John 11:18

KJV

Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:

KJV (with Strong's)

Now {G1161} Bethany {G963} was {G2258} nigh {G1451} unto Jerusalem {G2414}, about {G5613} fifteen {G1178} furlongs {G4712} off {G575}:

Complete Jewish Bible

Now Beit-Anyah was about two miles from Yerushalayim,

Berean Standard Bible

Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, a little less than two miles away,

American Standard Version

Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
John 11:18 provides a precise geographical anchor for the monumental events about to unfold in Bethany, specifically the resurrection of Lazarus. By noting Bethany's proximity to Jerusalem—approximately two miles or fifteen furlongs—the verse highlights the strategic importance of the location, ensuring that the impending miracle would occur within close reach of the Jewish religious and political center, thereby facilitating widespread witness and public verification of Jesus's divine power.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse serves as a crucial geographical interjection within the narrative of Lazarus's death and resurrection. Immediately preceding it, Jesus has received news of Lazarus's illness, delayed His departure, and then declared His intention to go to Judea, despite His disciples' fears regarding the Jewish authorities in Jerusalem ([John 11:7-8](/john/11-7-8 "John 11:7-8 - Jesus Decides to Go to Judea")). The detailed mention of Bethany's location relative to Jerusalem in [John 11:18](/john/11-18 "John 11:18 - Bethany's Proximity to Jerusalem") sets the stage for the arrival of Jesus, Martha, and Mary, and the subsequent gathering of mourners from Jerusalem, emphasizing the public nature of the miracle that is about to take place. It underscores the deliberate choice of location for this profound display of Jesus's authority over death.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** First-century Judea was under Roman occupation, with Jerusalem serving as the religious, political, and cultural heartland for the Jewish people. Bethany, a small village on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives, was a common stopping point for pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem from the east. The cultural practice of intense mourning, often involving a large number of visitors and professional mourners, was deeply ingrained in Jewish society. Given Bethany's close proximity to Jerusalem, it was customary for many prominent individuals, including religious leaders and influential citizens, to travel from the capital to offer condolences to grieving families, especially those of standing like Lazarus's family. This explains the "many of the Jews" who had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them ([John 11:19](/john/11-19 "John 11:19 - Many Jews Comfort Mary and Martha")), setting the stage for a multitude of witnesses to Jesus's miracle.

* **Key Themes:** John's Gospel frequently emphasizes the theme of **witness** and **testimony**, particularly concerning Jesus's identity as the Son of God and the Christ. The precise geographical detail in [John 11:18](/john/11-18 "John 11:18 - Bethany's Proximity to Jerusalem") contributes directly to this theme by ensuring the miracle of Lazarus's resurrection would not be a private event but one observed by many, including those from the influential city of Jerusalem. This public display of power served as irrefutable evidence of Jesus's claims, leading some to believe ([John 11:45](/john/11-45 "John 11:45 - Many Jews Believe After Lazarus's Resurrection")) and others to harden their hearts ([John 11:46-48](/john/11-46-48 "John 11:46-48 - The Sanhedrin Plots Against Jesus")). The verse also subtly highlights **divine intentionality** in Jesus's actions, as His timing and location choices are always purposeful, serving the greater redemptive plan.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Bethany (Greek, _Bēthanía'_):** This word, of Chaldee origin, means "date-house." Bethany was a specific village located near Jerusalem, known as the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Its mention here grounds the narrative in a verifiable geographical location, emphasizing the historical reality of the events. The name itself, while not directly symbolic in this context, points to a place of habitation and, by extension, human life and experience, which will soon be dramatically intersected by divine power over death.
* **nigh (Greek, _engýs'_):** Derived from a primary verb meaning "to squeeze or throttle," this word signifies proximity, being "near" (literally or figuratively, of place or time). In [John 11:18](/john/11-18 "John 11:18 - Bethany's Proximity to Jerusalem"), it explicitly defines Bethany's close physical relationship to Jerusalem, underscoring that the events in Bethany were not isolated but occurred within the sphere of influence and observation of the capital city. This nearness is crucial for the public impact of Lazarus's resurrection.
* **furlongs (Greek, _stádion'_):** From the base of a word meaning "as fixed," _stádion_ refers to a specific measure of distance, roughly equivalent to 600-606 feet or about 1/8 of a Roman mile. Fifteen furlongs, therefore, translates to approximately 1.875 miles or 3 kilometers. The use of this precise measurement by John further emphasizes the factual and historically verifiable nature of his Gospel account, providing concrete detail that lends credibility to the narrative.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem,"**: This clause establishes the immediate geographical context for the narrative. "Now" (G1161, _dé_) acts as a continuative particle, linking this detail to the preceding narrative flow. Bethany, the setting for the upcoming miracle, is explicitly positioned as being very close to Jerusalem, the center of Jewish religious and political life. This proximity is not merely descriptive but foundational to understanding the scope and impact of the events that follow, particularly the number of witnesses.
* **"about fifteen furlongs off:"**: This phrase provides a precise measurement of the distance between Bethany and Jerusalem, quantifying the "nigh" relationship. "About" (G5613, _hōs_) indicates an approximate but close figure, while "fifteen" (G1178, _dekapénte_) and "furlongs" (G4712, _stádion_) give the specific unit of measure. The addition of "off" (G575, _apó_) reinforces the separation from Jerusalem. This detailed measurement serves to ground the miraculous events in a tangible, verifiable reality, inviting readers to consider the historical veracity of John's account.

