John 11:33

The Sign

33. weeping … weeping The repetition is for emphasis, and to point a contrast which is the key to the passage.

he groaned in the spirit Better, He was angered in the spirit. The word translated -groaned" occurs five times in N.T.; here, John 11:38; Matthew 9:30; Mark 1:43; Mark 14:5 (see notes in each place). In all cases, as in classical Greek and in the LXX., it expresses not sorrow but indignationor severity. It means (1) literally, of animals, -to snort, growl;" then metaphorically (2) -to be very angry or indignant;" (3) -to command sternly, under threat of displeasure." What was He angered at? Some translate - atHis spirit," and explain (α) that He was indignant at the human emotion which overcame Him: which is out of harmony with all that we know about the human nature of Christ. Others, retaining - inHis spirit," explain (β) that He was indignant -at the unbelief of the Jews and perhaps of the sisters:" but of this there is no hint in the context Others again, (γ) that it was -at the sight of the momentary triumph of evil, as death, … which was here shewn under circumstances of the deepest pathos:" but we nowhere else find the Lord shewing anger at the physical consequences of sin. It seems better to fall back on the contrast pointed out in the last note. He was indignant at seeing the hypocritical and sentimental lamentations of His enemies the Jews mingling with the heartfelt lamentations of His loving friend Mary (comp. John 12:10): hypocrisy ever roused His anger.

was troubled The margin is better; He troubled Himself, i.e. agitated Himself, allowed His emotion to become evident by external movement such as a shudder.