Bible Commentaries
John 5

Verse 1

After, &c. A phrase common in John. See John 21:1 . Ten times in the Revelation.

After . Greek. meta. App-104 .

this = these things,

a feast. Perhaps Purim, but uncertain.

the Jews. See note on John 2:13 .

Jesus. See App-98 .

to. Greek. eis. App-104 .

Verse 2

at = in. Greek.

en. App-104 .

by = upon, or at. Greek. epi. App-104 .

market, or gate . Compare Nehemiah 3:1 , Nehemiah 3:32 ; Nehemiah 12:39 , and App-68 . Joh 15:40 .

which is called. Greek. epilegomai. Only here and Acts

Bethesda . Aramaic. App-93 . Compare Siloam in the sixth sign, App-176 .

porches = arches, i, e. a colonnade, or cloister. Greek. stoa. Occurs only here, John 10:23 .Acts 3:11 ; Acts 5:12 . The Eng. "porch" is from the French porche, Latin. porticum = a gallery or door. All from Latin. portare = to carry-the wall being carried over by an arch.

Verse 3

In. Greek. en. App-104 .

halt = lame. Eng. from Anglo-Saxon healt = stop, be-cause of having to stop frequently from lameness.

waiting . From this word to the end of John 5:4 is omitted by T Tr. A WH R, but not the Syriac (see App-94 . note 3). If it be an addition it must have been a marginal note to explain the "troubling "of John 5:7 , which gradually got into the text.

Verse 4

For an angel. The water was intermittent from the upper springs of the waters of Gihon (see App-68 , and 2 Chronicles 32:33 , Revised Version) The common belief of the man expressed in John 5:7 is hereby described. All will be clear, if we insert a parenthesis, thus: "For [it was said that] an angel", &c.

at a certain season = from time to time. Greek. kata ( App-104 . kairon .

into. Greek. en. App-104 .

troubled . Greek. tarasso. Compare John 11:33 ; John 12:27 ; John 13:21 ; John 14:1 , John 14:27 .

whole = well or sound. Greek. hugies. Seven times in John. Compare John 7:23 .

he had = held him fast. See note on "withholdeth", 2 Thessalonians 2:6 .

Verse 5

And, &c. See App-176 .

man. Greek anthropos. App-123 .

thirty and eight years . The period of the wanderings. Compare "from birth", John 9:1 .

Verse 6

saw = seeing. App-133 . The Lord, in this and the sixth sign, takes the initiative (John 9:1 ).

knew = knowing. App-132 . See note on John 1:10 . Not the same word as in John 5:32 . a long time. Compare John 9:2 .

Wilt thou = Desirest thou to. Greek. thelo. App-102 .

Verse 7

Sir . Greek. kurios . App-98 . B. b. Supply the Ellipsis thus: "Sir [I am indeed willing, but] I have, "&c.

no. Greek. ou. App-105 .

to = in order that (Greek. hina) he may.

time = when.

into . Greek. eis. App-104 .

while = in (Greek. en) the

another . App-124 .

before . Greek. pro. App-104 .

Verse 8

Rise . App-178 .

The third sign . See App-176 .

bed . A rough cotton wool quilt called to-day khaf, the poor man's bed. The Greek krabbaton is a Latin word meaning a "pallet".

Verse 9

on . Greek. en. App-104 .

the same day . . . sabbath = that day a Sabbath. Compare John 9:14 and App-176 . This seems to imply that it was not the weekly sabbath, but the same as John 19:31 . See App-156 .

Verse 10

was cured = had been healed.

the sabbath day = a sabbath.

it is not lawful . A forced interpretation of Jeremiah 17:21 , &c., by the Rabbis, made the carrying of anything from a public place into a private place, or vice versa, unlawful (Talmud, Sabb. 6. a).

not. Greek ou. App-105 . Not the same word as in verses: John 5:23 , John 5:28 , John 5:45 .

carry = take up, as in John 5:8 .

Verse 11

the same = that one there. Greek. ekeinos, emph.

Verse 12

asked . Greek. erotao. App-134 .

What man . . . ? = Who is the man . . . ?

