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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadCambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - John 11:44 - 11:44
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44. ἐξῆλθεν. It is safest not to regard this as an additional miracle. The winding-sheet may have been loosely tied round him, or each limb may have been swathed separately: in Egyptian mummies sometimes every finger is kept distinct.
κειρίαις. The word occurs here only in N.T. Comp. Pro 7:16. It means the bandages which kept the sheet and the spices round the body. Nothing is said about the usual spices (Joh 19:40) here; and Martha’s remark (Joh 11:39) rather implies that there had been no embalming. If Lazarus died of a malignant disease he would be buried as quickly as possible.
ὄψις. The word occurs in N.T. only here, Joh 7:24, and Rev 1:16 : one of the small indications of a common authorship (see on Joh 1:14, Joh 4:6, Joh 5:2, Joh 7:30, [Joh 8:2,] Joh 13:8, Joh 15:20, Joh 19:37, Joh 20:16).
σουδαρίῳ. The Latin sudarium, meaning literally ‘a sweat-cloth.’ It occurs Joh 20:7; Luk 19:20; Act 19:12. Here the cloth bound under the chin to keep the lower jaw from falling is probably meant. These details shew the eyewitness.
ἄφετε αὐ. ὑπ. The expression is identical with ‘let these go their way’ (Joh 18:8); and perhaps ‘let him go his way’ would be better here. Lazarus is to be allowed to retire out of the way of harmful excitement and idle curiosity. Comp. Luk 7:15; Luk 8:55. On all three occasions Christ’s first care is for the person raised.
The reserve of the Gospel narrative here is evidence of its truth, and is in marked contrast to the myths about others who are said to have returned from the grave. Lazarus makes no revelations as to the unseen world. The traditions about him have no historic value: but one mentioned by Trench (Miracles, p. 425) is worth remembering. It is said that the first question which he asked Christ after being restored to life was whether he must die again; and being told that he must, he was never more seen to smile.