John 11:13

KJV

Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.

KJV (with Strong's)

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}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Now Yeshua had used the phrase to speak about El‘azar’s death, but they thought he had been talking literally about sleep.

Berean Standard Bible

They thought that Jesus was talking about actual sleep, but He was speaking about the death of Lazarus.

American Standard Version

Now Jesus had spoken of his death: but they thought that he spake of taking rest in sleep.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
John 11:13 serves as the narrator's crucial clarification regarding a significant misunderstanding between Jesus and His disciples concerning Lazarus's condition. While Jesus used the common biblical metaphor of "sleep" to refer to Lazarus's physical death, the disciples, limited by their human perception, interpreted His words literally, believing Lazarus was merely resting. This explicit statement by the evangelist highlights the profound disconnect between Jesus' divine insight and the disciples' earthly understanding, setting the stage for the astonishing demonstration of Jesus' authority over life and death.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically placed by the evangelist to provide the reader with critical insight into Jesus' true meaning, which the disciples failed to grasp. Immediately preceding it, in [John 11:11-12](/john/11-11-12 "John 11:11-12 - Jesus Speaks of Lazarus's Sleep"), Jesus informs His disciples, "Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep." The disciples, misinterpreting this metaphorical language, respond, "Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well." [John 11:13](/john/11-13 "John 11:13 - The Narrator Clarifies Jesus' Meaning") then functions as an explanatory interjection, clarifying for the audience that Jesus was speaking of death, not natural sleep. This narrative device builds dramatic irony and prepares the reader for Jesus' subsequent unambiguous declaration in [John 11:14](/john/11-14 "John 11:14 - Jesus States Plainly That Lazarus is Dead"), "Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead," which finally dispels the disciples' confusion and precedes the miraculous raising of Lazarus from the dead, as detailed in [John 11:38-44](/john/11-38-44 "John 11:38-44 - The Raising of Lazarus").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In both ancient Jewish and early Christian contexts, the concept of "sleep" was a widely understood euphemism for death, particularly for those who believed in a future resurrection. This metaphor conveyed a sense of temporary cessation rather than ultimate annihilation, rooted in the hope of an awakening. Examples can be found in the Old Testament (e.g., [Daniel 12:2](/daniel/12-2 "Daniel 12:2 - Those Who Sleep in the Dust")) and frequently in the New Testament concerning deceased believers (e.g., [Acts 7:60](/acts/7-60 "Acts 7:60 - Stephen Falls Asleep")). However, the disciples' misunderstanding in [John 11:13](/john/11-13 "John 11:13 - Disciples Misunderstand Jesus") highlights their struggle to grasp the full spiritual implications of Jesus' words, even when using familiar cultural idioms. They were likely thinking of a natural, restorative sleep, which would imply recovery from illness, rather than the profound "sleep" of death. This human tendency to interpret spiritual truths through a purely physical lens is a recurring theme in the Gospels, often requiring Jesus to provide explicit clarification.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the Gospel of John and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it underscores the **Misunderstanding of Spiritual Truth**, a recurring motif where Jesus' disciples and others often fail to grasp the deeper, spiritual meaning behind His words and actions (e.g., Nicodemus's confusion about being [born again](/john/3-3-4 "John 3:3-4 - Born Again")). Secondly, it highlights the biblical concept of **Death as Sleep for Believers**, emphasizing the temporary nature of physical death for those who belong to God, awaiting a glorious resurrection (e.g., [1 Corinthians 15:51-52](/1_corinthians/15-51-52 "1 Corinthians 15:51-52 - The Mystery of Resurrection")). Finally, the entire narrative of Lazarus, clarified by this verse, serves as a profound demonstration of **Jesus' Authority Over Death**, a central aspect of His divine identity and mission, foreshadowing His own resurrection and His power to grant eternal life to all who believe in Him (e.g., Jesus' declaration in [John 11:25-26](/john/11-25-26 "John 11:25-26 - Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **death (Greek, _thánatos'_):** (G2288) This noun, derived from a verb meaning "to die," refers to the literal cessation of physical life. In [John 11:13](/john/11-13 "John 11:13 - Jesus Speaks of Death"), the narrator explicitly states that Jesus was speaking of Lazarus's literal demise, contrasting it with the disciples' misinterpretation. Its direct use here by the evangelist emphasizes the gravity of Lazarus's condition and sets the stage for Jesus' miraculous intervention, highlighting the reality that Lazarus was indeed physically deceased.
* **thought (Greek, _dokéō'_):** (G1380) This verb signifies "to think," "to suppose," or "to seem." In this context, it highlights the disciples' perception and interpretation of Jesus' words. Their "thinking" was based on a literal understanding of "sleep," demonstrating a cognitive disconnect between Jesus' metaphorical language and their human reasoning, leading to a significant misapprehension of the situation. It underscores the limitations of human intellect in grasping divine truth without spiritual illumination.
* **taking of rest (Greek, _koímēsis'_):** (G2838) From the verb meaning "to put to sleep," this noun literally means "sleeping" or "repose." While it can refer to natural sleep, in biblical usage, especially concerning death, it often carries the profound theological connotation of a temporary state, a "rest" before resurrection. The disciples' error was in failing to grasp this deeper, metaphorical meaning, assuming it referred to ordinary, restorative sleep, thereby missing the gravity of Lazarus's condition and the spiritual truth Jesus conveyed.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Howbeit Jesus spake of his death:"** This opening clause serves as the narrator's direct and unambiguous clarification to the reader. It explicitly states Jesus' true intent behind His earlier metaphorical statement about Lazarus "sleeping." The use of "death" (G2288, _thánatos_) leaves no ambiguity about Lazarus's physical state from Jesus' perspective, immediately resolving any potential confusion for the audience and establishing the factual reality of the situation.
* **"but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep."** This contrasting clause, introduced by the adversative conjunction "but" (G1161, _dé_), starkly reveals the disciples' profound misunderstanding. Their "thinking" (G1380, _dokéō_) was limited to a literal, physical understanding of "taking of rest" (G2838, _koímēsis_) and "sleep" (G5258, _hýpnos_), assuming Lazarus was merely in a natural, recuperative slumber. This clause underscores the chasm between divine truth and human perception, setting up the subsequent need for Jesus' plain declaration and miraculous intervention.

