John 11:13

(Now Jesus had been talking about ¹  his death, but they ²  thought he had been talking about real sleep.) ³ 

Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.

Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking of literal sleep.

They thought Jesus meant Lazarus was having a good night’s rest, but Jesus meant Lazarus had died.

Jesus was talking about death, while his disciples thought he was talking about taking a nap.

Jesus, however, was talking of his death: but they had the idea that he was talking about taking rest in sleep.

Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he was referring merely to sleep.

However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep.

(Now Jesus had been talking about ¹  his death, but they ²  thought he had been talking about real sleep.) ³ 

¹ tn Or “speaking about.”

² tn Grk “these.”

³ tn Grk “the sleep of slumber”; this is a redundant expression to emphasize physical sleep as opposed to death.

sn This is a parenthetical note by the author.