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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>John 11:18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, a little less than two miles away,</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/john/11-18.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/11/43_Jhn_11_18.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="John 11:18 - Jesus Comforts Martha and Mary" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, a little less than two miles away," /><script type="application/javascript" 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align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad18.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/john/11-17.htm" title="John 11:17">◄</a> John 11:18 <a href="/john/11-19.htm" title="John 11:19">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/john/11.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/john/11.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/john/11.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Bethany was only a few miles down the road from Jerusalem,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/john/11.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/john/11.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, a little less than two miles away,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/john/11.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about fifteen stadia away,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/john/11.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/john/11.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/john/11.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about fifteen stadia away;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/john/11.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/john/11.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/john/11.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about fifteen stadia away;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/john/11.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/john/11.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Bethany was near Jerusalem (less than two miles away).<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/john/11.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Bethany was near Jerusalem (about two miles away).<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/john/11.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/john/11.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Bethany was less than three kilometers from Jerusalem, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/john/11.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/john/11.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />(Bethany was near Jerusalem, not quite two miles away.)<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/john/11.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/john/11.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about fifteen stadia away, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/john/11.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, a little less than two miles away,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/john/11.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />(Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/john/11.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/john/11.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />(Now Bethany was nigh to Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs distant.)<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/john/11.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />Bethany was near Jerusalem, the distance being a little less than two miles;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/john/11.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about fifteen stadia away. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/john/11.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And Bethany was near to Jerusalem, about fifteen stadia off,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/john/11.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about fifteen stadia away,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/john/11.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And Bethany was nigh to Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/john/11.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And Bethany was near Jerusalem, about fifteen stadia.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/john/11.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />(Now Bethania was near Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off.) <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/john/11.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />(Now Bethania was near Jerusalem, about fifteen stadia.)<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/john/11.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, only about two miles away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/john/11.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away,<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/john/11.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Now Bethany was towards Jerusalem, a distance of about two miles.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/aramaic-plain-english/john/11.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a></span><br />But Bethany was beside Jerusalem, separated from it by about 15 furlongs.<div class="vheading2"><b>NT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/anderson/john/11.htm">Anderson New Testament</a></span><br />Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/godbey/john/11.htm">Godbey New Testament</a></span><br />But Bethany was near Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/haweis/john/11.htm">Haweis New Testament</a></span><br />Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/mace/john/11.htm">Mace New Testament</a></span><br />now Bethany being distant from Jerusalem but about fifteen furlongs,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/john/11.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />Bethany was near Jerusalem, the distance being a little less than two miles;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worrell/john/11.htm">Worrell New Testament</a></span><br />Now Bethany was near to Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs distant.