John 11:17

KJV

¶ Then when Jesus came, he found that he had [lain] in the grave four days already.

KJV (with Strong's)

Then {G3767} when Jesus {G2424} came {G2064}, he found {G2147} that he {G846} had {G2192} lain in {G1722} the grave {G3419} four {G5064} days {G2250} already {G2235}.

Complete Jewish Bible

On arrival, Yeshua found that El‘azar had already been in the tomb for four days.

Berean Standard Bible

When Jesus arrived, He found that Lazarus had already spent four days in the tomb.

American Standard Version

So when Jesus came, he found that he had been in the tomb four days already.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
John 11:17 marks a pivotal moment in the narrative of Lazarus's death, revealing Jesus' arrival in Bethany to find that his friend had been interred for four days. This specific detail underscores the finality of Lazarus's death from a human perspective, setting the stage for an extraordinary demonstration of divine power that would unequivocally prove Jesus' authority over life and death, thereby magnifying God's glory and strengthening the faith of many.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows Jesus' deliberate two-day delay after hearing of Lazarus's illness, a delay explicitly stated to be "for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it" ([John 11:4](/john/11-4 "John 11:4 - Sickness for God's Glory")). The preceding verses detail the disciples' confusion and Jesus' enigmatic statements about Lazarus sleeping, which He then clarifies as death ([John 11:11-14](/john/11-11-14 "John 11:11-14 - Jesus Explains Lazarus's Death")). Upon Jesus' arrival in Bethany, the narrative shifts from anticipation to the stark reality of Lazarus's prolonged death, preparing the reader for the miraculous intervention that is about to unfold. The timing of Jesus' arrival, coinciding with the fourth day, is crucial for understanding the magnitude of the miracle that follows.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In first-century Jewish funerary customs and beliefs, the "four days" was profoundly significant. It was a widely held belief, particularly among the Pharisees, that the soul of the deceased lingered near the body for up to three days, offering a slim possibility of resuscitation. However, by the fourth day, decay was believed to have visibly set in, and all hope of revival was abandoned, as the soul was thought to have fully departed. This belief system rendered any resurrection after four days an undeniable act of divine power, beyond any natural explanation or human intervention. The village of Bethany, located near Jerusalem, was a familiar place for Jesus and His disciples, and the sisters Martha and Mary were close friends, adding a deeply personal dimension to this public display of power.
* **Key Themes:** John 11:17 contributes significantly to several key themes within the Gospel of John. Firstly, it highlights **Jesus' sovereignty over death**, establishing the dire circumstances that will make His subsequent miracle irrefutable. The four-day period emphatically underscores that Lazarus's death was complete and irreversible by human standards, magnifying Jesus' power as the "resurrection and the life" ([John 11:25](/john/11-25 "John 11:25 - Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life")). Secondly, it reinforces the theme of **divine timing and purpose**. Jesus' intentional delay, though causing grief and confusion, was part of God's perfect plan to demonstrate His glory and lead many to faith ([John 11:45](/john/11-45 "John 11:45 - Many Believe After Lazarus's Resurrection")). This passage also subtly introduces the theme of **Jesus' impending death and resurrection**, as Lazarus's raising serves as a powerful foreshadowing of Christ's own victory over the grave, a central message throughout [the Gospel of John](/john/1 "The Gospel of John - The Deity of Christ").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **came (Greek, _érchomai'_):** This primary verb signifies Jesus' arrival, marking a pivotal turning point in the narrative. While Lazarus's death had occurred, Jesus' physical presence initiates the sequence of events that will lead to the miracle. It denotes His active engagement and intentional movement towards the situation.
* **found (Greek, _heurískō'_):** This verb implies discovery or perception of a pre-existing state. Jesus "found" Lazarus in the grave, indicating that the situation was already established and dire upon His arrival. It highlights Jesus' direct confrontation with the reality of death and decay.
* **already (Greek, _ḗdē'_):** This adverb emphasizes the completed state and the duration of Lazarus's death. It underscores that the four days were not merely a passage of time, but a period significant enough to signify irreversible death from a human perspective, thereby setting the stage for the miraculous nature of Jesus' intervention.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then when Jesus came":** This phrase signals a transition in the narrative, marking Jesus' physical arrival at Bethany after His intentional delay. His coming is the catalyst for the events that follow, shifting the focus from the initial news of illness and the disciples' journey to the direct confrontation with Lazarus's death.
* **"he found":** This indicates Jesus' immediate perception and understanding of the situation upon His arrival. He did not merely hear about it; He directly observed and confirmed the reality of Lazarus's state. This active "finding" sets up the dramatic contrast between human despair and divine power.
* **"that he had [lain] in the grave four days already":** This crucial clause details the exact condition Jesus "found." The KJV's bracketed "[lain]" indicates that this word was supplied by the translators for clarity, as the Greek simply conveys the state of being in the tomb. The emphasis is not on the act of lying down, but on the duration and condition of being deceased and interred. The "four days already" is the most significant detail, culturally and theologically, as it signifies that Lazarus's death was complete, irreversible, and beyond any natural hope of revival, preparing the reader for a miracle of unparalleled magnitude.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several literary devices to heighten its impact. **Foreshadowing** is subtly present, as the dire state of Lazarus's death prepares the reader for an extraordinary act of divine power, which in turn foreshadows Jesus' own resurrection. **Symbolism** is evident in the "four days," which symbolizes the absolute finality of death from a human perspective, a point beyond which no natural revival was expected. This temporal detail serves to magnify the impending miracle. The verse also utilizes **Juxtaposition** by placing Jesus' arrival against the backdrop of Lazarus's long-established death, creating a tension that highlights Jesus' unique authority over life and death.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
John 11:17 serves as a theological linchpin, emphasizing the absolute finality of death from a human standpoint, which then magnifies the unparalleled power and authority of Jesus over it. The "four days" is not merely a temporal detail but a theological statement, underscoring that Lazarus's death was beyond dispute, decay had begun, and any natural hope was extinguished. This context makes Jesus' subsequent action an irrefutable demonstration of His divine nature as the "resurrection and the life," affirming His unique ability to conquer even the most entrenched forms of death. It teaches us that no situation, however hopeless or final it may appear, is beyond the sovereign power of God.

