Adam Clarke, on John 11:11

“These things he said; and after that he said to them: Lazarus our friend sleepeth; but I go that I may awake him out of sleep.”

“Lazarus sleepeth - It was very common among the Jews to express death by sleep; and the expression, falling asleep - sleeping with their fathers, etc., were in great use among them. The Hebrews probably used this form of speech to signify their belief in the immortality of the soul, and the resurrection of the body. It is certain that our Lord received no intimation of Lazarus's death from any person, and that he knew it through that power by which he knows all things.”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.