Charles Ellicott Commentary John 11:43

"And when he had thus spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth." — John 11:43 (ASV)

He cried with a loud voice.—Compare to John 5:25; John 5:28, and Notes there. These verses lead to the opinion that it was at the moment of the cry, and not before, as some have thought, that life returned. This is the only passage where the word rendered “cried” is used of our Lord. (Compare to Matthew 12:19.) It occurs again in this Gospel in John 12:13; John 18:40; John 19:6; John 19:12; John 19:15.

Lazarus, come forth.—He addresses him as we should address a friend whom we wished to arouse from sleep—by his name, which is the most familiar of all sounds and marks his personality. (Compare to John 20:16.) Literally, the Greek means, Lazarus, Here, out! and contains no verb. There is an appropriateness in these words as addressed to one already lying in the tomb. Compare to Young man, I say unto thee, Arise (Luke 7:15), and Maid, arise (Luke 8:54).