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worsley/john/11.htm">Worsley New Testament</a></span><br />Now Bethany was near to Jerusalem, <i>being but</i> about fifteen furlongs from <i>it:</i><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/john/11-18.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ixy2bchmXZ0?start=3988" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/john/11.htm">Jesus Comforts Martha and Mary</a></span><br><span class="reftext">17</span>When Jesus arrived, He found that Lazarus had already spent four days in the tomb. <span class="reftext">18</span><span class="highl"><a href="/greek/1161.htm" title="1161: de (Conj) -- A primary particle; but, and, etc.">Now</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: hē (Art-NFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/963.htm" title="963: Bēthania (N-NFS) -- Of Chaldee origin; date-house; Beth-any, a place in Palestine.">Bethany</a> <a href="/greek/1510.htm" title="1510: ēn (V-IIA-3S) -- I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.">was</a> <a href="/greek/1451.htm" title="1451: engys (Prep) -- Near. From a primary verb agcho; near.">near</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tōn (Art-GNP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/2414.htm" title="2414: Hierosolymōn (N-GNP) -- The Greek form of the Hebrew name: Jerusalem. Of Hebrew origin; Hierosolyma">Jerusalem,</a> <a href="/greek/5613.htm" title="5613: hōs (Adv) -- Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner.">a little less than</a> <a href="/greek/1178.htm" title="1178: dekapente (Adj-GMP) -- Fifteen. From deka and pente; ten and five, i.e. Fifteen.">two miles</a> <a href="/greek/4712.htm" title="4712: stadiōn (N-GMP) -- Or masculine stadios from the base of histemi; a stade or certain measure of distance; by implication, a stadium or race-course."></a> <a href="/greek/575.htm" title="575: apo (Adv) -- From, away from. A primary particle; off, i.e. Away, in various senses.">away,</a> </span> <span class="reftext">19</span>and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them in the loss of their brother.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/1-28.htm">John 1:28</a></span><br />All this happened at Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/10-40.htm">John 10:40</a></span><br />Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had first been baptizing, and He stayed there.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/12-1.htm">John 12:1</a></span><br />Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, the hometown of Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/2-1.htm">John 2:1-2</a></span><br />On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, / and Jesus and His disciples had also been invited to the wedding.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/4-5.htm">John 4:5</a></span><br />So He came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/19-41.htm">John 19:41-42</a></span><br />Now there was a garden in the place where Jesus was crucified, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. / And because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and the tomb was nearby, they placed Jesus there.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/10-38.htm">Luke 10:38-42</a></span><br />As they traveled along, Jesus entered a village where a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. / She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to His message. / But Martha was distracted by all the preparations to be made. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me!” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/21-17.htm">Matthew 21:17</a></span><br />Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where He spent the night.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/26-6.htm">Matthew 26:6</a></span><br />While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/11-1.htm">Mark 11:1</a></span><br />As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent out two of His disciples<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/14-3.htm">Mark 14:3</a></span><br />While Jesus was in Bethany reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke open the jar and poured it on Jesus’ head.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/35-19.htm">Genesis 35:19</a></span><br />So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/48-7.htm">Genesis 48:7</a></span><br />Now as for me, when I was returning from Paddan, to my sorrow Rachel died along the way in the land of Canaan, some distance from Ephrath. So I buried her there beside the road to Ephrath” (that is, Bethlehem).<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/joshua/15-58.htm">Joshua 15:58</a></span><br />Halhul, Beth-zur, Gedor,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/10-2.htm">1 Samuel 10:2</a></span><br />When you leave me today, you will find two men at Rachel’s tomb in Zelzah on the border of Benjamin. They will say to you, ‘The donkeys you seek have been found, and now your father has stopped worrying about the donkeys and started worrying about you, asking, “What should I do about my son?”’</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Now Bethany was near to Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:</p><p class="hdg">fifteen furlongs.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/john/6-19.htm">John 6:19</a></b></br> So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/luke/24-13.htm">Luke 24:13</a></b></br> And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem <i>about</i> threescore furlongs.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/revelation/14-20.htm">Revelation 14:20</a></b></br> And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand <i>and</i> six hundred furlongs.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/john/11-1.htm">Bethany</a> <a href="/luke/23-49.htm">Distance</a> <a href="/luke/19-12.htm">Distant</a> <a href="/mark/14-5.htm">Fifteen</a> <a href="/john/6-19.htm">Furlongs</a> <a href="/john/10-22.htm">Jerusalem</a> <a href="/john/8-19.htm">Little</a> <a href="/john/6-19.htm">Miles</a> <a href="/john/7-2.htm">Nigh</a> <a href="/john/6-19.htm">Stadia</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/john/12-1.htm">Bethany</a> <a href="/acts/15-3.htm">Distance</a> <a href="/2_peter/1-9.htm">Distant</a> <a href="/acts/7-14.htm">Fifteen</a> <a href="/revelation/14-20.htm">Furlongs</a> <a href="/john/11-55.htm">Jerusalem</a> <a href="/john/12-35.htm">Little</a> <a href="/revelation/14-20.htm">Miles</a> <a href="/john/11-55.htm">Nigh</a> <a href="/revelation/14-20.htm">Stadia</a><div class="vheading2">John 11</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/11-1.htm">Jesus raises Lazarus, four days buried.