Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

JOHN 11:24KJV
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John 11:24 (KJV)

What does John 11:24 mean?

John 11:24 records Martha telling Jesus that she believes her brother Lazarus will rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Martha is expressing her faith in a future resurrection, trusting that Lazarus will live again when God raises the dead at the end of time.

In this verse, Martha is speaking to Jesus after her brother Lazarus has died. She is responding to Jesus’ earlier statement about Lazarus rising again. Martha’s words show she understands and believes in the common Jewish hope of a resurrection at the end of the age, but she does not yet realize that Jesus is about to raise Lazarus immediately.

The Greek behind John 11:24

  • ἀνάστασις (anastasis, “resurrection”): This word means a rising up or standing up again, and in this context, it refers to the belief that the dead will be raised to life in the future. Martha’s use of this term shows she is thinking of a general, future event rather than something immediate.
  • ἐσχάτῃ (eschatē, “last”): This word means “last” or “final,” and it points to the idea of the “last day” as the time when the resurrection will happen. This reflects a common Jewish belief in a final day of judgment and resurrection.

Why John 11:24 matters

  • John 11:24 shows that Martha has a traditional Jewish understanding of resurrection, which helps set the stage for Jesus to reveal something new about his own power over life and death.
  • This verse highlights the difference between believing in a distant, future hope and recognizing what Jesus can do in the present moment.
  • Understanding Martha’s expectation clarifies why Jesus’ later actions—raising Lazarus immediately—are so surprising and significant to those present.

Where else these words appear

“Martha” Greek G3136 · used in 12 verses

  • Luke 10:38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
  • John 11:1 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.
  • John 11:21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

“resurrection” Greek G386 · used in 40 verses

  • Matthew 22:23 The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,
  • John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
  • Romans 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

“last” Greek G2078 · used in 49 verses

  • Matthew 5:26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
  • Luke 14:10 But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.
  • 2 Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

“again” Greek G450 · used in 111 verses

  • Matthew 9:9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.
  • Luke 11:7 And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.
  • Acts 8:27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,