John 11:39

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

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}.

Complete Jewish Bible

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!”

Berean Standard Bible

“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.”

American Standard Version

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

### SUMMARY
John 11:39 captures a pivotal moment in the narrative of Lazarus's resurrection, revealing the profound tension between divine omnipotence and human limitation. Jesus' direct command to remove the stone from the tomb is met with Martha's visceral objection, rooted in the undeniable reality of death and decay after four days. This exchange sets the stage for a miraculous demonstration of God's glory, challenging human perception and underscoring the absolute authority of Christ over life and death.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated at the climax of the Lazarus narrative in [John 11](/john/11 "The Resurrection of Lazarus"), following Jesus' deliberate delay in arriving at Bethany. The preceding verses detail Lazarus's illness and death ([John 11:1-6](/john/11-1-6 "Lazarus's Illness")), Jesus' declaration that Lazarus's sickness was "not unto death, but for the glory of God" ([John 11:4](/john/11-4 "Purpose of Lazarus's Sickness")), and His subsequent journey to Bethany. Upon arrival, Jesus engages in a profound theological dialogue with Martha, where she affirms her belief in Jesus as "the Resurrection, and the Life" ([John 11:25](/john/11-25 "Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life")). The scene then shifts to the tomb, where Jesus, deeply moved, commands the stone to be removed, directly confronting the physical evidence of death and Martha's human apprehension.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Bethany, a village just two miles east of Jerusalem, was a familiar place for Jesus and His disciples. Jewish burial customs of the time typically involved wrapping the body in grave clothes and placing it in a rock-hewn tomb, sealed with a large stone. A critical cultural belief was that the soul lingered near the body for three days after death, but by the fourth day, it was believed to have departed completely, signifying irreversible decay and making resurrection impossible by human means. Martha's objection, "by this time he stinketh," is not merely a pragmatic observation but a culturally informed statement confirming the absolute finality of Lazarus's death, thereby amplifying the magnitude of the miracle Jesus was about to perform.
* **Key Themes:** [John 11:39](/john/11-39 "Jesus Commands the Stone Removed") powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the Gospel of John and this chapter. It highlights the **Sovereignty and Authority of Jesus** over all creation, including death itself, contrasting divine power with **Human Limitation and Doubt**. Martha's initial faith, though strong in principle ([John 11:21-27](/john/11-21-27 "Martha's Confession of Faith")), is challenged by the grim reality of decay, illustrating the **Struggle Between Intellectual Assent and Practical Faith**. Furthermore, the explicit mention of the "four days" and the resulting "stink" emphasizes the **Undeniable Reality of Death**, ensuring that the subsequent resurrection is perceived as an absolute, undeniable miracle, thereby bringing greater **Glory to God** and confirming Jesus' identity as the Son of God, as foreshadowed in [John 11:4](/john/11-4 "Purpose of Lazarus's Sickness").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Take ye away (Greek, _aírō'_):** This word, G142, means "to lift up; by implication, to take up or away." In this context, it signifies a direct command to remove a physical barrier, the stone. However, its broader theological implication in John's Gospel often relates to "taking away" sin (as in [John 1:29](/john/1-29 "Jesus, the Lamb of God")), suggesting a deeper spiritual significance in Jesus' action—He is not just removing a stone but confronting and ultimately removing the power of death itself.
* **stinketh (Greek, _ózō'_):** This verb, G3605, is a primary word meaning "to scent (usually an ill 'odor')." Its use here is stark and visceral, emphasizing the undeniable physical reality of decomposition. Martha's blunt statement underscores the irreversible nature of death after four days, leaving no room for doubt about Lazarus's condition and thereby magnifying the miraculous nature of his impending resurrection.
* **four days (Greek, _tetartaîos'_):** This adjective, G5066, derived from "four," specifically means "pertaining to the fourth day." As noted in the cultural context, the fourth day was crucial in Jewish belief, marking the point beyond which the soul was believed to have fully departed, and physical decay was undeniable. This detail serves to eliminate any possibility of a mere resuscitation or misdiagnosis, firmly establishing the miracle as a true resurrection from the dead.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Jesus said, 'Take ye away the stone.'"**: This opening clause reveals Jesus' authoritative command, directly addressing the human agents present. The instruction to remove the stone is a necessary human action that precedes the divine miracle, demonstrating that while God performs the impossible, He often requires human participation in the possible. It also signifies the removal of a barrier, both physical and metaphorical, to the revelation of God's power.
* **"Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days."**: Martha's immediate response highlights the tension between her professed faith and her current human understanding of reality. Her address "Lord" acknowledges Jesus' authority, yet her subsequent statement is a pragmatic, almost desperate, objection. The phrase "by this time he stinketh" vividly conveys the gruesome reality of decomposition, confirming the irreversible nature of Lazarus's death. The concluding "for he hath been dead four days" provides the logical, culturally informed reason for her objection, underscoring the perceived finality of the situation and the impossibility of reversal from a human perspective.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful literary devices. **Contrast** is evident between Jesus' calm, authoritative command and Martha's anxious, reality-bound objection. This highlights the chasm between divine perspective and human limitation. **Verisimilitude** is achieved through Martha's blunt and sensory description, "he stinketh," which grounds the miraculous narrative in a stark, undeniable reality, making the subsequent miracle all the more impactful. The detail of "four days" functions as **Hyperbole** in a sense, emphasizing the extreme nature of Lazarus's death, beyond any natural possibility of revival. Furthermore, the stone itself can be seen as **Symbolism**, representing not only the physical barrier to the tomb but also the spiritual barriers of doubt, despair, and the finality of death that Jesus is about to overcome.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
[John 11:39](/john/11-39 "Jesus Commands the Stone Removed") stands as a profound theological statement on the nature of God's power and humanity's struggle with faith in the face of the impossible. It underscores that God's ways are often beyond human comprehension, and His power is not limited by our logical or sensory perceptions. Martha's objection, while understandable, reveals the human tendency to limit God based on visible circumstances. Jesus' command, however, calls for an act of trust, a willingness to remove the human-imposed obstacles (the stone, representing doubt and perceived finality) so that God's glory can be revealed. This moment is a powerful precursor to Jesus' own resurrection, demonstrating His absolute authority over death and His identity as the source of life.

