John 11:12

12 The talmidim said to him, "Lord, if he has gone to sleep, he will get better."

John 11:12 Meaning and Commentary

John 11:12

Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep
Soundly, quietly, and comfortably, and takes rest in it:

he shall do well;
or "be saved" from the disease; he will be delivered from it; he will recover out of it; it is a sign the distemper is leaving him, and he is growing better, and will be restored to his health again: the Ethiopic version renders it by many words, "he will be well", and "will awake", and "will live". Sound sleep is a sign of health. This they said to, put off their master from going into Judea, fearing the danger he would be exposed unto.

John 11:12 In-Context

10 But if a person walks at night, he does stumble; because he has no light with him."

11 Yeshua said these things, and afterwards he said to the talmidim, "Our friend El`azar has gone to sleep; but I am going in order to wake him up."

12 The talmidim said to him, "Lord, if he has gone to sleep, he will get better."

13 Now Yeshua had used the phrase to speak about El`azar's death, but they thought he had been talking literally about sleep.

14 So Yeshua told them in plain language, "El`azar has died.