How does lazarus die: 5 essential facts and complete guide
how does lazarus die
For many readers of the New Testament, the question how does Lazarus die opens a doorway into one of the Gospel of John’s most powerful episodes. Lazarus of Bethany is the man whom Jesus famously brings back from the dead. Yet, beyond that extraordinary miracle, people still wonder: how did Lazarus die the first time, and what, if anything, do we really know about his second death?
This article offers a clear, evidence-based explanation for adults curious about the biblical narrative, early Christian tradition and what historians say today. We will explore the scriptural account, why the story matters, the role later traditions play, and where reliable resources can help you learn more. By the end, you will understand the best possible answer to “how does Lazarus die”, and just as importantly, what we cannot state with certainty.
How does Lazarus die in the Bible? The two-deaths question
At the simplest level, the Bible’s answer to how does Lazarus die is direct the first time: Lazarus becomes ill and dies at Bethany, a village near Jerusalem. His sisters, Mary and Martha, send for Jesus. After four days in the tomb, Lazarus is raised by Jesus in a sign that reveals divine authority over death itself (John 11).
The more challenging part of how does Lazarus die concerns the second time. The Gospel of John, which is our main source for the story, does not record the later death of Lazarus after his resurrection. That silence has led to many questions and diverse traditions, which we will examine below.
Who was Lazarus of Bethany?
Lazarus of Bethany appears primarily in John 11–12. He is the brother of Mary (traditionally identified as the woman who anointed Jesus) and Martha, and is described as a friend of Jesus. The story is pastoral, domestic and emotional: a family in grief, a community mourning, and Jesus deeply moved—he even weeps (John 11:35), showing empathy and love in the face of death. This context helps us understand why people keep asking how does Lazarus die and why it matters; the story is both a human drama and a theological sign.
The first time: how does Lazarus die according to John 11?
The text presents Lazarus falling ill—no cause is specified—and dying. Illness and death were common realities in first-century Judea, and the Gospel focuses on the meaning rather than the medical details. The question “how does Lazarus die” is answered in this initial episode by simple illness leading to death.
When Jesus arrives, Lazarus has been dead four days. In Jewish thought of the period, this underlined that death was final; there would be no mistake about his condition. Jesus then calls Lazarus out of the tomb. The miracle is a dramatic sign of Jesus’ identity and mission: “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25). The narrative emphasises faith, hope and the glory of God revealed through suffering, rather than the pathology of what caused Lazarus to die.
The miracle and its purpose
John’s Gospel frequently presents miracles as “signs” pointing beyond themselves. The raising of Lazarus is not only about one man’s return to life; it points forward to Jesus’s own death and resurrection. For readers pondering how does Lazarus die, it is helpful to see the first death as the setting for a revelation of divine compassion and power, and for the deep human response of grief, faith and renewed life.
Aftermath: plans to kill Lazarus
Interestingly, the Gospel does mention that the chief priests planned to kill Lazarus because many were believing in Jesus on account of him (John 12:10–11). This demonstrates the social and political tension caused by the miracle. However, the scripture does not tell us that these plans succeeded. So if we ask how does Lazarus die the second time, the biblical text does not say; it leaves that question open.
Does the Bible say how Lazarus dies the second time?
No. The New Testament does not specify how, when or where Lazarus died after his resurrection. If you are looking for a definitive biblical answer to how does Lazarus die (the second time), it simply is not recorded. This silence is significant: the evangelist’s purpose is to witness to Jesus, not to provide a full biography of Lazarus.
Because the Bible is silent, later Christian communities preserved different traditions about Lazarus’s later life and death. These traditions are meaningful to many believers, but they carry different levels of historical probability. Understanding those traditions will help you interpret what can responsibly be said about how does Lazarus die.
