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Green's Literal Translation

John 5:3

In these was a great multitude of the infirm lying, blind ones, lame ones, withered ones, awaiting the stirring of the water.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Jesus, the Christ;   Miracles;   Thompson Chain Reference - Bible Stories for Children;   Children;   Home;   Pleasant Sunday Afternoons;   Religion;   Stories for Children;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - John, gospel of;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Miracle;   Sabbath;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Blind;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Blindness;   Jesus Christ;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Bethesda;   Blindness;   Diseases;   Halt;   Hour;   Impotent;   John, the Gospel of;   Sabbath;   Sign;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Folk;   Impotent;   Jesus Christ;   Medicine;   Trinity;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Bath, Bathing;   Bethesda;   Disease;   Halting;   Impotence;   Lame;   Multitude;   Physician (2);   Sinners;   Water (2);   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Various Readings;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Bethesda;   Chief parables and miracles in the bible;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Bethesda;   Diseases;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Jesus of Nazareth;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Bath;   Bethesda;   Folk;   Impotent;   Johannine Theology, the;   Text and Manuscripts of the New Testament;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Bethesda;   Blindness;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for February 1;  

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
Many sick people were lying on the porches beside the pool. Some of them were blind, some were crippled, and some were paralyzed.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
in which laye a greate multitude of sicke folke of blinde halt and wyddered waytinge for the movinge of the water.
Hebrew Names Version
In these lay a great multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, or paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water;
International Standard Version
and under these a large number of sick people were lying - blind, lame, or paralyzed - waiting for the movement of the water.waiting for the movement of the water">[fn]
New American Standard Bible
In these porticoes lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, limping, or paralyzed.
New Century Version
Many sick people were lying on the porches beside the pool. Some were blind, some were crippled, and some were paralyzed [, and they waited for the water to move.
Update Bible Version
In these lay a multitude of those that were sick, blind, halt, [and] withered.
Webster's Bible Translation
In these lay a great multitude of impotent persons, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
English Standard Version
In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be healed?" The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me." Jesus said to him, "Get up, take up your bed, and walk." And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, "It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed." But he answered them, "The man who healed me, that man said to me, ‘Take up your bed, and walk.' " They asked him, "Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk'?" Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, "See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you." The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. But Jesus answered them, "My Father is working until now, and I am working." This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. "Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. "I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me. If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true. You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,
World English Bible
In these lay a great multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, or paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water;
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
In these lay a great multitude of diseased, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
Weymouth's New Testament
In these there used to lie a great number of sick persons, and of people who were blind or lame or paralyzed.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
In these lay a greet multitude of sike men, blynde, crokid, and drie, abidynge the mouyng of the watir.
English Revised Version
In these lay a multitude of them that were sick, blind, halt, withered.
Berean Standard Bible
On these walkways lay a great number of the sick, the blind, the lame, and the paralyzed.
Contemporary English Version
Many sick, blind, lame, and crippled people were lying close to the pool.
Amplified Bible
In these porticoes lay a great number of people who were sick, blind, lame, withered, waiting for the stirring of the water;
American Standard Version
In these lay a multitude of them that were sick, blind, halt, withered. And a certain man was there, who had been thirty and eight years in his infirmity. When Jesus saw him lying, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wouldest thou be made whole? The sick man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. Jesus saith unto him, Arise, take up thy bed, and walk. And straightway the man was made whole, and took up his bed and walked. Now it was the sabbath on that day. So the Jews said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath, and it is not lawful for thee to take up thy bed. But he answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk. They asked him, Who is the man that said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk? But he that was healed knew not who it was; for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in the place. Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing befall thee. The man went away, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him whole. And for this cause the Jews persecuted Jesus, because he did these things on the sabbath. But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh even until now, and I work. For this cause therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only brake the sabbath, but also called God his own Father, making himself equal with God. Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father doing: for what things soever he doeth, these the Son also doeth in like manner. For the Father loveth the Son, and showeth him all things that himself doeth: and greater works than these will he show him, that ye may marvel. For as the Father raiseth the dead and giveth them life, even so the Son also giveth life to whom he will. For neither doth the Father judge any man, but he hath given all judgment unto the Son; that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father that sent him. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth him that sent me, hath eternal life, and cometh not into judgment, but hath passed out of death into life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour cometh, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself, even so gave he to the Son also to have life in himself: and he gave him authority to execute judgment, because he is a son of man. Marvel not at this: for the hour cometh, in which all that are in the tombs shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment. I can of myself do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is righteous; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. It is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true. Ye have sent unto John, and he hath borne witness unto the truth. But the witness which I receive is not from man: howbeit I say these things, that ye may be saved. He was the lamp that burneth and shineth; and ye were willing to rejoice for a season in his light. But the witness which I have is greater than that of John; for the works which the Father hath given me to accomplish, the very works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. And the Father that sent me, he hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his form. And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he sent, him ye believe not. Ye search the scriptures, because ye think that in them ye have eternal life; and these are they which bear witness of me;