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">45. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/11-45.htm">Many Jews believe.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">47. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/11-47.htm">The high priests and Pharisees gather a council against Jesus.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">49. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/11-49.htm">Caiaphas prophesies.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">54. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/11-54.htm">Jesus hides himself.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">55. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/11-55.htm">At the Passover they enquire after him, and lay wait for him.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/john/11.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/john/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/john/11.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Now Bethany</b><br>Bethany is a small village on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives. It is significant in the New Testament as the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead. Bethany is also where Jesus often stayed during His visits to Jerusalem, indicating its importance as a place of refuge and friendship for Him. The name "Bethany" is thought to mean "house of affliction" or "house of figs," which may reflect its humble status or agricultural nature.<p><b>was near Jerusalem</b><br>The proximity of Bethany to Jerusalem is crucial in the narrative of Jesus' ministry. Being close to the religious and political center of Israel, Bethany served as a strategic location for Jesus. It allowed Him to engage with the events in Jerusalem while having a place to retreat. This closeness also highlights the tension and danger Jesus faced, as Jerusalem was the center of opposition to His ministry. The nearness underscores the immediacy of the events leading to His crucifixion.<p><b>a little less than two miles away</b><br>The specific mention of the distance, approximately two miles, emphasizes the accessibility of Bethany from Jerusalem. This short distance would have made it easy for news to travel quickly between the two locations, as seen in the account of Lazarus's death and Jesus' subsequent arrival. The measurement also reflects the Jewish custom of a Sabbath day's journey, which was about 2,000 cubits or roughly this distance, indicating that Bethany was within a permissible travel range on the Sabbath. This detail underscores the practical and cultural considerations of the time.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/b/bethany.htm">Bethany</a></b><br>A small village located near Jerusalem, known as the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. It is significant in the Gospels as a place where Jesus performed miracles and taught His disciples.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/j/jerusalem.htm">Jerusalem</a></b><br>The central city of Jewish worship and the location of the Temple. It is a place of great religious and political significance in the Bible.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/m/mary,_martha,_and_lazarus.htm">Mary, Martha, and Lazarus</a></b><br>Siblings who were close friends of Jesus. Lazarus's resurrection from the dead is a pivotal event in the Gospel of John.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/j/jesus.htm">Jesus</a></b><br>The central figure of the New Testament, whose ministry, death, and resurrection are the foundation of Christian faith. In this context, He is on His way to perform the miracle of raising Lazarus.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_disciples.htm">The Disciples</a></b><br>Followers of Jesus who are learning from His teachings and witnessing His miracles. They play a crucial role in spreading the Gospel after Jesus's resurrection.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/p/proximity_to_jerusalem.htm">Proximity to Jerusalem</a></b><br>Bethany's closeness to Jerusalem symbolizes the accessibility of Jesus's miracles and teachings to the heart of Jewish religious life. It reminds us that Jesus is near to those who seek Him.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/significance_of_place.htm">Significance of Place</a></b><br>Just as Bethany was a place of refuge and miracles, we are called to create spaces in our lives where Jesus can work and transform us.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/faith_in_action.htm">Faith in Action</a></b><br>The account of Lazarus challenges us to trust in Jesus's timing and power, even when situations seem hopeless.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/community_and_support.htm">Community and Support</a></b><br>The relationships between Jesus, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus highlight the importance of community and support in our spiritual journeys.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/w/witnessing_miracles.htm">Witnessing Miracles</a></b><br>As the disciples witnessed Jesus's miracles, we are encouraged to be attentive to God's work in our lives and share these testimonies with others.<a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/john/11.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(18) <span class= "bld">Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem.</span>--This way of speaking of places in the past tense is not found in the other Gospels. (Comp., in this Gospel, <a href="/john/18-1.htm" title="When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples.">John 18:1</a>; <a href="/john/19-41.htm" title="Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulcher, wherein was never man yet laid.">John 19:41</a>; and, on the other hand, Note on <a href="/john/5-2.htm" title="Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.">John 5:2</a>.) The explanation may be that from St. John's point of view, writing after the destruction of Jerusalem, the buildings and gardens could no longer be described as still existing.<p><span class= "bld">About fifteen furlongs off.</span>--The Greek stadium which is here rendered "furlong" was 606? English feet. The distance was, then, as the margin gives it, not much short of two English miles. This is mentioned to account for the fact stated in the following verse, that many of the Jews came to comfort Martha and Mary.