John 11:43
When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jesus didn't just whisper a command; He "cried out with a loud voice." This wasn't a magical incantation, but a powerful, audible declaration of His own divine authority, demonstrating that He commanded life and death itself. The specific Greek phrase used, "Hither, out!" directly calls Lazarus forth from the tomb, showing the immediate, active power at play.
Jesus has just prayed to His Father, thanking Him for hearing His prayer to raise Lazarus from the dead. Now, standing before the tomb with the stone rolled away, Jesus issues a powerful command, not a whisper or incantation, but a loud, authoritative call to bring Lazarus out of the grave and back to life. This dramatic moment is intended to be witnessed by all present, leaving no doubt about the source of the power at work.
When Jesus spoke to Lazarus, it wasn't a quiet suggestion or a secret incantation. It was a powerful, public declaration.
The way Jesus called Lazarus forth speaks volumes about his identity and authority.
Open and Audible
Instead of a hushed murmur like ancient magicians, Jesus cried out "with a loud voice." This was meant to be heard by everyone present, leaving no room for doubt about who was acting.
The Sound of Power
This isn't just about volume; it's about the quality of the voice. It signifies divine power, an authoritative command that death itself had to obey. It's a foretaste of the trumpet call that will one day awaken all believers.
Jesus didn't just ask Lazarus to wake up; He commanded him out of the tomb. What does this specific command reveal?
The phrasing Jesus uses carries profound implications about life and resurrection.
More Than an Awakening
The Greek phrase literally translates to "Lazarus, hither, out!" It's not a verb like 'arise,' which might be used for someone asleep or unconscious. This command is for someone in the grave, a direct summons to come forth from death's domain.
A Taste of the General Resurrection
This wasn't just a unique event for Lazarus. It serves as a powerful illustration of the future resurrection. Jesus' authority over death here demonstrates his ability to call forth all who are spiritually or physically dead, reuniting soul and body by his spoken word.
This passage describes God breathing life into dry bones, paralleling Jesus' powerful command to bring life back to a dead body.
1 Kings 17:21Here, Elijah cries out to God to restore life to a deceased child, showing a similar divine plea and powerful outcome as Jesus' command to Lazarus.
Luke 7:14In this account, Jesus speaks directly to a deceased young man, saying 'Young man, I say to you, arise,' mirroring the direct, life-giving authority Jesus uses with Lazarus.
1 Corinthians 15:52This verse speaks of a 'loud trumpet call' and the resurrection of the dead, connecting Jesus' loud voice to the ultimate call for all believers to be raised.
barnesJohn 11:43: "And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth."
A loud voice - Greek, "A great voice." Syriac: "A high voice." This was distinctly asserting his power. He uttered a distinct, audible voice, that there might be no suspicion of charm or incantation. The ancient magicians and jugglers performed their wonders by whispering and muttering. See the notes at Isaiah 8:19 . Jesus spake openly and audibly, and asserted thus his power. So, also, in the day of jud…
vincentJohn 11:43: "And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth."
Come forth (δεῦρο ἔξω)Literally, hither forth.
Jesus didn't just whisper a command; He "cried out with a loud voice." This wasn't a magical incantation, but a powerful, audible declaration of His own divine authority, demonstrating that He commanded life and death itself. The specific Greek phrase used, "Hither, out!" directly calls Lazarus forth from the tomb, showing the immediate, active power at play.
Jesus has just prayed to His Father, thanking Him for hearing His prayer to raise Lazarus from the dead. Now, standing before the tomb with the stone rolled away, Jesus issues a powerful command, not a whisper or incantation, but a loud, authoritative call to bring Lazarus out of the grave and back to life. This dramatic moment is intended to be witnessed by all present, leaving no doubt about the source of the power at work.
Jesus has just prayed to His Father, thanking Him for hearing His prayer to raise Lazarus from the dead. Now, standing before the tomb with the stone rolled away, Jesus issues a powerful command, not a whisper or incantation, but a loud, authoritative call to bring Lazarus out of the grave and back to life. This dramatic moment is intended to be witnessed by all present, leaving no doubt about the source of the power at work.
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"When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.”" — Jesus didn't just whisper a command; He "cried out with a loud voice." This wasn't a magical incantation, but a powerful, audible declaration of His own divine authority, demonstrating that He comman…