Bible in Basic English
In these doorways there were a great number of people with different diseases: some unable to see, some without the power of walking, some with wasted bodies.
Complete Jewish Bible
in which lay a crowd of invalids — blind, lame, crippled.
Darby Translation
In these lay a multitude of sick, blind, lame, withered, [awaiting the moving of the water.
Etheridge Translation
And in these were many infirm people, [fn] blind and lame and withered, awaiting the moving of the waters.
Murdock Translation
And in them were laid a great multitude of the sick, and the blind, and the lame, and the withered, waiting for the moving of the waters.
King James Version (1611)
In these lay a great multitude of impotent folke, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the mouing of the water.
New Living Translation
Crowds of sick people—blind, lame, or paralyzed—lay on the porches.
New Life Bible
Inside these porches lay many sick people. Some were blind. Some could not walk. Some could not move their bodies.
New Revised Standard
In these lay many invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be made well?" The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; and while I am making my way, someone else steps down ahead of me." Jesus said to him, "Stand up, take your mat and walk." At once the man was made well, and he took up his mat and began to walk. Now that day was a sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who had been cured, "It is the sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your mat." But he answered them, "The man who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your mat and walk.'" They asked him, "Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take it up and walk'?" Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had disappeared in the crowd that was there. Later Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, "See, you have been made well! Do not sin any more, so that nothing worse happens to you." The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. Therefore the Jews started persecuting Jesus, because he was doing such things on the sabbath. But Jesus answered them, "My Father is still working, and I also am working." For this reason the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because he was not only breaking the sabbath, but was also calling God his own Father, thereby making himself equal to God. Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise. The Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing; and he will show him greater works than these, so that you will be astonished. Indeed, just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomever he wishes. The Father judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son, so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgment, but has passed from death to life. "Very truly, I tell you, the hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself; and he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not be astonished at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and will come out—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. "I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge; and my judgment is just, because I seek to do not my own will but the will of him who sent me. "If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who testifies on my behalf, and I know that his testimony to me is true. You sent messengers to John, and he testified to the truth. Not that I accept such human testimony, but I say these things so that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. But I have a testimony greater than John's. The works that the Father has given me to complete, the very works that I am doing, testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself testified on my behalf. You have never heard his voice or seen his form, and you do not have his word abiding in you, because you do not believe him whom he has sent. "You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that testify on my behalf.
Geneva Bible (1587)
In the which lay a great multitude of sicke folke, of blinde, halte, and withered, wayting for the mouing of the water.
George Lamsa Translation
And at these entrances a great many sick people were lying, the blind, the lame, and the crippled; and they were waiting for the water to be stirred up;
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
In these, was lying a throng of them who were sick, - blind, lame, withered.
Douay-Rheims Bible
In these lay a great multitude of sick, of blind, of lame, of withered: waiting for the moving of the water.
Revised Standard Version
In these lay a multitude of invalids, blind, lame, paralyzed.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
In which lay a great multitude of sicke folke, of blynde, halt, & wythered, waytyng for the mouyng of the water.
Good News Translation
A large crowd of sick people were lying on the porches—the blind, the lame, and the paralyzed.
Christian Standard Bible®
Within these lay a large number of the disabled—blind, lame, and paralyzed.
King James Version
In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
Lexham English Bible
In these were lying a large number of those who were sick, blind, lame, paralyzed. And a certain man was there who had been thirty-eight years in his sickness. Jesus, when he saw this one lying there and knew that he had been sick a long time already, said to him, "Do you want to become well?" The one who was sick answered him, "Sir, I do not have anyone that, whenever the water is stirred up, could put me into the pool. But while I am coming, another goes down before me." Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk!" And immediately the man became well and picked up his mat and began to walk. (Now it was the Sabbath on that day.) So the Jews were saying to the one who had been healed, "It is the Sabbath, and it is not permitted for you to pick up the mat!" But he answered them, "The one who made me well—that one said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk!'" So they asked him, "Who is the man who said to you, ‘Pick up your mat and walk?'" But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn while a crowd was in the place. After these things Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, "Look, you have become well! Sin no longer, lest something worse happen to you." The man went and reported to the Jews that Jesus was the one who made him well. And on account of this the Jews began to persecute Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. But he answered them, "My Father is working until now, and I am working." So on account of this the Jews were seeking even more to kill him, because he not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God his own Father, thus making himself equal with God. So Jesus answered and said to them, "Truly, truly I say to you, the Son can do nothing from himself except what he sees the Father doing. For whatever that one does, these things also the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything that he himself is doing. And greater works than these he will show him, so that you will be astonished. For just as the Father raises the dead and makes them alive, thus also the Son makes alive whomever he wishes. For the Father does not judge anyone, but he has given all judgment to the Son, in order that all people will honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. The one who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Truly, truly I say to you that the one who hears my word and who believes the one who sent me has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. "Truly, truly I say to you, that an hour is coming—and now is here—when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and the ones who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in himself, thus also he has granted to the Son to have life in himself. And he has granted him authority to carry out judgment, because he is the Son of Man. "Do not be astonished at this, because an hour is coming in which all those in the tombs will hear his voice and they will come out—those who have done good things to a resurrection of life, but those who have practiced evil things to a resurrection of judgment. I am able to do nothing from myself. Just as I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will, but the will of the one who sent me. "If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who testifies about me, and I know that the testimony which he testifies about me is true. You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. (And I do not receive testimony from people, but I say these things in order that you may be saved.) That one was the lamp which was burning and shining, and you wanted to rejoice for an hour in his light. "But I have a testimony greater than John's, for the works which the Father has given to me that I should complete them—the very works which I am doing—these testify about me, that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me, that one has testified about me. You have neither heard his voice at any time nor seen his form. And you do not have his word residing in yourselves, because the one whom that one sent, in this one you do not believe. You search the scriptures because you think that you have eternal life in them, and it is these that testify about me.
Young's Literal Translation
in these were lying a great multitude of the ailing, blind, lame, withered, waiting for the moving of the water,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
wherin laye many sicke, blynde, lame, wythred, which wayted, whan the water shulde moue.
Mace New Testament (1729)
where a great number of infirm, blind, lame, and paralytic people lay waiting for the moving of the water:
New English Translation
A great number of sick, blind, lame, and paralyzed people were lying in these walkways. Now a man was there who had been disabled for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and when he realized that the man had been disabled a long time already, he said to him, "Do you want to become well?" The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up. While I am trying to get into the water, someone else goes down there before me." Jesus said to him, "Stand up! Pick up your mat and walk." Immediately the man was healed, and he picked up his mat and started walking. (Now that day was a Sabbath.) So the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, "It is the Sabbath, and you are not permitted to carry your mat." But he answered them, "The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.'" They asked him, "Who is the man who said to you, ‘Pick up your mat and walk'?" But the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped out, since there was a crowd in that place. After this Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, "Look, you have become well. Don't sin any more, lest anything worse happen to you." The man went away and informed the Jewish leaders that Jesus was the one who had made him well. Now because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began persecuting him. So he told them, "My Father is working until now, and I too am working." For this reason the Jewish leaders were trying even harder to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was also calling God his own Father, thus making himself equal with God. So Jesus answered them, "I tell you the solemn truth, the Son can do nothing on his own initiative, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he does, and will show him greater deeds than these, so that you will be amazed. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomever he wishes. Furthermore, the Father does not judge anyone, but has assigned all judgment to the Son, so that all people will honor the Son just as they honor the Father. The one who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. "I tell you the solemn truth, the one who hears my message and believes the one who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned, but has crossed over from death to life. I tell you the solemn truth, a time is coming—and is now here—when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in himself, thus he has granted the Son to have life in himself, and he has granted the Son authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. "Do not be amazed at this, because a time is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and will come out—the ones who have done what is good to the resurrection resulting in life, and the ones who have done what is evil to the resurrection resulting in condemnation. I can do nothing on my own initiative. Just as I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will, but the will of the one who sent me. "If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who testifies about me, and I know the testimony he testifies about me is true. You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth. (I do not accept human testimony, but I say this so that you may be saved.) He was a lamp that was burning and shining, and you wanted to rejoice greatly for a short time in his light. "But I have a testimony greater than that from John. For the deeds that the Father has assigned me to complete—the deeds I am now doing—testify about me that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself testified about me. You people have never heard his voice nor seen his form at any time, nor do you have his word residing in you, because you do not believe the one whom he sent. You study the scriptures thoroughly because you think in them you possess eternal life, and it is these same scriptures that testify about me,
New King James Version
In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water.
Simplified Cowboy Version
Under these porch coverings lay the blind, lame, and paralyzed.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
In these lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered, [waiting for the moving of the waters;
Legacy Standard Bible
In these lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered, [waiting for the moving of the waters;