Later traditions about the second death
When trying to answer how does Lazarus die beyond scripture, we enter the realm of tradition. Christian memory and local churches often kept stories alive, some with historical roots and others legendary. Two main streams developed in East and West, and they give different accounts of where Lazarus lived and died after the events in John 11–12.
Cyprus tradition: Bishop of Kition and a natural death
In the Eastern Christian tradition, Lazarus is said to have fled Judea after the events surrounding Jesus’s death and resurrection, eventually settling in Cyprus. There, according to this account, the apostles ordained him as the first bishop of Kition (modern Larnaca). This tradition holds that Lazarus lived a further thirty years and died a natural death. If you ask how does Lazarus die in this Eastern narrative, the answer is peacefully, after a long ministry. Larnaca’s Church of Saint Lazarus is closely associated with this heritage, and an inscription connected with his supposed second tomb reportedly read “Lazarus, friend of Christ.”
Provençal tradition: Marseille, preaching and martyrdom?
In some Western medieval traditions, Lazarus travelled to Provence (in modern-day France), sometimes in company with figures such as Mary Magdalene and Martha. One strand suggests he became the first bishop of Marseille and died a martyr, though historians often view this as a later legendary development or a conflation with other saints bearing similar names. As such, if someone asks how does Lazarus die in the Western tradition, the answer varies: some sources say martyrdom; others propose a quiet death after a life of preaching. Modern scholarship typically treats the Provençal accounts with caution.
Archaeology, relics and what they tell us
Physical evidence associated with Lazarus focuses on Cyprus, especially Larnaca. Traditions speak of relics transferred to Constantinople in the ninth century and later movements during turbulent periods. For those asking how does Lazarus die and seeking a historical anchor, it is fair to say that the Eastern tradition offers the more continuous line of devotion centred on Larnaca, though absolute proof is beyond reach. What this does provide is a window into how communities remembered Lazarus and shaped their identity around his story.
How Christians interpret the question “how does Lazarus die” today
For many believers, the value of asking how does Lazarus die lies not in satisfying a historical curiosity but in reflecting on mortality, hope and faith. The first death shows the fragility of human life and the reality of grief; Jesus’s response shows compassion and divine power. Debates about the second death highlight a broader truth: every human being, even those miraculously restored, remains mortal. Lazarus’s story is not meant to eclipse Jesus’s own resurrection but to illuminate it.
In pastoral terms, how does Lazarus die encourages us to see that faith is lived in ordinary suffering, within families and communities who mourn together. The story also invites a healthier relationship with unanswered questions. Not everything we would like to know is recorded; what we have is sufficient for its purpose, according to the Gospel writer.
Common misconceptions about how does lazarus die
- Misconception: The Bible explains exactly how does Lazarus die the second time. Reality: Scripture is silent about his later death, though it notes that some leaders plotted to kill him.
- Misconception: Lazarus of Bethany is the same as the Lazarus in Jesus’s parable (Luke 16). Reality: The parable’s Lazarus is a fictional character in a story illustrating moral and spiritual truths; the Gospel of John presents Lazarus of Bethany as a historical figure.
- Misconception: Because some traditions say martyrdom, that must be what happened. Reality: When we ask how does Lazarus die according to reliable history, the Eastern tradition of a peaceful death in Cyprus is better attested in Christian memory, but still not provable to modern historical standards.
- Misconception: The miracle means Lazarus became immortal. Reality: The miracle restored him to ordinary mortal life; only Jesus’s resurrection is presented in the New Testament as a transformation beyond death in a unique way.
What we can and cannot say with confidence
We can say with confidence that the Bible answers how does Lazarus die the first time: he dies after an illness, is buried for four days and is raised by Jesus in Bethany. We can also say that the New Testament does not tell us how he died later, and that diverse traditions tried to fill this gap. The Eastern line locates his later life in Cyprus and his death as natural; Western legends propose Provence and sometimes martyrdom. Responsible readers should distinguish between scriptural testimony, later tradition and modern historical likelihood.
