John 11:18

18 Now Bethany was less than two miles^[a] from Jerusalem,

John 11:18 in Other Translations

18 Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:

18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off,

18 Bethany was only a few miles down the road from Jerusalem,

18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, only a couple of miles away,

18 Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off;

18 (Bethany was near Jerusalem, not quite two miles away.)

18 Bethany was near Jerusalem (about two miles away).

18 Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem.

John 11:18 Meaning and Commentary

John 11:18

Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem
Which was a reason why them were so many of the Jews come there to condole the two sisters upon the death of their brother; and by this means the following miracle became more known there: it was

about fifteen furlongs off;
that is, about two miles, for seven furlongs and a half made a Jewish mile, as appears from one of their canons ^F3, which runs thus:

``they do not spread nets for doves, except it be distant from an habitable place, (oyr Myvlv) , "thirty furlongs";''

which the commentators say ^F4 are "four miles": and still more expressly it is said ^F5, that

``between Jerusalem and Zuck, (the place where the scape goat was had,) there were ten tents, and ninety furlongs, (lym lkl huxmw hebv) "seven and a half to every mile".''

Hence a furlong was called one seventh and a half of a mile ^F6, which was 266 cubits, and two thirds of one.

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FOOTNOTES:

F3 Misn. Bava Kama, c. 7. sect. 7.
F4 Maimon. Jarchi, & Bartenora in ib.
F5 Misn. Yoma, c. 6. sect. 4.
F6 T. Bab. Bava Metzia, fol. 33. 1. Maimon. Hilch. Rotzeach, c. 13. sect. 6.

John 11:18 In-Context

16 Then Thomas (also known as Didymus ) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.

18 Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem,

19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother.

20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.

Cross References

• 1. ver 1; S Matthew 21:17

Footnotes

• [a]. Or about 3 kilometers