Contextual Overview

1 After these things, there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 And at Jerusalem is a pool at the Sheep Gate which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. 3 In these was a great multitude of the infirm lying, blind ones, lame ones, withered ones, awaiting the stirring of the water. 4 For an angel at a certain time descended in the pool and agitated the water. Then the one first entering after the agitation of the water became well, whatever disease he was held by. 5 But a certain man was there, being in infirmity thirty eight years. 6 Seeing him lying, and knowing that he had already spent much time, Jesus said to him, Do you desire to become well? 7 The infirm one answered Him, Lord, I do not have a man, that when the water is agitated he may throw me into the pool; but while I am coming, another goes down before me. 8 Jesus said to him, Rise up, Take up your cot and walk! 9 And instantly the man became well, and took up his cot and walked. And it was a sabbath that day. 10 Then the Jews said to the one having been healed, It is a sabbath. It is not lawful for you to lift up the cot.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

of blind: Matthew 15:30, Luke 7:22

withered: 1 Kings 13:4, Zechariah 11:17, Mark 3:1-4

waiting: Proverbs 8:34, Lamentations 3:26, Romans 8:25, James 5:7

Reciprocal: Matthew 12:10 - which Luke 6:6 - there Acts 14:8 - impotent

Cross-References

Genesis 4:25
And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son. And she called his name, Seth, for God has appointed to me another seed in place of Abel because Cain killed him.
Genesis 5:2
He created them male and female, and blessed them, and called their name Adam in the day when they were created.
Genesis 5:3
And Adam lived one hundred and thirty years and fathered a son in his own likeness, according to his image, and called his name Seth.
Genesis 5:14
And all the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years. And he died.
Genesis 5:16
And after he fathered Jared, Mahalaleel lived eight hundred and thirty years. And he fathered sons and daughters.
Job 14:4
Who gives a clean thing out of an unclean? No one!
Job 25:4
How then can man be justified with God? Or how can one who is born of a woman be pure?
Psalms 51:5
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.
Luke 1:35
And answering, the angel said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you, and for this reason that Holy One being born of you will be called Son of God.
John 3:6
That having been generated out of the flesh is flesh, and that having been generated out of the Spirit is spirit.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk,.... Sick and weak persons; who were an emblem of men under the law of works, and in a state of unregeneracy; who are enfeebled by sin, and are impotent and unable to do anything of themselves; as to keep the law of God, to which they have neither will nor power, and to atone for the transgressions of it; nor to redeem themselves from the curse of the law or to begin and carry on a work of grace upon their souls; or to do anything that is spiritually good; no, not to think a good thought, or to do a good action, as is required:

