And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
JOHN 11:44KJVWhat does John 11:44 mean?
John 11:44 describes how Lazarus, who had died, came out of his tomb still wrapped in burial cloths after Jesus called him back to life. Jesus then told the people nearby to untie Lazarus and let him go free.
In this scene, Jesus is speaking to the crowd gathered at Lazarus’s tomb after raising him from the dead. The verse paints a vivid picture: Lazarus emerges still bound hand and foot with strips of cloth used for burial, and his face is covered with a cloth. Jesus’s instruction to “Loose him, and let him go” shows both the reality of Lazarus’s return to life and the need for others to help him fully rejoin the living.
The Greek behind John 11:44
- The word for “bound” (δέω, deō) means to tie or fasten, emphasizing that Lazarus was still physically restricted by the graveclothes, unable to free himself.
- “Graveclothes” (ὀθόνιον, othonion) refers to the strips of linen used in Jewish burial customs, highlighting the reality of Lazarus’s death and the miracle of his return.
- “Loose” (λύω, lyō) means to untie or release, showing that Jesus’s command was practical—Lazarus needed help to be fully restored to normal life.
- “Go” (ὑπάγω, hypagō) often means to depart or move on, underlining that Lazarus was not just alive but free to return to his everyday life.
Why John 11:44 matters
- This verse clears up any doubt about whether Lazarus was truly dead by describing the burial wrappings and the need for others to free him.
- The details about the graveclothes and Jesus’s command emphasize the physical reality of the miracle, not just a spiritual or symbolic event.
- John 11:44 connects to the larger story by showing Jesus’s authority over death and his compassion, involving the community in Lazarus’s restoration.