Jewish Custom of Professional Mourners in John 11
The presence of professional mourners in John 11 reflects a well-established Jewish custom for expressing grief, particularly for the dead. When Jesus arrived in Bethany after Lazarus's death, "many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother" (John 11:19 ESV). These individuals were not merely friends and relatives but also included those hired to perform specific mourning rituals.
Mourning for the dead is frequently referenced in Scripture, with examples ranging from Abraham mourning for Sarah (Genesis 23:2) to David for Abner (2 Samuel 3:31, 35) [2]. The custom of mourning in the ancient Near East was characterized by its public nature and the careful observance of prescribed ceremonies [3]. These practices included rending clothes (Genesis 37:29, 34), dressing in sackcloth (Genesis 37:34; 2 Samuel 3:31), sprinkling ashes or dust on the person (2 Samuel 13:19; 15:32), and wearing black or sad-colored garments (2 Samuel 14:2; Jeremiah 8:21) [3, 4, 11]. Mourners would also remove ornaments or neglect their personal appearance [3].
The Jewish custom of mourning typically lasted about thirty days, with the first three days being days of intense weeping, followed by seven days of lamentation [6]. During these initial days, mourners would refrain from servile work and would not return greetings [6, 7]. Another customary practice for mourners was to avoid wearing shoes, as inferred from God's instruction to Ezekiel to wear his shoes during his mourning, which was a departure from the norm (Ezekiel 24:17) [12, 13]. While some pagan mourning practices involved self-mutilation, such as cutting flesh or tearing hair, these were forbidden for Jews (Jeremiah 16:6; Deuteronomy 14:1) [8, 9].
The "many Jews" who came to Martha and Mary in John 11:19 likely included both family friends and professional mourners, given the social standing of Lazarus's family [5]. Bethany was close to Jerusalem, making it accessible for many to attend [6]. The presence of these mourners underscores the depth of grief and the cultural expectations surrounding death in that society. The prophet Jeremiah alludes to the practice of professional mourners, describing how they would "weep for thee with bitterness of heart and bitter wailing" (Ezekiel 27:30), distinguishing them from genuine, heartfelt sorrow [10]. The book of Job also mentions mourners, indicating that "the mourners become very high in safety" (Job 5:11 LITV) [1].
The scene in John 11, with the sisters surrounded by mourners, sets the stage for Jesus's miraculous intervention. Their presence highlights the human experience of loss and the cultural rituals developed to cope with it, providing a stark contrast to Jesus's power over death.
Sources
- Job “Job 5:11 (LITV) — to set the lowly on high; yea, the mourners become very high in safety;”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Mourn — Frequent references are found in Scripture to, (1.) Mourning for the dead. Abraham mourned for Sarah (Gen. 23:2); Jacob for Joseph (37:34, 35); the Egyptians for Jacob (50:3-10); Israel for Aaron (Num. 20:29), for Moses (Deut. 34:8), and for Samuel (1 Sam. 25:1); David for Abner (2 Sam. 3:31, 35); Mary and Martha for Lazarus (John 11); devout men for Stephen (Acts 8:2), etc. (2.) For calamities, Job (1:20, 21; 2:8); Israel (Ex. 33:4); the Ninevites (Jonah 3:5); Israel, when defeated by Benjamin (Judg. 20:26), etc. (3.) Penitential mourning, by the Israelites ”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Mourning — One marked feature of Oriental mourning is what may be called its studies publicity and the careful observance of the prescribed ceremonies. (Genesis 23:2; Job 1:20; 2:12) + Among the particular forms observed the following may be mentioned: (a) Rending the clothes. (Genesis 37:29,34; 44:13) etc. (b) Dressing in sackcloth. (Genesis 37:34; 2 Samuel 3:31; 21:10) etc. (c) Ashes, dust or earth sprinkled on the person. (2 Samuel 13:19; 15:32) etc. (d) Black or sad-colored garments. (2 Samuel 14:2; Jeremiah 8:21) etc. (e) Removal of ornaments or neglect of person”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Dust — [[455]Mourning]”
