Click
here to show/hide instructions.
Instructions on how to use the page:
The commentary for the selected verse is is displayed below.
All commentary was produced against the King James, so the same verse from that translation may appear as well. Hovering your mouse over a commentary's scripture reference attempts to show those verses.
Use the browser's back button to return to the previous page.
Or you can also select a feature from the Just Verses menu appearing at the top of the page.
Selected Verse: John 11:12 - King James
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Joh 11:12 |
King James |
Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
| if he sleep, he shall do well--literally, "be preserved"; that is, recover. "Why then go to Judea?" |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
| If the sleep, he shall do well - Sleep was regarded by the Jews, in sickness, as a favorable symptom; hence it was said among them, "Sleep in sickness is a sign of recovery, because it shows that the violence of the disease has abated" (Lightfoot). This seems to have been the meaning of the disciples. They intimated that if he had this symptom, there was no need of his going into Judea to restore him. |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Shall do well (σωθήσεται)
Literally, shall be saved. Rev., he will recover. Wyc., shall be safe. Tyndale's Version of the New Testament, shall he do well enough. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
If he sleep, he shall do well - That is, if he sleep only, etc. Though the word sleep frequently meant death, (see Act 7:60; Co1 11:30; Co1 15:18, Co1 15:20), yet, as it was an ambiguous term, the disciples appear here to have mistaken its meaning. Because, in certain acute disorders, the composing the patient to rest was a favorable sign; therefore the words, If he sleep, he shall do well, or recover, became a proverbial forth of speech among the Jews. In most diseases, sleep is a very favorable prognostic: hence that saying of Menander: -
Ὑπνος δε πασης εϚιν ὑγιεια νοσου.
Sleep is a remedy for every disease.
See Grotius here. The meaning of the disciples seems to have been this: There can be no need for thee to go into Judea to awake our friend Lazarus; he will awake time enough, and his very sleep is a presage of his recovery: therefore do not hazard thy life by going. |
20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.