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/john/11.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 18, 19.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem</span>. This geographical observation is introduced to explain the following verse. Meyer and Alford think that the use of the past tense, <span class="greek">η}ν</span>, may be perfectly justified in making reference to past events; yet, since John is the only New Testament writer who uses it, the usage may have been adopted by him because, at the time when he wrote his Gospel, Bethany had been for the time destroyed with Jerusalem itself. The construction is peculiar: <span class="greek">ὡς ἀπὸ</span> (compare a similar use of <span class="greek">πρὸ</span>, <a href="/john/12-1.htm">John 12:1</a>; <a href="/john/21-8.htm">John 21:8</a>; <a href="/revelation/14-20.htm">Revelation 14:20</a>; see Winer, p. 697, Eng. trans.). Many think that it is to be understood - <span class="cmt_word">about fifteen stadia from it</span> - a kind of trajection of the preposition; but Winer thinks that it points to the spot where the fifteen stadia might be supposed to terminate, <span class="accented">i</span>.<span class="accented">e</span>. "lying off at the end of the fifteen stadia," and so giving an adverbial force to the preposition: and he adds a long list of similar constructions in later Greek writers. The stadium was 606.75 feet - less than the eighth of an English mile; the distance was therefore between a mile and a half and a mile and three quarters. <span class="cmt_word">And many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary.</span> "The Jews" is a phrase generally, not uniformly, used by John to denote those permanently hostile to our Lord, and often of the upper and ruling classes. These, therefore, had one more trial of faith, one further opportunity of recognizing his glory. <span class="accented">Many of them came</span> <span class="accented">to Martha and Mary</span>. They came to comfort them, according to ordinary usage among the Jews after bereavement. This ceremony often lasted seven days. Concerning (their) brother. We cling to earthly love. The gush of strong affection that mourners lavish on the dead deepens their love to one another, and the praises of the departed often gild and almost pierce the veil itself. The fact that <span class="accented">many</span> Jews should have taken the trouble to journey nearly two miles to comfort the bereaved sisters shows that the family at Bethany was one of some wealth, position, and importance (cf. <a href="/matthew/26-6.htm">Matthew 26:6-13</a>). If so, it is exceedingly unlikely that the narrative stands in any relation to the parable of the rich man and the beggar. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/john/11-18.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div><span class="word">Now</span><br /><span class="grk">δὲ</span> <span class="translit">(de)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1161.htm">Strong's 1161: </a> </span><span class="str2">A primary particle; but, and, etc.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Bethany</span><br /><span class="grk">Βηθανία</span> <span class="translit">(Bēthania)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_963.htm">Strong's 963: </a> </span><span class="str2">Of Chaldee origin; date-house; Beth-any, a place in Palestine.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">was</span><br /><span class="grk">ἦν</span> <span class="translit">(ēn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1510.htm">Strong's 1510: </a> </span><span class="str2">I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">near</span><br /><span class="grk">ἐγγὺς</span> <span class="translit">(engys)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1451.htm">Strong's 1451: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near. From a primary verb agcho; near.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Jerusalem,</span><br /><span class="grk">Ἱεροσολύμων</span> <span class="translit">(Hierosolymōn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2414.htm">Strong's 2414: </a> </span><span class="str2">The Greek form of the Hebrew name: Jerusalem. Of Hebrew origin; Hierosolyma</span><br /><br /><span class="word">a little less than</span><br /><span class="grk">ὡς</span> <span class="translit">(hōs)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_5613.htm">Strong's 5613: </a> </span><span class="str2">Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">two miles</span><br /><span class="grk">δεκαπέντε</span> <span class="translit">(dekapente)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1178.htm">Strong's 1178: </a> </span><span class="str2">Fifteen. From deka and pente; ten and five, i.e. Fifteen.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">away,</span><br /><span class="grk">ἀπὸ</span> <span class="translit">(apo)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_575.htm">Strong's 575: </a> </span><span class="str2">From, away from. A primary particle; 'off, ' i.e. Away, in various senses.</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/john/11-18.htm">John 11:18 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/john/11-18.htm">John 11:18 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/john/11-18.htm">John 11:18 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/john/11-18.htm">John 11:18 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/john/11-18.htm">John 11:18 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/john/11-18.htm">John 11:18 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/john/11-18.htm">John 11:18 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/john/11-18.htm">John 11:18 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/john/11-18.htm">John 11:18 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/john/11-18.htm">John 11:18 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/john/11-18.htm">NT Gospels: John 11:18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem about fifteen (Jhn Jo Jn) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/john/11-17.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="John 11:17"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="John 11:17" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/john/11-19.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="John 11:19"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="John 11:19" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>