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.

Jesus {G2424} said {G3004}, Take ye away {G142} the stone {G3037}. Martha {G3136}, the sister {G79} of him that was dead {G2348}, saith {G3004} unto him {G846}, Lord {G2962}, by this time {G2235} he stinketh {G3605}: for {G1063} he hath been {G2076} dead four days {G5066}.

Yeshua said, “Take the stone away!” Marta, the sister of the dead man, said to Yeshua, “By now his body must smell, for it has been four days since he died!”

“Take away the stone,” Jesus said. “Lord, by now he stinks,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man. “It has already been four days.”

Jesus saith, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time the body decayeth; for he hath been dead four days.

Commentary

In John 11:39, we witness a pivotal moment leading up to one of Jesus' most profound miracles: the resurrection of Lazarus. This verse encapsulates the tension between divine authority and human understanding, setting the stage for a powerful demonstration of God's glory.

Context

This verse is set in Bethany, a village near Jerusalem, where Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, had died. Jesus, upon hearing of Lazarus's illness, intentionally delayed His arrival, stating that the sickness was "not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby" (John 11:4). By the time Jesus arrived, Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days. In Jewish tradition, it was believed that the soul lingered near the body for three days before departing entirely, making the fourth day a point of no return and confirming undeniable death and decay. Jesus' command to "Take ye away the stone" directly confronts Martha's human logic and the irreversible nature of death.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Authority vs. Human Limitation: Jesus' simple command, "Take ye away the stone," demonstrates His absolute authority over life and death. Martha's immediate objection, "Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days," highlights the natural human tendency to rely on sensory evidence and logical reasoning, which can limit our perception of God's boundless power.
  • The Challenge to Faith: Martha had previously declared her faith in Jesus as the "Resurrection, and the Life" (John 11:25), and believed that "whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee" (John 11:22). However, the grim reality of a decaying body tested that faith. This verse shows the struggle between intellectual assent to truth and its practical application in the face of overwhelming circumstances.
  • The Reality of Death: Martha's blunt statement, "he stinketh," vividly underscores the grim reality of physical death and decomposition. This detail removes any doubt that Lazarus was truly dead, making the subsequent miracle all the more astounding and undeniable.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "stinketh" is ozei (ὄζει), which literally means "to smell bad" or "to emit an odor." Its use here emphasizes the physical, undeniable state of decay that had set in after four days, leaving no room for medical or physiological ambiguity regarding Lazarus's death. This detail reinforces the magnitude of the miracle Jesus was about to perform.

Practical Application

John 11:39 reminds us that God's power often operates beyond our human limitations and understanding. Like Martha, we may encounter "dead" situations in our lives—problems that seem irreversible, relationships that are broken beyond repair, or hopes that have decayed. Yet, Jesus' command to "Take ye away the stone" calls us to remove the obstacles of our doubt and human reasoning, even when the situation seems hopeless. It challenges us to trust in His sovereignty and power, knowing that He is able to bring life even out of decay (John 11:43).

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • John 11:17

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

  • Mark 16:3

    And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?

  • Psalms 49:7

    None [of them] can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:

  • Genesis 3:19

    In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou [art], and unto dust shalt thou return.

  • Philippians 3:21

    Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

  • Psalms 49:14

    Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.

  • Genesis 23:4

    I [am] a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a possession of a buryingplace with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.
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