Note 16 at Jn. 11:33: The Greek word that is translated "groaned" in this verse is "embrimaomai," which is a combination of two words, "en," meaning "in" and "brime," meaning "strength."

It can also mean to snort with anger as a horse would. These words express Jesus being deeply moved, but not necessarily with sorrow. It was more a groan of anger at Satan who had caused all this grief that Jesus was seeing around Him. Jesus came to "destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil" (Heb. 2:14), and He was grieved to see the pain that His enemy had inflicted on those He loved.

This is the type of groaning that the Holy Spirit does for us (Rom. 8:26). It is not just the Holy Spirit sympathizing with us, but it is the Holy Spirit doing battle for us when we don't know how to pray. In this case, it was the Holy Spirit doing battle through Jesus against death and the doubt of those present that would have kept Lazarus in the grave.

Note 17 at Jn. 11:33: The Greek word used for "troubled" in this verse is "tarasso," which means "to stir or agitate." Many translations render it, "He troubled Himself." This is akin to the way the word "groaned" was used in this verse (see note 16 at this verse, above). Jesus was not troubled in the sense that He was worried or perplexed. He had a righteous anger towards death and its devastation.