* [Romans 4:17](/romans/4-17 "God Calls Things That Are Not As Though They Were")
* [Hebrews 11:1](/hebrews/11-1 "The Definition of Faith")
* [Philippians 3:21](/philippians/3-21 "Christ's Power to Transform Our Bodies")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
[John 11:39](/john/11-39 "Jesus Commands the Stone Removed") serves as a powerful mirror for our own faith journeys. Like Martha, we often encounter "dead" situations in our lives—relationships that seem beyond repair, dreams that have decayed, or circumstances that appear utterly hopeless. Our human logic and sensory experience tell us that some things are simply irreversible, that "by this time, it stinketh." Yet, Jesus' command to "Take ye away the stone" challenges us to move beyond our limited perspectives. It calls us to actively participate in the miraculous by removing the obstacles of our doubt, fear, and human reasoning. It reminds us that true faith is not merely intellectual assent to God's power but a practical trust that acts even when the evidence seems contrary. This verse invites us to consider what "stones" we need to roll away in our lives, trusting that even in the stench of decay, Jesus is able to bring forth life and glory.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "stones" (obstacles, doubts, logical conclusions) are you holding onto that prevent you from seeing God's power in seemingly hopeless situations?**
* **How does Martha's initial objection reflect your own struggles with faith when faced with overwhelming circumstances?**
* **In what areas of your life do you need to actively "take away the stone" and trust in Jesus' authority over what appears to be dead?**

### FAQ
**Why did Jesus ask them to remove the stone if He could raise Lazarus from the dead?**

Answer: Jesus' instruction to "Take ye away the stone" ([John 11:39](/john/11-39 "Jesus Commands the Stone Removed")) highlights the principle of human cooperation with divine power. While Jesus alone possessed the power to resurrect Lazarus, He involved the people in the task they *could* do. This act served several purposes: it demonstrated that the miracle was not an illusion but a real event requiring a physical opening; it allowed witnesses to see the undeniable state of Lazarus's decay, thus amplifying the miracle's impact; and it underscored that God often calls us to perform the possible so that He can then perform the impossible. It was a test of faith for Martha and those present, requiring them to act despite their logical objections.

**What does Martha's reaction tell us about human faith?**

Answer: Martha's reaction, "Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days" ([John 11:39](/john/11-39 "Jesus Commands the Stone Removed")), reveals the common tension between intellectual belief and practical faith in the face of overwhelming reality. Earlier, Martha had declared profound faith in Jesus as "the Resurrection, and the Life" ([John 11:25](/john/11-25 "Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life")), and believed that "whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee" ([John 11:22](/john/11-22 "Martha's Earlier Faith")). However, the sensory reality of her brother's decaying body challenged that abstract faith. Her response is a raw, honest expression of human doubt and the struggle to reconcile divine power with the grim finality of death. It shows that even strong faith can waver when confronted with seemingly impossible circumstances, yet Jesus' subsequent actions strengthen and validate that faith.

**Why is the "four days" detail important in this narrative?**

Answer: The detail that Lazarus had been dead "four days" ([John 11:39](/john/11-39 "Lazarus Dead Four Days")) is crucial for several reasons, primarily due to prevailing Jewish beliefs of the time. It was commonly held that the soul hovered near the body for three days after death, but by the fourth day, it had fully departed, and the body would begin to decay irrevocably. This detail eliminates any possibility of a mere coma, misdiagnosis, or resuscitation. It unequivocally confirms that Lazarus was truly, undeniably dead and decomposing, making his subsequent resurrection an absolute miracle that could only be attributed to divine power. This fact served to magnify God's glory and authenticate Jesus' claims as the "Resurrection and the Life" ([John 11:25](/john/11-25 "Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The narrative of Lazarus's resurrection, culminating in Jesus' command in [John 11:39](/john/11-39 "Jesus Commands the Stone Removed"), serves as a powerful Christ-centered fulfillment, prefiguring and demonstrating Jesus' ultimate victory over death and His identity as the source of eternal life. While Lazarus was raised to mortal life, only to die again, his resurrection pointed directly to Jesus as "the Resurrection, and the Life" ([John 11:25](/john/11-25 "Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life")). This miracle foreshadows Christ's own glorious resurrection from the tomb, not to a temporary life, but to an eternal, glorified existence, conquering death once and for all ([Romans 6:9](/romans/6-9 "Christ's Victory Over Death")). Martha's visceral concern about decay ("he stinketh") is ultimately overcome by Jesus, who would Himself descend into the grave, yet see no decay ([Acts 2:27](/acts/2-27 "Christ's Body Will Not See Decay")), rising victorious. This event assures believers that because Christ lives, they too shall live, experiencing not merely a return to earthly life, but a spiritual resurrection now and a bodily resurrection at His return, when death will be swallowed up in victory ([1 Corinthians 15:54-57](/1_corinthians/15-54-57 "Victory Over Death Through Christ")). Thus, the removal of the stone and the calling forth of Lazarus powerfully illustrate Jesus' authority to bring life out of the most hopeless decay, a promise fulfilled in His own resurrection and extended to all who believe in Him.

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 11:17

¶ 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.