New American Standard Bible 1995

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John

11

:

18

Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off;

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Greek: Transliteration:
Now but, and, now, (a connective or adversative particle) Conj H1161 δὲ de
Bethany "house of affliction" or "house of dates," Bethany, the name of two cities in Pal. N-NFS H963 Βηθανία bēthania
Analysis:
Read more about: Bethany
was near near (in place or time) Prep H1451 ἐγγὺς engus
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the capital of united Isr. and Judah N-GNP H2414 Ἱεροσολύμων ierosolumōn
Analysis:
Read more about: Jerusalem
about as, like as, even as, when, since, as long as Adv H5613 ὡς ōs
two fifteen Adj-GMP H1178 δεκαπέντε dekapente
Analysis:

Two: Two divergent opinions

The classic example for the number "two" is found in Matthew chapter 26. There, Yeshua says to His disciples,

"You know that after two days comes the Passover, and the Son of Man will be given over for crucifixion."  Matthew 26:2

The phrase "after two days" is somewhat meaningless because after two days can mean three or more days. The period is unspecified. The reason for such ambiguous language is because the purpose of the number two in this passage is not solely numerical. This means that the text is not intending to provide the reader with some definite information concerning a time period. Rather, the purpose of the number two in this context is one of the numerological meanings of the number two.  Often the number two relates to two divergent opinions. In the aforementioned verse, the author wants to inform the reader that there are two very different understandings for this coming Passover. Yeshua wants to emphasize that He is going up to Jerusalem in order to die as the true Passover sacrifice. Even though Yeshua states this emphatically, the disciples did not receive this. In fact, the disciples did not perceive at all what was going to take place during Passover in regard to Yeshua. In other words, Yeshua and the disciples have two divergent opinions concerning the Passover.

This same principle is also found in the Hebrew Bible (Old Covenant). In the book of Amos one reads,

"Can two walk together without them having agreed" Amos 3:3

The word which was translated into English with the phrase "them having agreed" is נועדו. The root of this word is יעד, which relates to a specific destination. The word which precedes this word is בלתי and in this context the word implies a change to the condition. In other words, had there not been a change in the condition, then the two could not walk together, i.e. they could not have arrived at the common destination.

The concept of divergent or different is also seen in the book of Genesis. In speaking about the sun and moon one reads, "And God made two great lights…" (Genesis 1:16). Obviously the sun and moon are very different, as one is a source of light, while the latter just reflects light. Also in the book of Genesis, one encounters the account of the flood. Here Noah is commanded to bring onto the ark two sorts of each type of animal. In this passage, the two relates to two different (or divergent) kinds of the same sort, i.e. male and female. 

Likewise, two angels came to Sodom, demonstrating that the people of Sodom had a very different way of living from that of the Law of God. Once again, the reader should not assume that every occurrence of the number two in the Bible demands this interpretation. However, one will find in a great majority of Biblical passages, the reader will be assisted in arriving at the proper interpretation, when he considers this divergent quality for the number two. 

Loveisrael.org - Baruch Korman, Ph.D. - All Rights Reserved - Used with Permission 2016 

miles a stadium (a Gr. measure of length), by impl. a racecourse N-GMP H4712 σταδίων stadiōn
off; from, away from Adv H575 ἀπὸ apo

Locations

Bethany

BETHANYbeth'-a-ni (Bethania):(1) A village, 15 furlongs from Jerusalem (John 11:18), on the road to Jericho, at the Mount of Olives (Mark 11:1 Luke 19:29), where lived "Simon the leper" (Mark 14:3) and Mary, Martha and Lazarus (John 11:18 f). This village may justifiably be called the Judean home of Jesus, as He appears to have preferred to lodge there rathe... View Details

Jerusalem

JERUSALEMje-roo'-sa-lem:I. THE NAME1. In Cuneiform2. In Hebrew3. In Greek and Latin4. The Meaning of Jerusalem5. Other NamesII. GEOLOGY, CLIMATE AND SPRINGS1. Geology2. Climate and Rainfall3. The Natural SpringsIII. THE NATURAL SITE1. The Mountains Around2. The Valleys3. The HillsIV. GENERAL TOPOGRAPHY OF JERUSALEM1. Description of Josephus2. Summary of the... View Details

Parallel Verses

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New American Standard Bible 1995 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off;
King James Bible Now Bethany was near nigh unto Jerusalem, about two miles off;fifteen furlongs off:
Berean Bible Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off;fifteen stadia away,
Hebrew Greek English Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off;