Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.
Howbeit {G1161} Jesus {G2424} spake {G2046} of {G4012} his {G846} death {G2288}: but {G1161} they {G1565} thought {G1380} that {G3754} he had spoken {G3004} of {G4012} taking of rest {G2838} in sleep {G5258}.
Now Yeshua had used the phrase to speak about El‘azar’s death, but they thought he had been talking literally about sleep.
They thought that Jesus was talking about actual sleep, but He was speaking about the death of Lazarus.
Now Jesus had spoken of his death: but they thought that he spake of taking rest in sleep.
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Matthew 9:24
He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.
In John 11:13, the King James Version provides crucial clarity regarding a misunderstanding between Jesus and His disciples. Jesus had previously stated that their friend Lazarus was "asleep," a common biblical metaphor for death, especially for believers. However, the disciples interpreted His words literally, believing Lazarus was merely resting and not in a critical state. This verse explicitly states that Jesus was speaking of Lazarus's physical death, while His followers misconstrued it as ordinary sleep.
Context
This verse is pivotal in the narrative leading up to one of Jesus' most profound miracles: the raising of Lazarus from the dead. Prior to this, in John 11:11-12, Jesus tells His disciples, "Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep." The disciples, unaware of Lazarus's actual condition, responded, "Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well." Their misinterpretation highlights a common human tendency to understand spiritual or metaphorical language in a purely literal, physical sense. Jesus' subsequent clarification, as revealed in John 11:14 where He plainly states, "Lazarus is dead," underscores the need for divine illumination to grasp spiritual truths.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The Greek word translated "sleep" in John 11:13 and preceding verses is koimēsis (κοίμησις), which literally means "a resting, sleeping." While it can refer to natural sleep, in biblical contexts, particularly concerning the death of believers, it carries the profound theological meaning of a temporary cessation of life, a rest before the resurrection. This contrasts with thanatos (θάνατος), the direct term for "death," which Jesus uses explicitly in John 11:14 to remove any ambiguity for His disciples. This distinction is crucial for understanding the Christian hope of resurrection, as seen in passages like 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14.
Significance and Application
This verse serves as a powerful reminder that God's perspective often differs significantly from our own. What we perceive as an end, God may see as a temporary state. For believers, the concept of death as "sleep" offers immense comfort, assuring us that physical death is not the final chapter but a transition to a glorious awakening. It points to Jesus as the "resurrection and the life", who holds the keys to death and the grave. Practically, it encourages us to seek deeper understanding of God's Word, to not be content with superficial interpretations, and to trust in His ultimate plan, even when it seems counterintuitive to our human understanding.