#### Literary Devices
The verse primarily employs **Dramatic Irony**, where the audience (the reader) is privy to information (Jesus' true meaning) that the characters (the disciples) are not. The narrator explicitly tells us that Jesus was speaking of Lazarus's death, while the disciples remain ignorant, believing He spoke of ordinary sleep. This creates tension and highlights the disciples' limited understanding. Furthermore, Jesus' initial use of "sleep" for death is a **Metaphor**, a common biblical idiom for death, particularly for believers, emphasizing its temporary nature and the hope of resurrection. The entire interaction also exemplifies **Misunderstanding**, a recurring literary motif in John's Gospel, where characters frequently misinterpret Jesus' words, requiring further clarification or revelation.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
John 11:13 is a pivotal verse that illuminates the profound theological distinction between human perception and divine reality, particularly concerning death. For Jesus, and indeed throughout the New Testament, the physical death of a believer is often described as "sleep" – a temporary state of rest, not an end, but a prelude to a glorious awakening. This metaphor is laden with hope, emphasizing the future resurrection and Jesus' ultimate victory over the grave. The disciples' inability to grasp this deeper meaning highlights the spiritual blindness that often afflicts humanity, necessitating divine revelation to comprehend God's truths fully. This episode, therefore, not only sets the stage for the raising of Lazarus but also powerfully foreshadows Jesus' own death and resurrection, establishing Him as the ultimate source of life and the conqueror of death, offering profound comfort and assurance to all who believe.

* [Daniel 12:2](/daniel/12-2 "Daniel 12:2 - Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake")
* [1 Corinthians 15:20](/1_corinthians/15-20 "1 Corinthians 15:20 - Christ is Risen, the Firstfruits of Those Who Sleep")
* [1 Thessalonians 4:13-14](/1_thermonians/4-13-14 "1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 - Believers Who Have Died Will Rise Again")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This verse serves as a profound reminder that our human understanding is often limited, especially when attempting to grasp divine truths. Just as the disciples struggled to comprehend Jesus' metaphorical language about death, we too can fall into the trap of interpreting spiritual realities through a purely literal or worldly lens. The concept of death as "sleep" for believers offers immense comfort and hope, transforming our perspective on loss from one of despair to one of expectant waiting for a glorious reunion. It encourages us to cultivate a deeper spiritual discernment, to not merely hear Jesus' words but to seek the Spirit's illumination to understand their true, life-giving meaning. Ultimately, it calls us to trust in Jesus' sovereignty over all things, including death itself, knowing that He is the Resurrection and the Life, who holds the ultimate victory and promises an awakening for all who are His.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life might you be interpreting God's words or plans through a purely human, rather than spiritual, lens?**
* **How does the biblical metaphor of "death as sleep" for believers bring you comfort or challenge your current understanding of mortality?**
* **What steps can you take to cultivate greater spiritual discernment and a deeper understanding of God's truths?**

### FAQ

**Why did Jesus use the metaphor of "sleep" for death if He knew it would cause confusion?**

Answer: Jesus often used metaphors, parables, and veiled language not only to convey truth but also to reveal the spiritual state of His hearers. The metaphor of "sleep" for death was a common biblical idiom, particularly for believers (e.g., [Daniel 12:2](/daniel/12-2 "Daniel 12:2 - Awakening from Sleep in the Dust")), emphasizing the temporary nature of physical death and the hope of resurrection. While it caused immediate confusion for the disciples in [John 11:13](/john/11-13 "John 11:13 - Jesus Clarifies Lazarus's Death"), it served to highlight their need for deeper spiritual understanding and set the stage for Jesus to explicitly declare, "Lazarus is dead" ([John 11:14](/john/11-14 "John 11:14 - Jesus States Lazarus is Dead")), followed by the powerful demonstration of His authority over death. This progression from veiled truth to plain declaration and miraculous proof was part of Jesus' pedagogical method to reveal His divine identity and power, ultimately leading to a more profound faith.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
John 11:13, though seemingly a simple clarification, profoundly points to Christ's central role in overcoming death. Jesus' use of "sleep" for Lazarus's death is not merely a euphemism but a prophetic foreshadowing of His own triumph over the grave. For believers, death is indeed a temporary "sleep" because Christ Himself has conquered death through His crucifixion and resurrection. His powerful declaration in [John 11:25](/john/11-25 "John 11:25 - Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life"), "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live," is the ultimate fulfillment of the hope embedded in the "sleep" metaphor. Jesus' own bodily resurrection ([Luke 24:6-7](/luke/24-6-7 "Luke 24:6-7 - He is Not Here, But is Risen")) demonstrates His power to awaken those who "sleep" in death, promising a future resurrection for all who are [in Christ](/1_corinthians/15-22-23 "1 Corinthians 15:22-23 - In Christ All Will Be Made Alive"). Thus, this verse subtly underscores that only through Christ's work can death be transformed from a terrifying end into a temporary repose, awaiting glorious awakening and eternal life.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Matthew 9:24

He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.