John Chapter 11 verse 20 Holy Bible
Martha therefore, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary still sat in the house.
read chapter 11 in ASV
When Martha had the news that Jesus was on the way, she went out to him, but Mary did not go from the house.
read chapter 11 in BBE
Martha then, when she heard Jesus is coming, went to meet him; but Mary sat in the house.
read chapter 11 in DARBY
Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.
read chapter 11 in KJV
read chapter 11 in WBT
Then when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary stayed in the house.
read chapter 11 in WEB
Martha, therefore, when she heard that Jesus doth come, met him, and Mary kept sitting in the house.
read chapter 11 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 20. - The οϋν points back probably to ver. 1. The type of character so beautifully contrasted in the previous reference to the family at Bethany appears again, and confirms the historical character of Luke 10:38, etc., as well as of the narrative before us. Thoma says that this picture is "simply painted with synoptic color." Martha is the mistress of the house. Martha therefore, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. Martha was a woman of impulse, energy, practical duty; like Peter, she was ready even to give advice to her Lord, and eager to put everybody in his rightful place. On the first opportunity she hastened at once to "meet" Jesus, even without at first warning her sister of his approach. Mary, contemplative, pensive, undemonstrative under ordinary circumstances, but with a great fund of love, was sitting in the house receiving the condolences of the Jews (cf. ver. 19). Weiss suggests that Jesus was well aware, from the station of the family, and from the fact that hitherto his own friendship for the sisters had not submitted them to the ban, that "many Jews" would have congregated in the house of mourning. Consequently, Jesus does not come straight to the house, but allows it to be known that he is there.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(20) Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming . . .--This is partly to be explained from the position in which they stood towards Him, and partly from the fact of the presence of the Jews at the house. She goes forth to meet Him in a place where she can speak her heart's thoughts, apart from the oppressive ceremonial of the formal lamentation, and where He would not be exposed to a renewal of the attempts against His life.But Mary sat still in the house.--Better, without the word in italics, but Mary was sitting in the house. The characteristics of the two sisters, which we find in Luke 10:38 (see Note there), are strikingly preserved in this narrative. The clause describes precisely the position of the mourner, who sat on or near the ground, while those who came to lament with her sat around. (Comp. Job 2:13-13.)
