John 11:42 (DRB)

Passage

And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people who stand about have I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.

Nearby Context

John 11:40 Jesus saith to her: Did not I say to thee that if thou believe, thou shalt see the glory of God?

John 11:41 They took therefore the stone away. And Jesus lifting up his eyes, said: Father, I give thee thanks that thou hast heard me.

John 11:42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people who stand about have I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.

John 11:43 When he had said these things, he cried with a loud voice: Lazarus, come forth.

John 11:44 And presently he that had been dead came forth, bound feet and hands with winding bands. And his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus said to them: Loose him and let him go.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "knew", "thou", "hearest", "always", "people", "stand", "said", and "believe". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "knew" and "thou", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 41's "They took therefore the stone away And..." into verse 43's "When he had said these things he...", so "knew" and "thou" belong inside that flow. In John context, the local focus is the identity of Jesus, new birth, eternal life, and belief and unbelief.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "knew" and "thou" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.