Lazarus in the Bible actually refers to two different figures in the New Testament, both used to highlight themes of faith, reversal, and resurrection.

Two main Lazarus figures

1. Lazarus of Bethany (friend of Jesus)

This is the Lazarus most people think of. He appears in the Gospel of John, chapter 11.

  • He lived in Bethany, a village near Jerusalem.
  • He was the brother of Mary and Martha, a family that was close to Jesus.
  • His name means “whom God helps.”
  • When he became seriously ill, his sisters sent word to Jesus: “Lord, he whom you love is ill.”
  • Jesus deliberately delayed coming for two days; by the time He arrived, Lazarus had been dead and in the tomb for four days.

In John 11, Jesus meets Martha and Mary in their grief and makes a major claim about Himself: “I am the resurrection and the life.” He then goes to the tomb, has the stone removed, prays, and calls out, “Lazarus, come forth.” Lazarus walks out of the tomb still wrapped in burial cloths.

Christians see this story as:

  • A sign of Jesus’ divine authority over death.
  • A preview or foreshadowing of Jesus’ own resurrection.
  • A deeply personal story showing Jesus’ compassion—He weeps at Lazarus’ tomb before raising him.

The Gospel of John adds that many people believed in Jesus because of this miracle, and the religious leaders even considered killing Lazarus as well, because his story drew people to Jesus.

2. Lazarus the beggar (in a parable)

The second Lazarus appears in one of Jesus’ teachings, the parable of “the rich man and Lazarus” in Luke 16:19–31.

  • Lazarus is a poor, sick beggar lying at the gate of a rich man, longing for scraps from his table.
  • When they both die, the rich man ends up in torment (Hades), while Lazarus is carried to “Abraham’s side,” a place of comfort.
  • The rich man begs Abraham to send Lazarus to cool his tongue with a drop of water and later to warn his brothers, but Abraham says there is a great fixed gulf between them and that they already have “Moses and the Prophets.”

Key themes people draw from this parable:

  • A stark reversal of fortunes: the one who suffered on earth is comforted; the one who lived in luxury is in torment.
  • A warning about ignoring God, justice, and the needy while you have time.
  • The idea that even a miraculous sign (“someone rising from the dead”) will not convince those who refuse to listen to God’s word.

Some interpreters see this Lazarus as a character in a parable; others think it could reflect a real person Jesus used as an example. In any case, the message about eternal consequences and listening to God is central.

How both Lazaruses connect

Even though they appear in different contexts, the two Lazarus figures echo similar themes:

  • Reversal and hope beyond death (comfort for the poor Lazarus, resurrection for Lazarus of Bethany).
  • The seriousness of how we live and believe in this life.
  • The idea that God’s help and justice may not be fully seen until after death.

So, when someone asks “who is Lazarus in the Bible?” they might be referring either to:

  1. Lazarus of Bethany: the man Jesus raised from the dead in John 11, a close friend and brother of Mary and Martha; or
  2. Lazarus the beggar: the poor man in Jesus’ parable in Luke 16, used to teach about judgment, mercy, and the danger of ignoring God and the needy.

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