John 11:31

The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there.

The Jews {G2453} then {G3767} which {G3588} were {G5607} with {G3326} her {G846} in {G1722} the house {G3614}, and {G2532} comforted {G3888} her {G846}, when they saw {G1492} Mary {G3137}, that {G3754} she rose up {G450} hastily {G5030} and {G2532} went out {G1831}, followed {G190} her {G846}, saying {G3004},{G3754} She goeth {G5217} unto {G1519} the grave {G3419} to {G2443} weep {G2799} there {G1563}.

so when the Judeans who had been with Miryam in the house comforting her saw her get up quickly and go out, they followed her, thinking she was going to the tomb to mourn there.

When the Jews who were in the house consoling Mary saw how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.

The Jews then who were with her in the house, and were consoling her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up quickly and went out, followed her, supposing that she was going unto the tomb to weep there.

Commentary

Context

The context of John 11:31 places us in Bethany, following the death of Lazarus, the brother of Martha and Mary. Jesus had delayed His arrival, and Lazarus had already been dead for four days. During this period of intense mourning, it was customary for friends, relatives, and often professional mourners, to gather in the home to comfort the grieving family. Mary, overcome with sorrow, was being consoled by these visitors when she received a private summons from Jesus, conveyed by her sister Martha (John 11:28).

Key Themes

  • Grief and Mourning: This verse vividly portrays the depth of Mary's sorrow and the communal nature of mourning in that culture. The presence of many "Jews...comforted her" underscores the shared human experience of loss and the need for support during times of grief.
  • Human Empathy and Comfort: The actions of the Jews demonstrate genuine compassion. They were not merely observers but active participants in the mourning process, seeking to comfort the sorrowful. Their immediate decision to follow Mary highlights their concern and protective instincts.
  • Dramatic Irony: A central element of this verse is the profound dramatic irony. The mourners assume Mary is rushing to the grave to continue her weeping, aligning with their understanding of grief. However, the reader knows, based on Mary's secret summons, that she is actually going to meet Jesus, the one who is about to demonstrate His power as the Resurrection and the Life. This contrast sets the stage for the miraculous event to follow.
  • Prompt Response to Jesus: Mary's action of rising "hastily" and immediately going out speaks to her eagerness and urgency to meet Jesus. Her faith, though perhaps tinged with sorrow, compelled her to respond without delay to His call.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "comforted" is paramytheomai (παραμυθέομαι), which conveys the idea of speaking kindly to console, cheer, or encourage someone. It suggests a deep, empathetic connection rather than just a superficial acknowledgment of sorrow. Mary's action of rising "hastily" is from the Greek phrase en tachei (ἐν τάχει), emphasizing the swiftness and immediacy of her departure. This swiftness highlights her urgent desire to be with Jesus, even amidst her profound grief.

Practical Application

This passage offers several insights for today. It affirms the reality of human grief and the importance of offering compassionate comfort to those who mourn. Just as the Jews accompanied Mary, we are called to be present with and support those experiencing loss. Furthermore, Mary's immediate response to Jesus reminds us to seek Him in our times of deepest sorrow and need. Our limited human perspective, like that of the mourners who only saw the grave, often fails to grasp the larger, redemptive work God may be doing. Even when we feel lost or misunderstood, Christ is present and capable of bringing life and hope into our most desperate situations, working all things for His greater glory.

Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.

Cross-References

  • John 11:19

    And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.

  • 2 Samuel 12:16

    David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.

  • 2 Samuel 12:18

    And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead?

  • Genesis 37:35

    And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him.

  • 1 Corinthians 2:15

    But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
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