SEV Biblia, Chapter 11:16
Dijo entonces Tomás, el que se dice el Dídimo, a sus condiscípulos: Vamos también nosotros, para que muramos con él.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - John 11:16
Verse 16. Thomas, which is called Didymus] Thomas, or µwat Thaom, was his Hebrew name, and signifies a twin-one who had a brother or a sister born with him at the same time: Didymus, didumov, is a literal translation of the Hebrew word into Greek. In Gen. xxv. 24, Esau and Jacob are called µymwt thomeem, twins; Septuag. diduma, from didumov, a twin-from the Anglo-Saxon (A.S.), to double. Let us also go, that we may die with him.] That is, "Seeing we cannot dissuade our Lord from going, and his death is likely to be the inevitable consequence, let us give him the fullest proof we can of our love, by going and suffering death with him." Some think Thomas spoke these words peevishly, and that they should be translated thus, Must we also go, and expose ourselves to destruction with him? which is as much as to say: "If he will obstinately go and risk his life in so imminent a danger, let us act with more prudence and caution." But I think the first sense is to be preferred. When a matter is spoken which concerns the moral character of a person, and which may be understood in a good and a bad sense, that sense which is most favourable to the person should certainly be adopted.
This is taking things by the best handle, and both justice and mercy require it. The conduct of most men widely differs from this: of such an old proverb says, "They feed like the flies-pass over all a man's whole parts, to light upon his sores."
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 16. Then said Thomas, who is called Didymous , etc.] The former was his Hebrew name, and the latter his Greek name, and both signify a twin; and perhaps he may be so called because he was one: the same said unto his fellow disciples ; the other eleven; though the Ethiopic version reads, “to the next of the disciples”; as if he addressed himself only to one of them, to him that was nearest to him: let us also go, that we may die with him ; either with Lazarus, as some think, or rather with Christ; for he, and the rest of the disciples, imagined that Christ, by returning to Judea, would be in great danger of losing his life; yea, by this expression they seem to be positive in it, that it was a matter out of question with them, that he would die, should be venture there again: and therefore Thomas stirs up his fellow disciples to go along with him, and die altogether; signifying, that they should have but little comfort when he was taken from them: but both Thomas, and the rest, were differently minded, when Christ was apprehended, for they all forsook him and fled, and provided for their own safety, and left him to die alone, ( Matthew 26:56).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 11-16 - Since we are sure to rise again at the last, why should not the believing hope of that resurrection to eternal life, make it as eas for us to put off the body and die, as it is to put off our clothes an go to sleep? A true Christian, when he dies, does but sleep; he rest from the labours of the past day. Nay, herein death is better tha sleep, that sleep is only a short rest, but death is the end of earthl cares and toils. The disciples thought that it was now needless for Christ to go to Lazarus, and expose himself and them. Thus we ofte hope that the good work we are called to do, will be done by some othe hand, if there be peril in the doing of it. But when Christ raise Lazarus from the dead, many were brought to believe on him; and ther was much done to make perfect the faith of those that believed. Let u go to him; death cannot separate from the love of Christ, nor put u out of the reach of his call. Like Thomas, in difficult time Christians should encourage one another. The dying of the Lord Jesu should make us willing to die whenever God calls us.
Greek Textus Receptus
ειπεν 2036 5627 V-2AAI-3S ουν 3767 CONJ θωμας 2381 N-NSM ο 3588 T-NSM λεγομενος 3004 5746 V-PPP-NSM διδυμος 1324 N-NSM τοις 3588 T-DPM συμμαθηταις 4827 N-DPM αγωμεν 71 5725 V-PAS-1P και 2532 CONJ ημεις 2249 P-1NP ινα 2443 CONJ αποθανωμεν 599 5632 V-2AAS-1P μετ 3326 PREP αυτου 846 P-GSM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
16. Didymus (Didumov). Not a surname of Thomas, but the Greek equivalent of the Aramaic name, twin. See on Mark iii. 18. The word occurs only in John's Gospel.Fellow-disciples (summaqhtaiv). Only here in the New Testament.
We may die. "He will die for the love which he has, but he will not affect the faith which he has not" (Westcott).
