Lazarus — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

1. Lazarus the beggar. In one of Jesus’ most familiar parables (Lk 16:19-31), he contrasted the earthly circumstances of a beggar named Lazarus with that of a nameless rich man. From the adjective for “rich” in the Latin Vulgate, the rich man came to be called in English “Dives.” The rich man relished the luxury of his wealth, while he ignored an ulcerated blind beggar lying at his gate. Jesus said that Lazarus died and went to Abraham’s bosom, while Dives suffered everlasting torment.

The parable of Lazarus has been misinterpreted sometimes as a condemnation of wealth instead of a warning against enjoyment of wealth without regard for the poor. It teaches that decisions in the present life determine eternal destiny.

In no other parable did Jesus identify a character by name. Some Bible students have therefore concluded that he was telling a true story. The name’s symbolism, however, seems to account for its use, since Lazarus was cast in the role of one “whom God helped.” In the Middle Ages the beggar Lazarus was venerated as the patron saint of lepers. Leper hospitals were called lazar-houses.

2. Lazarus of Bethany. Jesus performed the most spectacular of all his miracles (excluding his own resurrection) when he restored Lazarus of Bethany to life four days after death. Lazarus lived with his two sisters, Mary and Martha. They were among Jesus’ most intimate friends (Jn 11:3-5, 36 OET JHN 11:3–5 · OET JHN 11:36). On several occasions he visited in their home, which also served as his headquarters during his final week on earth (Mt 21:17; Lk 10:38-42; Jn 11:1–12:11 OET JHN 11:1–57 · OET JHN 12:1–11). Lazarus was at the banquet in Jesus’ honor when Mary anointed Jesus’ feet with costly ointment (Jn 12:1-3).

Show passage in OET: JHN 11:3–5; JHN 11:36

OET-RV JHN 11:3

3 and so the two sisters sent a message to Yeshua saying, “Master, this man that you love is seriously ill.”

OET-RV JHN 11:4

4 However, when Yeshua got the message he said to those around him, “This sickness won’t end in death but in honour for God, so that his son will also be honoured because of it.”

OET-RV JHN 11:5

5 Now it was true that Yeshua loved the three of them.

OET-RV JHN 11:36

36 which made the others comment, “See how much he cared about him.”

OET-LV JHN 11:3

3 Therefore the sisters sent _out to him saying:
master, see, he _whom you _are _loving is _ailing.

OET-LV JHN 11:4

4 But having _heard the Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa) said:
This the sickness not is to death, but for the glory of_ the _god, in _order _that the son of_ the _god may _be _glorified by it.

OET-LV JHN 11:5

5 And the Yaʸsous was _loving the Martha, and the sister of _her, and the Lazaros.

OET-LV JHN 11:36

36 Therefore the Youdaiōns were _saying:
Behold, how he _was _loving him.

Show passage in OET: MAT 21:17

OET-RV MAT 21:17

17 Then he left the temple and Yerushalem (Jerusalem) and went and stayed overnight out at Beyt-Ania (Bethany).

OET-LV MAT 21:17

17 And having _left them, he _came _out out the city to Baʸthania, and was _lodged there.

Show passage in OET: LUK 10:38–42

OET-RV LUK 10:38

38 When it was time to leave, Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) went into a village and there was a woman there named Marta who welcomed him in.

OET-RV LUK 10:39

39 She had a sister named Miryam (Grk. Maria /Mariam) who was also sitting there on the floor by Yeshua’s feet listening to his teaching.

OET-RV LUK 10:40

40 But Marta kept getting pulled away to keep the household running, and after a while approached Yeshua and asked, “Master, doesn’t it bother you that my sister has left all the housework to me? Tell her to come and help me.”

OET-RV LUK 10:41

41 “Marta, Marta,” Yeshua answered, “you are worried and concerned about many things,

OET-RV LUK 10:42

42 but only one thing really matters. Miryam chose the best thing, and it won’t be taken away from her.”

OET-LV LUK 10:38

38 And at the time them to _be _going, he came _in into a_ certain _village, and a_ a_certain _woman by_the_name Martha welcomed him,

OET-LV LUK 10:39

39 and to _this woman she _was a_sister being _called Maria/(Miryām), who also having _been _seated _beside at the feet the of_Yaʸsous, was _hearing the message of _him.

OET-LV LUK 10:40

40 But the Martha was _being _pulled _away about much service, and having _approached said:
master, not is _it _mattering to _you that the sister of _me left only me to _be _serving?
Therefore tell to _her that she _may _help with _me.

OET-LV LUK 10:41

41 But the master answering said to _her:
Martha, Martha, you _are _worrying and you _are _being _troubled about many things,

OET-LV LUK 10:42

42 but there _is need of _one, Maria chose for the good portion, which ˓will˒_ not _be _being _taken _away from her.

Show passage in OET: JHN 12:1–3

OET-RV JHN 12:1

12 Because of that, Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) went to Beyt-Ania (Bethany) six days before the Passover. That was where Eleazar (Lazarus; Grk. Lazaros) lived, the one he had brought back to life.

OET-RV JHN 12:2

2 So they prepared dinner for him there and Marta was serving and Eleazar was among those sitting with Yeshua.

OET-RV JHN 12:3

3 Then Miryam (Grk. Maria /Mariam) took about 300g of very expensive nard oil and smeared it on Yeshua’s feet, and then wiped off his feet with her own hair, and the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.

OET-LV JHN 12:1

12 Therefore the Six days before the passover_feast Yaʸsous, came to Baʸthania, where Lazaros was, whom Yaʸsous raised from the_dead.

OET-LV JHN 12:2

2 Therefore they _made a_supper for _him there, and the Martha was _serving, and the Lazaros was one of the ones reclining with him.

OET-LV JHN 12:3

3 Therefore the Maria/(Miryām) having _taken a_litra_weight of _ointment of_ precious genuine _nard, anointed the feet of_ the _Yaʸsous, and wiped _off the feet of _him with _the hairs of _her, and the house was _filled with the aroma of _the ointment.

Jump to OET JHN 11:3–5 section. · OET JHN 11:36 section.

Jump to OET MAT 21:17 section.

Jump to OET LUK 10:38–42 section.

Jump to OET JHN 12:1–3 section.

The raising of Lazarus, the climax of the signs in John’s Gospel, receives the fullest treatment of Jesus’ miracles. It produced three notable results: (1) many Jews in the vicinity of Jerusalem believed in Jesus (Jn 11:45) and some weeks later escorted him into the city (12:17-18); (2) the Jewish leaders, hardened in their rejection of Jesus, resolved that he must die (11:53); (3) those leaders also plotted Lazarus’s death (12:10-11). The miracle not only showed Jesus’ power over death but set the stage for his own resurrection.