#### Literary Devices
John's Gospel, while profoundly theological, is also rich in literary detail. In [John 11:18](/john/11-18 "John 11:18 - Bethany's Proximity to Jerusalem"), the primary literary device is **Geographical Realism**. John consistently includes specific place names, distances, and times throughout his narrative, lending an air of authenticity and historical verisimilitude to his account. This meticulous detail contrasts with more generalized narratives, asserting the factual basis of Jesus's ministry and miracles. The precise measurement of "fifteen furlongs" is an example of **Verisimilitude**, creating a sense of reality and inviting the reader to visualize the scene. Furthermore, this geographical detail serves as a subtle form of **Foreshadowing**, as the close proximity to Jerusalem implicitly signals that the events in Bethany will have significant repercussions in the capital city, directly leading to increased attention on Jesus, both positive and negative, and ultimately contributing to the plot against His life.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The seemingly mundane geographical detail in [John 11:18](/john/11-18 "John 11:18 - Bethany's Proximity to Jerusalem") carries profound theological weight. It underscores God's intentionality in orchestrating events in specific times and places to achieve His redemptive purposes. The public nature of the miracle in Bethany, facilitated by its closeness to Jerusalem, highlights the divine desire for widespread witness to Jesus's identity and power. God does not perform His greatest works in secret but often in plain sight, inviting all to see, believe, or reject. This verse, therefore, implicitly speaks to the historical grounding of the Gospel message and the verifiable reality of Jesus's miracles, which were not myths but events witnessed by many, even those from the very heart of the Jewish establishment.

* [Acts 2:22](/acts/2-22 "Acts 2:22 - Peter's Sermon on Pentecost")
* [John 20:30-31](/john/20-30-31 "John 20:30-31 - Purpose of John's Gospel")
* [Luke 24:48](/luke/24-48 "Luke 24:48 - You Are Witnesses")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
John 11:18 reminds us that God's redemptive work is not abstract or confined to hidden spiritual realms; it is deeply embedded in the tangible realities of human history and geography. Just as Bethany's proximity to Jerusalem ensured a public witness to Lazarus's resurrection, so too does God often choose to reveal His power and truth in ways that are observable and verifiable, inviting us to engage with the reality of His presence. This verse challenges us to consider the historical and factual basis of our faith, recognizing that the Gospel is not merely a collection of inspiring stories but an account of real events involving a real Jesus in real places. It calls us to be witnesses ourselves, sharing the verifiable truth of Christ's work in our own lives and communities, understanding that our testimonies, like the events in Bethany, can have a public impact.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the historical and geographical precision of biblical accounts, like John 11:18, strengthen your faith in the truth of the Gospel?**
* **In what ways does God continue to work in "public" or observable ways in the world today, inviting people to witness His power?**
* **How can you, as a believer, serve as a credible witness to the reality of Jesus Christ in your own "Bethany"—your community or sphere of influence?**

### FAQ
**Why does John include such a specific geographical detail about Bethany?**

Answer: John's Gospel is characterized by its precise details, including geographical and chronological markers. The inclusion of Bethany's exact distance from Jerusalem in [John 11:18](/john/11-18 "John 11:18 - Bethany's Proximity to Jerusalem") serves several crucial purposes. First, it lends historical credibility and authenticity to the narrative, grounding the extraordinary miracle of Lazarus's resurrection in a verifiable, real-world setting. Second, and perhaps most importantly, it highlights the strategic importance of the location. Bethany's closeness to Jerusalem meant that news of Lazarus's death and Jesus's subsequent miracle would quickly reach the capital, ensuring a large number of witnesses—including many influential Jews—who could attest to the event. This public witness was vital for John's overarching theme of demonstrating Jesus's divine identity and the truth of His claims.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While [John 11:18](/john/11-18 "John 11:18 - Bethany's Proximity to Jerusalem") is a simple geographical statement, its Christ-centered fulfillment lies in its contribution to the unfolding drama of God's redemptive plan, centered on Jesus. The proximity of Bethany to Jerusalem foreshadows the public nature of Jesus's ultimate triumph over death, which would also occur just outside Jerusalem's gates. The resurrection of Lazarus, a powerful sign witnessed by many from Jerusalem, served as a precursor and a living parable of Jesus's own impending death and resurrection. It was a public demonstration of His authority over life and death, reinforcing His claim to be "the resurrection and the life" ([John 11:25](/john/11-25 "John 11:25 - Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life")). This miracle, made public by Bethany's location, intensified the Jewish leaders' opposition to Jesus, ultimately leading to His crucifixion in Jerusalem, but also setting the stage for His glorious resurrection, which would be proclaimed from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth ([Luke 24:47](/luke/24-47 "Luke 24:47 - Repentance and Forgiveness Proclaimed")). Thus, this seemingly minor detail underscores the deliberate, public, and historically verifiable nature of God's saving work in Christ, culminating in the cross and empty tomb, witnessed by many, just as Lazarus's resurrection was.

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

Revelation 14:20

And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand [and] six hundred furlongs.

John 6:19

So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid.

John 11:1

¶ Now a certain [man] was sick, [named] Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.

Revelation 21:16

And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.

Luke 24:13

¶ And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem [about] threescore furlongs.