Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
When Jesus therefore saw her weeping (Ihsouv oun wv eiden authn klaiousan). Proleptic position of "Jesus," "Jesus therefore when he saw." She was weeping at the feet of Jesus, not at the tomb.
And the Jews also weeping (kai touv Ioudaiouv klaiontav). Mary's weeping was genuine, that of the Jews was partly perfunctory and professional and probably actual "wailing" as the verb klaiw can mean. Klaiw is joined with alalazw in Mark 5:38, with ololuzw in James 5:1, with qorubew in Mark 5:39, with penqew in Mark 16:10. It was an incongruous combination.
He groaned in the spirit (enebrimhsato tw pneumati). First aorist middle indicative of embrimaomai, old verb (from en, and brimh, strength) to snort with anger like a horse. It occurs in the LXX (Daniel 11:30) for violent displeasure. The notion of indignation is present in the other examples of the word in the N.T. (Mark 1:43; Mark 14:5; Matthew 9:30). So it seems best to see that sense here and in verse John 11:38. The presence of these Jews, the grief of Mary, Christ's own concern, the problem of the raising of Lazarus—all greatly agitated the spirit of Jesus (locative case tw pneumati). He struggled for self-control.
Was troubled (etaracen eauton). First aorist active indicative of tarassw, old verb to disturb, to agitate, with the reflexive pronoun, "he agitated himself" (not passive voice, not middle). "His sympathy with the weeping sister and the wailing crowd caused this deep emotion" (Dods). Some indignation at the loud wailing would only add to the agitation of Jesus.
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing John 11:33:
Matthew 9:30
John 4:6
John 11:32
John 11:35
John 11:38
John 12:27
John 13:21
John 14:1
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