TRV
John 11:55
Bible Versions
And the Jews' passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves.
The Judean festival of Pesach was near, and many people went up from the country to Yerushalayim to perform the purification ceremony prior to Pesach.
Now the Jewish Passover was near, and many people went up from the country to Jerusalem to purify themselves before the Passover.
Now the passover of the Jews was at hand: and many went up to Jerusalem out of the country before the passover, to purify themselves.
-
2 Chronicles 30:17
For [there were] many in the congregation that were not sanctified: therefore the Levites had the charge of the killing of the passovers for every one [that was] not clean, to sanctify [them] unto the LORD. -
2 Chronicles 30:20
And the LORD hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people. -
Hebrews 9:13
For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: -
Hebrews 9:14
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? -
John 6:4
And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. -
John 12:1
¶ Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. -
Exodus 19:10
And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes,
John 11:55 KJV sets the scene for the dramatic events leading up to Jesus' crucifixion, emphasizing the religious and historical context of the Passover feast.
Context
This verse immediately follows the profound event of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead in Bethany (John 11:1-44). The miracle, while demonstrating Jesus' power over death, also galvanized the Jewish religious leaders to seek His arrest and death (John 11:47-53). The mention of the "Jews' passover" indicates the approaching annual festival, one of the most significant pilgrimage feasts for the Jewish people, commemorating their deliverance from slavery in Egypt (Exodus 12). During this time, many devout Jews from all over the country would travel "up to Jerusalem" to participate in the sacred rites and sacrifices. Their journey included a period of ritual purification, often involving ceremonial washing (like using a mikveh, a ritual bath) to ensure they were ceremonially clean and eligible to participate in the Passover meal and temple worship, as prescribed by Mosaic Law.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The term "passover" comes from the Greek `πάσχα` (pascha), directly transliterated from the Hebrew `Pesach`, referring to the central event of the Exodus. The phrase "to purify themselves" translates from the Greek `ἁγνίζω` (hagnizō), which means to make holy, consecrate, or ritually cleanse. This emphasizes a ceremonial act, distinct from an internal moral transformation. The Jewish tradition required such purification for anyone who had become ritually unclean (e.g., by touching a dead body or by other means) to be able to participate in the temple services and sacred feasts.
Practical Application
John 11:55 reminds us of the importance of preparation in our spiritual lives. While the Old Testament emphasized physical rituals, the New Covenant, established through Christ's shed blood, calls for a purification of the heart and conscience. This verse encourages us to consider: