Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him.

JOHN 11:30KJV
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John 11:30 (KJV)

What does John 11:30 mean?

John 11:30 explains that Jesus had not yet entered the town but was still at the place where Martha had come out to meet him. This detail sets the scene for what happens next, showing that Jesus was waiting outside the village rather than going straight in.

In this part of the story, Jesus is on his way to Bethany after hearing about Lazarus’s death. Martha, one of Lazarus’s sisters, had already gone out to meet Jesus, while her sister Mary was still at home. The verse highlights that Jesus paused outside the town, which helps explain why people later see Mary leave her house to go to him, and why a crowd follows her. This moment builds anticipation for the meeting between Jesus, Mary, and the mourners.

Where else these words appear

“met” Greek G5221 · used in 5 verses

  • Matthew 8:28 And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.
  • Luke 8:27 And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.
  • John 11:20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.

“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.

“yet” Greek G3768 · used in 22 verses

  • Matthew 15:17 Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?
  • John 7:6 Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready.
  • Acts 8:16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

“town” Greek G2968 · used in 27 verses

  • Matthew 9:35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
  • Mark 8:26 And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.
  • 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.