Jesus and his apostles are headed back to Judea to see the "sleeping" Lazarus, which he then clarifies that he is dead.
John 11:15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.
John 11:15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
And I rejoice for you that you might trust because I was not there. Instead, we should bring [me] toward him.
Trust in the Divine is more lasting than life.
Jesus is extremely light-hearted here, clearly having fun with the apostles. After the shock of telling them that Lazarus is dead, he shocks them again saying that he is happy. Only then does he explain why, because this is an occasion where they can learn to trust. This seemingly makes their trust more important Lazarus's life. Also surprising is why they might trust: because Jesus was not there when Lazarus died. This is the opposite of what most people want when a loved one dies. Most want to be with them.
The verse ends with Jesus saying something that is simply mistranslated in the Bible. It is also light-hearted. Jesus consistently uses the conjunction translated here as "nevertheless/but" to connect a negative clause, "not this," with a positive one, "instead this." That is what is done here. "I was not there, instead, we carry/bring [me] to him." The "me" is implied by the context. The translation of the verb as "go" repeats the errors in John 11:7 where he uses the same, exact verb form
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "to the intent" does not capture the specific meaning of the word.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "nevertheless" does not capture the specific meaning of the word.
- WF - Wrong Form - The "let" is not a helping verb indicating a third-person command.
- WF - Wrong Form - The "us" is the object but the subject of the sentence.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "go" is not the common word usually translated as "go."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "that" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "nevertheless" does not capture the specific meaning of the word.
- WF - Wrong Form - The "let" is not a helping verb indicating a third-person command.
- WF - Wrong Form - The "us" is the object but the subject of the sentence.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "go" is not the common word usually translated as "go."
And -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."
I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.
am -- This helping verb indicates the present tense of the verb.
glad -- The Greek verb translated as "am glad" means "rejoice," "take pleasure in," and "welcome."
for -- The preposition translated as "for" means with the accusative, means "thanks to," "because of," "by reasons of," and "for the sake of."
your -- The "you" here is the second-person, plural pronoun in the form of an object of the action.
sakes - This completes one meaning of the preposition.
that -- -- The word translated as "that" introduces a statement of fact or cause, "for what," "because," "since," and "wherefore."
I -- -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.
was - The verb "was" here is the past form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics. Jesus only uses this form of the verb three other times, all referring to being with someone. Here, he uses it about not being with someone.
not -- The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It means "no," "not," or"no truly." It makes a negative statement of fact. Adding "really" to the sentence captures the same idea. When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words.
there, --The word translated as "there" means "there" or "in that place" but it also means "the intelligible world," that is, the world we understand. It refers to a place much more strongly than our word "there."
to the intent - (CW) The word translated as "to the intent" is an adverb "in that place," "there," "where," "when," or as a conjunction that starts a subordinate clause "that," "when," "in order that" or "because."
ye-- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.
may -- This helping verb "may" indicates that the verb indicates a possibility, the subjunctive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
believe; -- The Greek word translated as "believe" does not apply to religious belief as much but trusting or relying upon other people, especially their words. Jesus usually uses it in contexts, such as the one here, that apply to trusting words.
nevertheless -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "neverheless" denotes an exception or simple opposition. It is used to emphasize the contrast between things like we use "instead," "but instead,"or "rather." It is the Greek word "other" like we use "otherwise." Jesus often uses this conjunction to connect a negative clause, "not this," with a positive one, "instead this." That is how he is using it here.
let --- (WF) This "let" is usually used as the helping verb to translate the Greek form of the third-person command. That is not the form of the verb here.
us -- (WF) This is from the first-person, plural form of the verb. It should be the subject, "we" not the object "us."
go -- (CW) "Go" is a Greek verb that means "to lead," "to carry," or "to fetch" and has a lot of different specific meanings in different contexts. Jesus usually uses it to mean "bring," and here the sense may be "bring it" where the "it" is implied. It is not the word commonly translated as "go." The form is either declarative or one of possibility.
unto -- The word translated as "unto" means "towards," "by reason of (for)," "before" both in time and place, "in the presence of," "against," and several other types of "before." With verbs of seeing it specifically means "towards."
him. -- The word translated as "him" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English.
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."
for -- The preposition translated as "for" means with the accusative, means "thanks to," "because of," "by reasons of," and "for the sake of."
your -- The "you" here is the second-person, plural pronoun in the form of an object of the action.
sakes - This completes one meaning of the preposition.
I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.
am -- This helping verb indicates the present tense of the verb.
glad -- The Greek verb translated as "am glad" means "rejoice," "take pleasure in," and "welcome."
missing "that" -- (MW) The untranslated word "that" introduces a statement of fact or cause, "for what," "because," "since," and "wherefore."
