“Kept this man from dying” (poiēsai hina mē apothanē houtos) hypothetical, translated as “kept...from dying.”
Pronouns:
“Jesus,” “He,” “Him,” “His,” “You,” “Me,” “My,” “Lord” capitalized per VKJV deity convention.
“She,” “her” for Mary (*autē*, feminine) lowercase and gender-specific.
“They,” “them,” “some” for Jews (*autoi*, *tines*) gender-neutral as group.
“This man,” “him” for Lazarus (*houtos*, *auton*, masculine) lowercase.
38Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it.
39Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.”
40Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?”
41So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.
42I knew that You always hear Me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that You sent Me.”
43When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.”
44The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”
Translation notes
Greek Terms and Choices:
“Deeply moved again” (palin embrimōmenos) emotional intensity, translated as “deeply moved again.”
“Tomb...cave...stone” (mnēmeion...spēlaion...lithos) typical burial, translated clearly.
“By this time there will be an odor” (ēdē ozei) decomposition, translated as “there will be an odor.”
“Four days” (tetartaios) emphasizes death's finality, translated literally.
“Did I not tell you” (ouk eipon soi) recalls 11:23–26, translated as “Did I not tell you.”
“Glory of God” (doxan tou theou) divine manifestation, translated as “glory of God.”
“Lifted up His eyes” (ēren tous ophthalmous anō) prayer posture, translated as “lifted up His eyes.”
“Father, I thank You” (pater eucharistō soi) thanksgiving, translated as “Father, I thank You.”
“Cried out with a loud voice” (phōnē megalē ekraugasen) command, translated as “cried out with a loud voice.”
“Lazarus, come out” (Lazare deuro exō) direct call, translated literally.
“Hands and feet bound...face wrapped” (dedemenos tous podas kai tas cheiras...periededeto tēn opsin) mummy-like, translated as “bound...wrapped.”
“Unbind him” (lysate auton) release, translated as “Unbind him.”
Pronouns:
“Jesus,” “He,” “Him,” “His,” “I,” “You,” “Me,” “My,” “Father” capitalized per VKJV deity convention.
“She,” “her” for Martha (*autē*, feminine) lowercase and gender-specific.
“They,” “them” for people/Jews (*autoi*, *autois*) gender-neutral as group.
“The man who had died” (ho tethnēkōs, masculine) lowercase, gender-specific.
45Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what He did, believed in Him,
46but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.
47So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs.
48If we let Him go on like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”
49But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all.
50Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.”
51He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation,
52and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.
53So from that day on they made plans to put Him to death.
54Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and there He stayed with the disciples.
55Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves.
56They were looking for Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple, “What do you think? That He will not come to the feast at all?”
57Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where He was, he should let them know, so that they might arrest Him.
Translation notes
Greek Terms and Choices:
“Jews who had come with Mary” (Ioudaiōn hoi elthontes pros tēn Marian) friends, translated as “Jews who had come with Mary.”
“What He did” (ha epoiēsen) miracle, translated as “what He did.”
“Chief priests and the Pharisees” (archiereis kai hoi Pharisaioi) leaders, lowercase.
“Council” (synedrion) Sanhedrin, translated as “council.”
“Many signs” (polla sēmeia) miracles, translated as “many signs.”
“Romans...take away our place and nation” (Rōmaioi...arousin hēmōn ton topon kai to ethnos) fear of destruction, translated clearly.
“Caiaphas” (Kaiaphas) high priest, retained.
“One man should die for the people” (heis anthrōpos apothanē hyper tou laou) ironic prophecy, translated literally.
“Prophesied” (eprophēteusen, aorist) unwitting, translated as “prophesied.”
“Children of God...scattered abroad” (tekna tou theou ta dieskorpismena) Gentiles/Jews, translated as “children of God...scattered abroad.”
“Made plans to put Him to death” (ebouleusanto hina apokteinōsin auton) conspiracy, translated as “made plans to put Him to death.”
“Walked openly” (periepatei parrēsia) public, translated as “walked openly.”
“Ephraim” (Ephraim) town, retained.
“Purify themselves” (hagnisōsin heautous) ritual, translated as “purify themselves.”
“What do you think” (ti dokei hymin) speculation, translated as “What do you think.”
“Given orders” (entolas dedōkeisan) command, translated as “given orders.”
“Arrest Him” (piasōsin auton) capture, translated as “arrest Him.”
Pronouns:
“Jesus,” “He,” “Him,” “His” capitalized (ho Iēsous, autos).
“They,” “them,” “we,” “you,” “our” for leaders/Jews (autoi, hēmeis, hymeis) gender-neutral as groups.
“One man,” “he” (heis anthrōpos, autos) gender-neutral in translation for substitute.
“Anyone” (tis) gender-neutral for informants.
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