What Does John 11:41 Mean in the King James?
Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The same Greek verb means both “take away” and “lift up”: as the stone leaves, Jesus’ eyes rise, and gratitude begins before Lazarus appears.
THE MEANING
The stone is moved, and Jesus lifts his eyes before Lazarus emerges. He gives thanks because he is already heard; the opening and the confidence of being heard are present before life becomes visible.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
You have to see the life restored before you can give thanks for it.
THE ROOT
αἴρω
airō
GROWS FROM
αἰρ-
air-
To lift, take up, or remove.
“took away / lifted up” in this verse is airō. The verse uses αἴρω (airō) twice: they take away the stone, and Jesus lifts up his eyes. The same word joins removal with elevation, so the opening at the tomb and the upward gaze belong to one movement in the verse.
ALSO GROWS
epairō: To raise or lift up.
ἐπαίρω
This compound makes the upward sense explicit, echoing Jesus lifting his eyes.
apairō: To take away or depart.
ἀπαίρω
This compound carries the removal sense heard when the stone is taken away.
εὐχαριστῶ
eucharistō
GROWS FROM
χαρ-
char-
The word family of χάρις (charis), favor or graciousness; εὐχαριστέω (eucharisteō) means to give thanks.
“thank” in this verse is eucharistō. The word for thanks carries the language of favor within it. Jesus names what he receives as favor while Lazarus is still unseen, so gratitude here begins with being heard, before the visible result.
ALSO GROWS
charis: Favor or graciousness.
χάρις
This is the favor carried inside the word for giving thanks.
charizomai: To grant freely or show favor.
χαρίζομαι
This branch links thanks with a gift freely given.
THE PATTERN
What seals or confines gives way, opening a passage for what is held within to emerge.
Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.THE THREAD
The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.John uses αἴρω (airō), the same Greek verb, for the stone “taken away” from Jesus’ tomb. In this verse the word joins the removed stone to Jesus’ lifted eyes; in John 20:1 the opened tomb lets Mary see the stone’s absence.
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