Mary, Martha and Lazarus: the family in Bethany

Explore the sibling relationships of Mary, Martha and Lazarus, with sources from John’s account of their family in Bethany.

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John identifies Mary and Martha as sisters and Lazarus as their brother. This chart follows the family in Bethany. Mary is identified by this setting, and Lazarus is distinct from the man in the parable in Luke 16.

Bible edition: King James Version

In focusMartha

Mary of Bethany Mary of Bethany is the sister of Martha.

Source: John 11:1

Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.
Read John 11:1
Lazarus of Bethany Lazarus of Bethany is the brother of Martha.

Source: John 11:1; John 11:2; John 11:3

Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.
Read John 11:1
(It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)
Read John 11:2
Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.
Read John 11:3

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Mary of Bethany is the sister of Martha.

Source: John 11:1

Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.
Read John 11:1
Lazarus of Bethany is the brother of Mary of Bethany.

Source: John 11:2

(It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)
Read John 11:2
Lazarus of Bethany is the brother of Martha.

Source: John 11:1; John 11:2; John 11:3

Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.
Read John 11:1
(It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)
Read John 11:2
Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.
Read John 11:3

A question to carry into your reading

John 11 brings grief, love and hope into one family’s story. What do the sisters’ words and Jesus’ response help you notice about bringing sorrow to God?

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