John 11:39 bbe — Jesus said, Take away the stone. Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said, Lord, by this time the body will be smel…

Bible in Basic English

"Jesus said, Take away the stone. Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said, Lord, by this time the body will be smelling, for he has been dead four days."

— John 11:39, Bible in Basic English

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John 11:39 in Other Translations

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John 11 — Context

36

So the Jews said, See how dear he was to him!

37

But some of them said, This man, who made open the eyes of the blind man, was he not able to keep his friend from death?

38

So Jesus, deeply troubled in heart, came to the place of the dead. It was a hole in the rock, and a stone was over the opening.

39

Jesus said, Take away the stone. Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said, Lord, by this time the body will be smelling, for he has been dead four days.

40

Jesus said to her, Did I not say to you that if you had faith you would see the glory of God?

41

So they took away the stone. And Jesus, looking up to heaven, said, Father, I give praise to you for hearing me.

42

I was certain that your ears are at all times open to me, but I said it because of these who are here, so that they may see that you sent me.

John 11:39 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does John 11:39 say?
John 11:39 in the Bible in Basic English reads: “Jesus said, Take away the stone. Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said, Lord, by this time the body will be smelling, for he has been dead four days.”
Where is John 11:39 in the Bible?
John 11:39 is found in the New Testament, in the book of John, chapter 11, verse 39.
Who wrote John?
John is traditionally attributed to John the Apostle, son of Zebedee. It was written c. AD 85–95.
What is the book of John about?
John's Gospel opens not in Bethlehem but "in the beginning," declaring Jesus to be the eternal Word made flesh. Through seven sign-miracles and seven "I AM" sayings, it presents Jesus as the bread, the light, the way, and the resurrection — that we might believe and have life in his name.
What are the major themes of John?
John explores themes including Word Made Flesh, Belief, Eternal Life, I AM, Love. These themes shape the meaning and context of John 11:39.
What translation should I read John 11:39 in?
John 11:39 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize John 11:39?
John 11:39 reads (BBE): “Jesus said, Take away the stone. Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said, Lord, by this time the body will be smelling, for he has been dead four days.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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