Recommended external resources
- Encyclopaedia Britannica overview of Lazarus of Bethany for a concise, reputable summary of the figure and his significance.
- Gospel of John, chapter 11 (NIVUK) on Bible Gateway to read the primary biblical account of Lazarus’s death and raising.
- Wikipedia’s Lazarus of Bethany page for a broad review of traditions, references and links for further study.
- Church of Saint Lazarus in Larnaca for the Eastern tradition related to his supposed second tomb and veneration.
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Frequently asked questions about how does lazarus die
Is the Lazarus in the parable of the rich man the same as Lazarus of Bethany?
No. The parable in Luke 16 features a poor man named Lazarus as part of a moral story about wealth, compassion and the afterlife; he is not presented as a historical individual we can trace. Lazarus of Bethany, by contrast, appears in John’s Gospel as a real person in a specific place, with family and friends, whose death and raising are narrated as events. Mixing the two leads to confusion when asking how does Lazarus die.
How does Lazarus die after the miracle in John 11?
Scripture does not say. The most widely held Eastern Christian tradition is that he later lived in Cyprus and died a natural death after serving as bishop of Kition. Some Western legends suggest Provence and even martyrdom, but these accounts are considered less historically secure. Anyone asking how does Lazarus die the second time should treat these traditions respectfully yet carefully.
Why did Jesus weep if he knew he would raise Lazarus?
John 11:35 (“Jesus wept”) shows compassionate identification with human grief and love for Lazarus and his sisters. Even if Jesus knew he would raise Lazarus, the tears express genuine sorrow at death’s reality and the pain it causes. The question how does Lazarus die is closely connected to the deeper theme: divine love present amid loss.
Did people really plot to kill Lazarus after his resurrection?
Yes, according to John 12:10–11, some religious leaders planned to kill him because many were believing in Jesus due to the sign. However, the Gospel does not record whether that plot succeeded. We therefore cannot use the plot to settle how does Lazarus die.
Where is Lazarus buried?
John 11 places his first tomb in Bethany. Eastern tradition associates his later burial with Larnaca (ancient Kition) in Cyprus, commemorated by the Church of Saint Lazarus. Western traditions suggest Provence, but these are debated. Thus, like the question how does Lazarus die the second time, the precise location of his second burial is a matter of tradition rather than certain history.
Is there historical evidence for Lazarus becoming a bishop?
The tradition that Lazarus served as bishop of Kition is venerable in the East and tied to local veneration and narratives about relics. From a modern historical point of view, such claims are part of ecclesial memory rather than confirmed by contemporary records. When discussing how does Lazarus die and what he did later, it is best to distinguish devotional tradition from verifiable history.
Conclusion on how does lazarus die
So, how does Lazarus die? The Bible offers a clear first answer: he dies of an illness in Bethany and is raised by Jesus after four days in the tomb. That is the bedrock narrative of John 11, which presents his death and restoration as a sign pointing to Jesus’s identity as the resurrection and the life.
Beyond that, scripture is silent. Later traditions developed to answer how does Lazarus die the second time. The Eastern Christian story places him in Cyprus as bishop of Kition and says he died a natural death; some Western legends move him to Provence and speak of martyrdom. These traditions matter for faith communities, but they sit at different levels of historical likelihood.
If your concern is theological meaning, the key takeaway is that Lazarus’s story brings comfort and hope: Jesus faces death with compassion and authority. If your interest is historical, you can responsibly say that the first death is biblically documented while the second remains unrecorded and preserved through varied traditions. In both cases, asking how does Lazarus die invites us to read attentively, respect the sources, and appreciate how a single story continues to shape faith, memory and reflection.
Finally, remember that the point of Lazarus’s story is not to satisfy every curiosity but to guide us towards trust and understanding. How does Lazarus die is therefore a doorway to deeper questions about life, mortality and the promise of renewal that Christians find at the heart of the Gospel.
