When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus's "groaning" wasn't simply sadness; the original word carries a sense of intense agitation, even anger. This profound disturbance stemmed not just from Mary's grief, but from the stark contrast between her genuine sorrow and the seemingly performative weeping of the surrounding Jewish mourners, highlighting the hypocrisy he often condemned.
When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled.
English Standard Version (ESV)
As Jesus approaches the tomb of his friend Lazarus, he witnesses the deep grief of Lazarus's sisters, Mary and Martha, and the crowd of Jewish mourners accompanying them. This outpouring of sorrow, which includes genuine heartbreak mixed with the potentially performative wailing of those present, deeply affects Jesus, causing him to be profoundly moved and disturbed. He then asks where Lazarus has been laid, setting the stage for the miracle to come.
Jesus’ reaction to Lazarus’ death is intensely emotional. What does it mean that He ‘groaned in the spirit’ and ‘was troubled’?
When Jesus saw Mary weeping and the Jewish mourners joining in, the Greek words used convey a powerful, deeply stirred inner state.
Together, these words paint a picture of Jesus experiencing a deep, complex emotional upheaval in response to the reality of death and sorrow.
Jesus saw both heartfelt sorrow and perhaps performative mourning. How did this duality affect Him?
The scene at Lazarus' tomb was a mix of genuine grief and, according to some interpretations, superficial or hypocritical displays of sorrow.
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Jesus’ profound disturbance likely stemmed from this complex emotional landscape: His deep love for Lazarus and His friends, His pain at the reality of death’s intrusion, and perhaps His distress over the insincere emotions displayed by those around Him. His reaction shows that He is not unaffected by the circumstances, nor by the various human responses to them.
Beyond the immediate scene, what larger spiritual battle is revealed in Jesus’ reaction?
Jesus’ deep emotion was not just a reaction to the sadness of the moment but a profound engagement with the entire reality of sin and death.
Understand the original words
klaiō · Greek Verb
To shed tears, often as an expression of sorrow, grief, or mourning over a loss or a difficult situation.
embrimaomai · Greek Verb
A term used in the Gospel of John to describe an internal reaction of intense emotional agitation, outrage, or visceral indignation, often in the face of death or the effects of sin.
tarassō · Greek Verb
A state of being stirred, agitated, or disturbed in one’s inner self; often used to describe emotional turmoil or distress.
The deeply emotional reaction of Jesus at Lazarus's tomb, described as groaning and being troubled, wasn't just about personal grief. It was a profound, visceral response to the reality of death – the ultimate consequence of sin – and the accompanying hypocrisy of some mourners, all within the charged atmosphere of escalating conflict with Jewish authorities.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Public Ministry
Jesus' healing miracles and teachings gain widespread attention, drawing both followers and opposition from Jewish authorities.
c. AD 30-33
Rising Jewish Opposition
Jewish leaders, particularly in Jerusalem, increasingly view Jesus as a threat to their authority and the established religious order. Some seek to arrest or even kill him.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Friendship with Lazarus
Jesus has a close relationship with Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha, often visiting their home in Bethany.
c. AD 30-33
Death of Lazarus
Lazarus falls ill and dies while Jesus is away, prompting his sisters to send for him.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Jesus Arrives in Bethany
Jesus arrives in Bethany several days after Lazarus's death, finding Mary, Martha, and many Jewish mourners weeping.
c. AD 30-33
Raising of Lazarus
Jesus commands Lazarus to come out of the tomb, and he is resurrected, witnessed by many.
c. AD 33
Increased Hostility and Plotting
The miracle of raising Lazarus significantly increases the belief in Jesus among the populace but also intensifies the fear and plotting of the chief priests and Pharisees, leading directly to plans for Jesus' arrest and crucifixion.
This verse speaks of all of creation groaning as it awaits redemption, mirroring the deep, profound distress Jesus feels in the face of death's effects.
Hebrews 4:15It highlights Jesus' ability to sympathize with our weaknesses, a truth powerfully displayed here as He is 'deeply moved' by the sorrow of others.
Luke 19:41-42This passage shows Jesus weeping over Jerusalem, demonstrating His profound sorrow and distress over the spiritual blindness and its consequences, much like His reaction to Lazarus's death.
John 11:35This is the most direct cross-reference, showing Jesus weeping Himself, underscoring the depth of His human emotion and empathy in response to the death of His friend.
2 Corinthians 5:2Paul describes believers groaning in this present existence, longing for their heavenly dwelling. Jesus' groan here can be seen as an expression of His divine sorrow over the fallen state of humanity that leads to such groaning and death.
vincentJohn 11:33: "When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,"
He groaned in the spirit (ἐνεβριμήσατο τῷ πνεύματι)See on Mark 1:43. The word for groaned occurs three times elsewhere: Matthew 9:30; Mark 1:43; Mark 14:5. In every case it expresses a charge, or remonstrance, accompanied with a feeling of displeasure. On this passage there are two lines of interpretation, both of them assuming the meaning just stat…
pulpitJohn 11:33: "When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,"
Verses 33-44. - (3) The struggle with death. Verse 33. - When Jesus therefore saw her walling, and the Jews wailing who came with her, he was moved with indignation in the spirit, and troubled himself. The sight of the wailing Mary and the wailing Jews, who took up her grief and, according to Oriental custom, adopted her expression of it with loud cries…
Jesus's "groaning" wasn't simply sadness; the original word carries a sense of intense agitation, even anger. This profound disturbance stemmed not just from Mary's grief, but from the stark contrast between her genuine sorrow and the seemingly performative weeping of the surrounding Jewish mourners, highlighting the hypocrisy he often condemned.
As Jesus approaches the tomb of his friend Lazarus, he witnesses the deep grief of Lazarus's sisters, Mary and Martha, and the crowd of Jewish mourners accompanying them. This outpouring of sorrow, which includes genuine heartbreak mixed with the potentially performative wailing of those present, deeply affects Jesus, causing him to be profoundly moved and disturbed. He then asks where Lazarus has been laid, setting the stage for the miracle to come.
As Jesus approaches the tomb of his friend Lazarus, he witnesses the deep grief of Lazarus's sisters, Mary and Martha, and the crowd of Jewish mourners accompanying them. This outpouring of sorrow, which includes genuine heartbreak mixed with the potentially performative wailing of those present, deeply affects Jesus, causing him to be profoundly moved and disturbed. He then asks where Lazarus has been laid, setting the stage for the miracle to come.
"When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled." — Jesus's "groaning" wasn't simply sadness; the original word carries a sense of intense agitation, even anger. This profound disturbance stemmed not just from Mary's grief, but from the stark contrast…
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Last reviewed October 2026