- John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on John 11:19: And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary,.... Or "to those that were about Martha and Mary"; in order to have access to them, they came to them, and to the rest of the family; though the phrase may design them only, as the Vulgate Latin, and all the Oriental versions read: these Jews, as appears from the context, Joh 11:18, came from Jerusalem, and might be some of the principal inhabitants; and it may be concluded, that these persons, Lazarus, Martha, and Mary, were people of note and figure; and indeed all the accounts of them here, and elsewhere, show the same; ”
- John (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on John 11:19: Many of the Jews came - Bethany being so nigh to Jerusalem, many of the relatives and friends of the family came, according to the Jewish custom, to mourn with the afflicted sisters. Mourning, among the Jews, lasted about thirty days: the three first days were termed days of weeping: then followed seven of lamentation. During the three days, the mourner did no servile work; and, if any one saluted him, he did not return the salutation. During the seven days, he did no servile work, except in private - lay with his bed on the floor - did not put on his sandals - did n”
- Ezekiel (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ezekiel 24:16: Forbear to cry,.... Groan or howl, or make any doleful noise: or, "be silent" (x): which the Talmudists (y) interpret of not greeting any person: make no mourning for the dead; use none of those rites and ceremonies commonly observed for deceased relations and friends, particularly and especially for a wife; who is one of the seven persons for whom mourning is to be made, according to the Jewish canons (z); and which the ties of nature, nearness of relation, and especially mutual and cordial affection, where that has taken place, require; and though a wife is not ”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) on Jeremiah 16:6: and they shall not cut their flesh nor shall they tear their hair for them It is the custom of mourners to cut and tear their flesh and to tear their hair our of their head. In any case, it is forbidden for Jews, but he mentions it here only as an example of mourning.”
- Deuteronomy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Deuteronomy 14 (introduction): GOD'S PEOPLE MUST NOT DISFIGURE THEMSELVES IN MOURNING. (Deu 14:1-2) ye shall not cut yourselves . . . for the dead--It was a common practice of idolaters, both on ceremonious occasions of their worship (Kg1 18:28), and at funerals (compare Jer 16:6; Jer 41:5), to make ghastly incisions on their faces and other parts of their persons with their finger nails or sharp instruments. The making a large bare space between the eyebrows was another heathen custom in honor of the dead (see on Lev 19:27-28; Lev 21:5). Such indecorous and degra”
- Ezekiel (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ezekiel 27:30: And they shall make themselves utterly bald for thee,.... Either by shaving their heads, or tearing off their hair, as mourners in distress have been used to do: and gird them with sackcloth; about their loins, as was very customary in such distressed cases: and they shall weep for thee with bitterness of heart and bitter wailing; not in show only, but in reality; not like the "preficae" or mourning women, though the allusion may be to them, who only mourned outwardly; but these from the very heart, and in great bitterness of spirit this is expressive of the inw”
- Jeremiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Jeremiah 4:28: 4:28 At funerals in Hebrew society, it was customary for people to mourn and be draped in black (cp. Isa 5:30; 50:3). The Lord had determined the people’s guilt, and he promised to be true to his word (Jer 5:10; 30:11, 24; Isa 5:30; 46:10-11).”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Moed Katan 15b.7: § The Gemara moves to the next topic: A mourner is prohibited from wearing shoes. Since the Merciful One says to Ezekiel with regard to how his mourning rites should differ from the accepted custom: “And put your shoes upon your feet” (Ezekiel 24:17), which shows by inference that everyone else, i.e., all other mourners, is prohibited from wearing shoes.”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Moed Katan 58b.30:7: § The Gemara moves to the next topic: A mourner is prohibited from wearing shoes. Since the Merciful One says to Ezekiel with regard to how his mourning rites should differ from the accepted custom: “And put your shoes upon your feet” (Ezekiel 24:17), which shows by inference that everyone else, i.e., all other mourners, is prohibited from wearing shoes.”