the Jews who were with her in the house

The Greek that is translated as “the Jews who were with her in the house” or similar in English is translated in the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) as die jüdischen Freunde, die bei Maria zu Hause gewesen waren or “the Jewish friends who were with Mary at her house.” Likewise, in John 11:45, that translation also refers to “Jewish friends” at Mary’s house.

See also the Jews (people).

the Jews (Judeans)

In the English Good News Bible (2nd edition of 1992), this occurrence of the Greek hoi Ioudaioi, traditionally “the Jews” in English, is translated with “Judeans” or “people from Judea.” For an explanation of the differentiated translation in English as well as translation choices in a number of languages, see the Jews.

Mary (of Bethany)

The Greek that is transliterated as “Mary (of Bethany)” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with a signs for “woman” and “listen,” referring to Luke 10:39. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


“Mary” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

See also Martha and more on Bible Odyssey: Mary and Martha .

complete verse (John 11:31)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 11:31:

  • Uma: “The Yahudi people who were comforting-the-family [term referring to Uma custom gathering in the house of the bereaved after the funeral] saw Maria rushing out of the house. They said: ‘She must be going to the grave, going to wail there.’ So, they also went following her.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “The Yahudi who were Mariyam’s companions in the house and who were comforting her, when they saw Mariyam go down quickly, they followed her. They thought-mistakenly she was going to the grave of her brother to weep there.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And as for the Jews who were with Mary in the house to comfort her, when they saw Mary quickly stand up and go out, they followed her because they supposed that she was going to the burial place because she will weep there.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “As for the Jews who were in the house comforting plural Maria, when they saw her hurrying to leave, they followed, because they thought that she was going to Lazarus’ burial-place to go cry.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Maria was followed after by her companions, those Judio who were comforting her there at the house. When they saw how suddenly Maria got up and went out, they thought-mistakenly that she would go to the grave to cry there again.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Mary was seen to get up quickly, go out and leave. The Jews who were there at the house to console her followed, thinking that she was going in order to cry at the place the corpse was.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on John 11:31

In Greek this verse is one sentence, which Good News Translation divides into two. In English it is more natural to refer to a person by name the first time he is introduced in a narrative, and then to refer to him by pronouns. Good News Translation does so, introducing Mary in the first part of verse 31 and then referring to Mary as her … her … her … she. This practice is not in keeping with the Greek structure, which introduces the noun Mary about midway in the verse. However, in translating one must give attention to the structural requirements of the receptor language.

The same comments can be made of get up and hurry out as were made of got up and hurried out in verse 29. Here, too, it is more natural to put the adverb “quickly” with the verb get up than with the verb “went.”

They thought is actually a participle in Greek (“thinking”) which is dependent upon the main clause in the sentence. The infinitive phrase to weep there translates a clause of purpose in Greek, literally, “in order that she might weep there.”

The grave, to which reference is made in this verse, was actually a cave with a stone placed at the entrance (verse 38). The word “tomb” (so most translations) is slightly archaic, and grave implies to most English readers something other than a cave with a stone rolled in front of the entrance. However, the word grave is a more natural English term, and a description of this grave is given in verse 38.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .