John 11:21
Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
Original Language Analysis
ἡ
G3588
ἡ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
3 of 17
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
πρὸς
unto
G4314
πρὸς
unto
Strong's:
G4314
Word #:
5 of 17
a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e., toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e., pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of,
τὸν
G3588
τὸν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
6 of 17
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Ἰησοῦν
Jesus
G2424
Ἰησοῦν
Jesus
Strong's:
G2424
Word #:
7 of 17
jesus (i.e., jehoshua), the name of our lord and two (three) other israelites
Κύριε
Lord
G2962
Κύριε
Lord
Strong's:
G2962
Word #:
8 of 17
supreme in authority, i.e., (as noun) controller; by implication, master (as a respectful title)
ὁ
G3588
ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
12 of 17
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἀδελφός
brother
G80
ἀδελφός
brother
Strong's:
G80
Word #:
13 of 17
a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like g0001)
Cross References
John 11:32Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.Matthew 9:18While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.John 11:37And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?Psalms 78:19Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?1 Kings 17:18And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son?
Historical Context
Jewish theology affirmed God's power over death (1 Kings 17; 2 Kings 4) but resurrection was expected only at the last day. Martha's faith in Jesus' healing power was extraordinary for its time.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Martha's honest struggle with Jesus model authentic prayer?
- In what ways can we balance faith with honest questions about God's timing?
- What does Jesus' acceptance of Martha's reproach teach about approaching God with our doubts?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Martha's statement expresses both faith and gentle reproach. 'If thou hadst been here' implies Jesus' presence prevents death, showing confidence in His power. Yet the conditional reveals disappointment—she believes He could have prevented this had He come sooner. Her words wrestle with divine sovereignty and human suffering. Martha speaks honestly to Jesus, modeling authentic prayer that expresses both faith and questions. Her struggle is holy ground.