Lazarus

Lazarus is a personal name borne in the Gospels by a man of Bethany whom Jesus raised from the dead, and also by a beggar in one of Jesus’ parables (Luke 16:19-31). Linguistically, the name is the Greek form of a Hebrew/Aramaic name meaning “God has helped.” The Gospel of John introduces the Bethany Lazarus as the brother of Mary, the woman who anointed the Lord, and of her sister; the sisters send word that he is sick (John 11:2-3).

The text says the sisters describe him to Jesus as “he for whom you have great affection” (John 11:3), and that Jesus says his sickness is “not to death, but for the glory of God” (John 11:4). Jesus speaks of him as “Our friend Lazarus” who has “fallen asleep” (John 11:11). At the tomb Jesus prays to the Father, then cries “Lazarus, come out!” (John 11:41-43); the man who had died comes out “bound hand and foot with wrappings,” and Jesus orders him freed (John 11:44). John 12:1 later identifies him as the Lazarus who had been dead and whom Jesus raised.

Geographically, the narrative places the episode at Bethany (John 12:1), a village near Jerusalem. In the Johannine account the raising is presented as a public act tied to God’s glory and to belief that the Father sent Jesus (John 11:4, 11:42).

Christian traditions differ in how they receive him. Eastern Orthodox tradition commemorates the raising on Lazarus Saturday and holds that Lazarus later became bishop of Kition in Cyprus; Catholic tradition also venerates him as a saint. Many Protestant interpreters treat him mainly as a figure in John’s narrative and do not receive the later traditions about his episcopate. The Lazarus of Jesus’ parable (Luke 16:19-31) is generally distinguished from Lazarus of Bethany.

AI-generated reference entry, grounded in the passages where this term appears — history and Scripture stated as such, interpretation labeled as interpretation. Not a substitute for the text itself.