"Jesus wept" (grc-x-koine|ἐδάκρυσεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς|edákrusen ho Iēsoûs, in Greek, Ancient (to 1453); pronounced as /ɛˈdakrysɛn (h)o i.eˈsus/) is a phrase famous for being the shortest verse in the King James Version of the Bible, as well as in many other translations.[1] It is not the shortest in the original languages.[2] The phrase is found in the Gospel of John, chapter 11, verse 35.[3] Verse breaks—or versification—were introduced into the Greek text by Robert Estienne in 1551 in order to make the texts easier to cite and compare.
This verse occurs in John's narrative of the death of Lazarus of Bethany, a follower of Jesus. Lazarus's sisters—Mary and Martha—sent word to Jesus of their brother's illness and impending death, but Jesus arrived four days after Lazarus died. Jesus, after talking to the grieving sisters and seeing Lazarus's friends weeping, was deeply troubled and moved. After asking where Lazarus had been laid and being invited to come see him, Jesus wept. He then went to the tomb and told the people to remove the stone covering it, prayed aloud to his Father, and ordered Lazarus to come out, resurrected.[3]
Luke's gospel also records that Jesus wept as he entered Jerusalem before his trial and death, anticipating the destruction of the Temple.[4]
| Translation | Text | |
|---|---|---|
| ἐδάκρυσεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς. edákrusen ho Iēsoûs. "Jesus shed tears." | ||
| ܘܐܵܬ݂ܝܵܢ ܗ̄ܘܲܝ̈ ܕܸܡ̈ܥܵܘܗܝ ܕܝܼܫܘܿܥ. Wʾatiyan hway demʿawhy d-Yushwoʿ. "And the tears of Jesus came." | ||
| Latin: Et lacrimātus est Iēsus "And Jesus wept." | ||
| Und Jesus gingen die Augen über. "And the eyes of Jesus overcame." | ||
| "Jesus wept." | ||
| "And Jesus himself was weeping." | ||
| "Jesus cried." | ||
| "Now Jesus wept." | ||
| "And Jesus wept." | ||
| New Living Translation (2005 Version) | "Then Jesus wept." | |
| "Jesus began to weep." | ||
| "Yeshua cried," | ||
| "Jesus gave way to tears." |
Significance has been attributed to Jesus's deep emotional response to his friends' weeping, and his own tears, including the following:
Jesus's tears have figured among the relics attributed to Jesus.[8]
In some parts of the English-speaking world, including Great Britain, Ireland (particularly Dublin and Belfast) and Australia, the phrase "Jesus wept" is an expletive some people use when something goes wrong or to express incredulity.[9] In Christianity, this usage is considered blasphemous and offensive by the devout, as it is seen as violating the second or third of the Ten Commandments.[10] Historically, certain Christian states had laws against profane use of Jesus Christ, among other religious terms.[11] [12] The Harris Poll conducted a 2017 study and found 90% of evangelical Christians would not view a film that disrespectfully used the name of Jesus Christ.[13] In Catholic Christianity, the faithful pray Acts of Reparation to Jesus Christ for abuse of the Holy Name, which constitutes a sin.[14]
In 1965, broadcaster Richard Dimbleby accidentally used the expletive live on air during the state visit of Elizabeth II to West Germany.
It is a common expletive in novels by author Stephen King. Other authors using it as an expletive include Neil Gaiman in the Sandman series, Bernard Cornwell in the Sharpe series, Mick Herron in the Slough House series, David Lodge in Nice Work, Mike Carey in the Hellblazer series and The Devil You Know, Garth Ennis in The Boys (comics), Peter F. Hamilton in The Night's Dawn Trilogy, Mark Haddon in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Dan Simmons in Hyperion Cantos, Minette Walters in Fox Evil, Elly Griffiths in the Dr Ruth Galloway series, and Jason Matthews in Red Sparrow.
This usage is also evidenced in films and television programmes including Lawrence of Arabia (1962), Get Carter (1971), Razorback (1984), Hellraiser (1987), Drop the Dead Donkey (1990), The Stand (1994), Michael Collins (1996), Dogma (1999), Notes on a Scandal (2006), True Blood, Cranford, The Bank Job (all 2008), Blitz (2011), Call the Midwife (2013), Community (2015), The Magnificent Seven (2016), The Haunting of Hill House, Derry Girls (both 2018), Troop Zero (2019), Silent Witness (2023), and Murder in a Small Town (2024).
Car journalist Jeremy Clarkson of the hit show Top Gear used the expletive many times during the show’s 22nd season.
The verse is also used in the The's song "Angels of Deception" from the 1986 album Infected. Kanye West uses the verse to end "Bound 2", the last song on his 2013 album Yeezus.[15]