* [John 11:25-26](/john/11-25-26 "John 11:25-26 - Jesus: The Resurrection and the Life")
* [Acts 2:24](/acts/2-24 "Acts 2:24 - God Raised Jesus from the Dead")
* [Romans 8:11](/romans/8-11 "Romans 8:11 - The Spirit of Him Who Raised Jesus")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
John 11:17, with its stark declaration of Lazarus having been in the grave "four days already," confronts us with the reality of seemingly irreversible situations in our own lives. Just as Martha and Mary faced a circumstance beyond human remedy, we too encounter moments where hope seems to have died, and the passage of time only deepens our despair. This verse encourages us to remember that Jesus often arrives not at our preferred timing, but at God's perfect timing, precisely when the human impossibility of a situation can best magnify His glory. It challenges us to trust in His sovereignty even when our prayers seem delayed or unanswered, knowing that His power extends even to the "four-day" dead ends of our lives. It calls us to place our ultimate hope not in circumstances, but in the One who holds the keys to life and death.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Jesus' deliberate delay in this narrative challenge our understanding of divine timing in our own lives?**
* **What "four-day" situations in your life currently feel beyond hope, and how might this passage encourage you to trust in Jesus' ultimate authority?**
* **In what ways does this account deepen your faith in Jesus as the Lord over life and death?**

### FAQ
**Why is the detail "four days already" so important in this passage?**

Answer: The detail "four days already" is critically important because it addresses a common Jewish belief in the first century that the soul of a deceased person lingered near the body for up to three days, after which it fully departed, and decay would visibly set in. By the fourth day, any hope of resuscitation was completely abandoned. Therefore, when Jesus arrived and Lazarus had been dead for four days, it unequivocally established the finality of his death from a human perspective. This made the subsequent miracle of Lazarus's resurrection an undeniable act of divine power, demonstrating Jesus' absolute authority over death and decay, beyond any natural explanation. It eliminated any possibility that Lazarus was merely unconscious or that his revival was anything less than a supernatural act.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
John 11:17, by highlighting the absolute finality of Lazarus's death, powerfully sets the stage for Jesus' Christ-centered fulfillment of humanity's deepest need: victory over death. Lazarus's resurrection, occurring after four days when all hope was lost, serves as a profound **type** or **foreshaodowing** of Jesus' own resurrection. While Lazarus was raised to mortal life and would eventually die again, Jesus' resurrection was a triumph over death itself, leading to eternal life for all who believe. Jesus' declaration, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live" ([John 11:25](/john/11-25 "John 11:25 - Jesus: The Resurrection and the Life")), directly follows this verse's context, revealing His ultimate mission. The "four days" of Lazarus's death underscore the reality of death's grip, but Jesus' subsequent act demonstrates that He holds the keys of death and Hades ([Revelation 1:18](/revelation/1-18 "Revelation 1:18 - Jesus Holds the Keys of Death and Hades")). Through His own death and resurrection, Jesus disarmed the power of death and delivered those who were held in slavery by their fear of it ([Hebrews 2:14-15](/hebrews/2-14-15 "Hebrews 2:14-15 - Jesus Destroys the Power of Death")), becoming the "firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep" ([1 Corinthians 15:20](/1_corinthians/15-20 "1 Corinthians 15:20 - Christ, the Firstfruits of Resurrection")). Thus, Lazarus's temporary resurrection points to the eternal resurrection and life found only in Christ.

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

John 11:39

Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been [dead] four days.

Hosea 6:2

After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.

Acts 2:27

Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Acts 2:31

He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.

John 2:19

Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.