Commentaries:
Barnes' Notes
If the sleep, he shall do well - Sleep was regarded by the Jews, in sickness, as a favorable symptom; hence it was said among them, "Sleep in sickness is a sign of recovery, because it shows that the violence of the disease has abated" (Lightfoot). This seems to have been the meaning of the disciples. They intimated that if he had this symptom, there was no need of his going into Judea to restore him.
Other Barnes' Notes entries containing John 11:12:
Matthew 19:1
Acts 7:60
1 Corinthians 11:30
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