Therefore Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you would have been here, my brother wouldn’t have died.

World English Bible · Public Domain

Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    Therefore Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you would have been here, my brother wouldn’t have died.

  • TYNDALE Tyndale New Testament (1534)

    Then sayde Martha vnto Iesus: Lorde yf thou haddest bene here my brother had not bene deed:

  • GNV Geneva Bible (1599)

    Then said Martha vnto Iesus, Lord, if thou hadst bene here, my brother had not bene dead.

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Cross-references (10)

Passages linked to John 11:21 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.

  • Matthew 9:18 While he told these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.”
  • John 11:32 Therefore when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you would have been here, my brother wouldn’t have died.”
  • 1 Kings 17:18 She said to Elijah, “What have I to do with you, you man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to memory, and to kill my son!”
  • Psalms 78:19 Yes, they spoke against God. They said, “Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?
  • Luke 7:6-10 Jesus went with them. When he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying to him, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I am not worthy for you to come under my roof. Therefore I didn’t even think myself worthy to come to you; but say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man placed under authority, having under myself soldiers. I tell this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turned and said to the multitude who followed him, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith, no, not in Israel.” Those who were sent, returning to the house, found that the servant who had been sick was well.
  • Luke 8:49-55 While he still spoke, one from the ruler of the synagogue’s house came, saying to him, “Your daughter is dead. Don’t trouble the Teacher.” But Jesus hearing it, answered him, “Don’t be afraid. Only believe, and she will be healed.” When he came to the house, he didn’t allow anyone to enter in, except Peter, John, James, the father of the child, and her mother. All were weeping and mourning her, but he said, “Don’t weep. She isn’t dead, but sleeping.” They were ridiculing him, knowing that she was dead. But he put them all outside, and taking her by the hand, he called, saying, “Child, arise!” Her spirit returned, and she rose up immediately. He commanded that something be given to her to eat.
  • John 4:47-49 When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to him, and begged him that he would come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. Jesus therefore said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders, you will in no way believe.” The nobleman said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”
  • John 11:37 Some of them said, “Couldn’t this man, who opened the eyes of him who was blind, have also kept this man from dying?”
  • Luke 7:13-15 When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said to her, “Don’t cry.” He came near and touched the coffin, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!” He who was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he gave him to his mother.
  • Psalms 78:41 They turned again and tempted God, and provoked the Holy One of Israel.

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

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Explain this verse (14 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain 21. Lord, if thou hadst been here. She begins…

21. Lord, if thou hadst been here. She begins with a complaint, though in doing so she modestly expresses her wish. Her meaning may be expressed thus — “By thy presence thou mightst have delivered my brother from death, and even now thou canst do it, for God will not refuse thee any thing.” By speaking in this manner, she gives way to her feelings, instead of restraining them under the rule of faith. I acknowledge that her words proceeded partly from faith, but I say that there were disorderly passions mixed with them, which hurried her beyond due bounds. For when she assures herself that her brother would not have died, if Christ had been present, what ground has she for this confidence? Certainly, it did not arise from any promise of Christ.

The only conclusion therefore is, that she inconsiderately yields to her own wishes, instead of subjecting herself to Christ. When she ascribes to Christ power and supreme goodness, this proceeds from faith; but when she persuades herself of more than she had heard Christ declare, that has nothing to do with faith; for we must always hold the mutual agreement between the word and faith, that no man may rashly forge anything for himself, without the authority of the word of God. Besides, Martha attached too much importance to the bodily presence of Christ. The consequence is, that Martha’s faith, though mixed up and interwoven with ill-regulated desires, and even not wholly free from superstition, could not shine with full brightness; so that we perceive but a few sparks of it in these words.

John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.

John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain 21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain Mary saith the same, Joh 11:32. They were both…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain When said Martha unto Jesus,.... When she was come…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 21. If thou hadst been here, my brother…
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain If thou hast been here. These words shew that…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain Then said Martha . . . Lord, if thou…
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 21. If thou hadst been here—Mary meets the Lord…
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 21. if thou hadst been here] Not a reproach,…
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (21) Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain Martha therefore (having met her Lord) said unto Jesus,…
B. W. Johnson 1891 · Public Domain 21. If thou hadst been here. Martha's faith made…
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 my brother would not have died
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 11:21 Lord, if only you had been here: Mary…

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