of blind; these also may represent men a state of nature, who are ignorant of, and blind to everything that is spiritual; as to the true knowledge of God in Christ, the way of salvation by him, the plague of their own hearts, and the exceeding sinfulness of sin; to the Spirit of God, and his work upon the soul; and to the truths of the Gospel, in the power of them:

halt, or "lame"; this word sometimes is used of persons in suspense about religious things, hesitating concerning them, halting between two opinions; and sometimes designs the infirmities of the saints, and their faulterings in religious exercises; and here maybe expressive in a figurative way, of the incapacity natural men, to go or walk of themselves; as to come to Christ for grace and life, which no man can do, except the Father draw him; or to walk by faith in him: it is added,

withered; one limb or another of them dried up: their arms or legs were withered, and their sinews shrunk, and were without radical moisture, or the free use of the animal spirits; and may point out carnal persons, such as are sensual, not having the Spirit, destitute of the grace of God, without faith, hope, love, knowledge, and the fear of God; without God, Christ, and the Spirit; and in a lifeless, helpless, hopeless, and perishing condition:

waiting for the moving of the water; hereafter mentioned: and so it is in providence, and a wonderful thing it is, that the hearts of so many unregenerate persons should be inclined to attend upon the outward means of grace, and should be waiting at Wisdom's gates, and watching at the posts of her door.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Impotent folk - Sick people; or people who were weak and feeble by long disease. The word means those who were “feeble” rather than those who were afflicted with “acute” disease.

Halt - Lame.

Withered - Those who were afflicted with one form of the palsy that withered or dried up the part affected. See the notes at Matthew 4:24.

Moving of the water - It appears that this pool had medicinal properties only when it was “agitated” or “stirred.” It is probable that at regular times or intervals the fountain put forth an unusual quantity of water, or water of special properties, and that “about” these times the people assembled in multitudes who were to be healed.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse John 5:3. Blind, halt, withered — To these the Codex Bezae, three copies of the Itala, and both the Persic, add παραλυτικων, paralytic; but they are probably included among the withered.

Waiting for the moving of the water. — This clause, with the whole of the fourth verse, is wanting in some MSS. and versions; but I think there is no sufficient evidence against their authenticity. Griesbach seems to be of the same opinion; for though he has marked the whole passage with the notes of doubtfulness, yet he has left it in the text. Some have imagined that the sanative virtue was communicated to the waters by washing in them the entrails of the beasts which were offered in sacrifice; and that the angel meant no more than merely a man sent to stir up from the bottom this corrupt sediment, which, being distributed through the water, the pores of the person who bathed in it were penetrated by this matter, and his disorder repelled! But this is a miserable shift to get rid of the power and goodness of God, built on the merest conjectures, self-contradictory, and every way as unlikely as it is insupportable. It has never yet been satisfactorily proved that the sacrifices were ever washed; and, could even this be proved, who can show that they were washed in the pool of Bethesda? These waters healed a man in a moment of whatsoever disease he had. Now, there is no one cause under heaven that can do this. Had only one kind of disorders been cured here, there might have been some countenance for this deistical conjecture-but this is not the case; and we are obliged to believe the relation just as it stands, and thus acknowledge the sovereign power and mercy of God, or take the desperate flight of an infidel, and thus get rid of the passage altogether.


 
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