I -- -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.
was - The verb "was" here is the pastform of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics. sus only uses this form of the verb three other times, all referring to being with someone. Here, he uses it about not being with someone.
not -- The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It means "no," "not," or"no truly." It makes a negative statement of fact. Adding "really" to the sentence captures the same idea. When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words.
there, --The word translated as "there" means "there" or "in that place" but it also means "the intelligible world," that is, the world we understand. It refers to a place much more strongly than our word "there."
so that- The word translated as "so that" is an adverb "in that place," "there," "where," "when," or as a conjunction that starts a subordinate clause "that," "when," "in order that" or "because."
you -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.
may -- This helping verb "may" indicates that the verb indicates a possibility, the subjunctive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
believe; -- The Greek word translated as "believe" does not apply to religious belief as much but trusting or relying upon other people, especially their words. Jesus usually uses it in contexts, such as the one here, that apply to trusting words.
But -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "but" denotes an exception or simple opposition. It is used to emphasize the contrast between things like we use "instead," "but instead,"or "rather." It is the Greek word "other" like we use "otherwise." Jesus often uses this conjunction to connect a negative clause, "not this," with a positive one, "instead this." That is how he is using it here.
let --- (WF) This "let" is usually used as the helping verb to translate the Greek form of the third-person command. That is not the form of the verb here.
us -- (WF) This is from the first-person, plural form of the verb. It should be the subject, "we" not the object "us."
go -- (CW) "Go" is a Greek verb that means "to lead," "to carry," or "to fetch" and has a lot of different specific meanings in different contexts. Jesus usually uses it to mean "bring," and here the sense may be "bring it" where the "it" is implied. It is not the word commonly translated as "go." The form is either declarative or one of possibility.
to -- The word translated as "to" means "towards," "by reason of (for)," "before" both in time and place, "in the presence of," "against," and several other types of "before." With verbs of seeing it specifically means "towards."
him. -- The word translated as "him" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English.
καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "also." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also." Also used to give emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."
χαίρω [14 verses](verb 1st sg pres ind act) "I am glad" is chairo which means "rejoice," "take pleasure in," and "welcome."
δι᾽[88 verses](prep) "For" is dia, which means with the genitive "through," "in the midst of," "in a line (movement)," "throughout (time)," "by (causal)," "for (causal)," "among," and "between." With the accusative, it can also be "thanks to," "because of," "by reasons of," and "for the sake of."
ὑμᾶς [210 verses](pron 2nd pl acc) "Your" is humas which is the plural objective form of the second-person pronoun, "you."
ἵνα [134 verses](adv/conj) "That" is hina, which means "in that place," "there," "where," "when," but when beginning a phrase "that," "in order that," "when," and "because."
πιστεύσητε, [69 verses](verb 2nd pl aor subj act or 2nd pl fut ind act) "Ye may believe" is pisteuo, which means "to trust, put faith in, or rely on a person," "to believe in someone's words," "to comply," "to feel confident in a thing," and "to entrust in a thing."
ὅτι [332 verses](adv/conj) "That" is hoti, which introduces a statement of fact "with regard to the fact that," "seeing that," and acts as a causal adverb meaning "for what," "because," "since," and "wherefore."
οὐκ - "Not" is ou , the negative adverb for facts and statements, negating both single words and sentences. The other negative adverb, μή applies to will and thought; οὐ denies, μή rejects; οὐ is absolute, μή relative; οὐ objective, μή subjective.
ἤμην [614 verses](1st sg imperf ind mid) "I was" is eimi, which means "to be," "to exist," "to be the case," of circumstance and events "to happen," and "is possible." With the genitive object, the sense is "belongs to." It can also mean "must" with a dative.
ἐκεῖ: [33 verses](adv) "Yonder place" is ekei, which means "there," "in that place," and in philosophy means "the intelligible world."
ἀλλὰ [154 verses](conj) "But" is alla, which means "instead," "otherwise," "but," "still," "at least," "except," "yet," nevertheless," "rather," "moreover," and "nay."
ἄγωμεν [13 verses](1st pl pres ind/subj act) "Let us go" is ago, which means to "lead," "carry," "bring," "fetch," "take with one," "carry of," "bear up," "remove," "lead to a point," "lead," "guide," "manage," "refer," "bring up," "train," "educate," "reduce," "draw out (in length)," "hold," "celebrate," "observe (a date)," "pass (Time)," "hold account," "treat," "draw down (in the scale)," and "weight."
πρὸς [92 verses](prep) "Unto" is from pros, which means "from (place)," "on the side of," "toward," "before," "in the presence of," "in the eyes of," "before (supplication, a judge, a witness)," "near" a time, "for" the moment, "proceeding from (for effects)," "dependent on," "derivable from," "agreeable," "in comparison with," "becoming," "like," "at the point of," "in addition to," "against," and "before." It also means "dependent upon."
αὐτόν. [720 verses] (adj sg masc acc) "Him" is autos, which means "the same," and the reflexive pronouns, "myself," "yourself," "himself," "herself," "itself," or the oblique case of the pronouns, "him," "her," and "it." It also means "one's true self," that is, "the soul" as opposed to the body and "of one's own accord." In the adverbial form, it means "just here" or "exactly there."