Verse 13

And = But.

was healed = had been healed.

wist = knew. App-132 . Anglo-Saxon wit an = to know.

conveyed Himself away = turned aside, as if to avoid a blow. Greek ekneuo. Occurs only here.

multitude = crowd.

that = the.

Verse 14

Afterward =

After these things. See note on John 5:1 .

findeth . Compare John 9:35 . See App-176 .

temple = the temple courts. See note on Matthew 23:16 .

Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

art made = hast become.

sin, &c. = continue no longer (Greek. meketi) in sin.

sin. Greek. hamartano. App-128 . See John 9:24 , John 9:25 , John 9:31 , John 9:34 . App-176 .

lest = in order that . . . not Greek.

me. App-105 .

come unto thee = happen to thee, or befall thee.

Verse 16

therefore = on account of (Greek. dia. App-104 .John 5:2; John 5:2 ) this.

did . . . persecute = began to persecute. Beginning of open hostility.

sought = were seeking. Most texts, not Syriac, omit this clause.

Verse 17

My Father . See note on John 2:16 .

worketh . Compare John 9:4 , and see App-176 .

hitherto until now ; referring to the O.T. Dispensation. Now Jehovah was speaking "by His Son "(Hebrews 1:2 ).

and I work = I also am working [now].

Verse 18

to kill Him . Note three attempts on the Lord's life, all connected with His claim to Deity, here; John 8:58 , Joh 8:69 ; John 10:30 , John 10:31 .

because He not only. The 1611 edition of the Authorized Version reads "not only because He".

had broken = was breaking.

said also that God was His Father = -also called God His own Father.

God. App-98 .

His = His own.

Verse 19

Then = Therefore.

Verily, verily. The fifth occurance. See note on John 1:51 .

do . His works were like His words. See note on John 7:16 .

nothing . Greek. ou ouden. A double negative.

of = from. Greek. apo. App-104 .

but = if not. Greek. ean me.

seeth. Greek. blepo. App-133 .

the Father . See note on John 1:14 .

do = doing.

these also . Read "also "after "Son".

likewise = in like manner.

Verse 20

loveth . Greek phileo. One of the characteristic words of this Gospel. See page 1511, and App-135 .

works . See note on John 4:34 .

that = in order that. Greek. Nina.

Verse 21

raiseth = awaketh. Greek egeiro. App-178 .

the dead = corpses. See App-139 .

quickeneth = giveth life to. Occurs in John only here, twice, and John 6:63 . Then universally believed by the Jews.

them. Supply the Ellipsis (complex, App-6 .), thus: "quickeneth [whom He will]; so the Son also [raiseth the dead, and] quickeneth whom He will. "

the Son = the Son also.

Verse 22

For . . . no man = For not even . . . any

one . Greek. oude oudeis. A double negative.

judgeth . One of the characteristic words of this Gospel. See App-122 and the Characteristic Words chart for John book comments.

committed = given.

judgment . Greek. krisis. App-177 .

Verse 23

even as . Greek kathos.

not . Greek one. App-105 .

sent . Greek pempo. App-174 . One of the characteristic words of this Gospel. See note on John 1:22 and the Characteristic Words chart for John book comments.

Verse 24

word. Greek. logos. See note on Mark 9:32 .

believeth on . See App-150 .

everlasting. Greek aionios. App-161 .

life . See note on John 1:4 .

condemnation = judgment, as in John 5:22 .

is = has.

from = out of. Greek. ek. App-104 .

unto . Same as "into", above.

Verse 25

The hour = An hour. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Part), App-6 , for a definite and special time. now is. Because, had the nation repented, "all that the prophets had spoken" would have been fulfilled according to Acts 3:21 , including the resurrection foretold in Ezekiel 37:0 , and Isaiah 26:19 , &c.

the Son of God. App-98 . This title is associated with resurrection, as in John 5:27 judgment is with the Son of man.

shall live. See note on John 4:50 .

Verse 26

as = even as. Greek. hosper.

hath He given = He gave (in eternity past).

Verse 27

authority . Greek. exousia. See App-172 .

the Son of man (see App-98 ). The only occurance in John without the Article (except Revelation 1:13 ; Revelation 14:14 ). Compare Daniel 7:13 .

Verse 28

the graves = the tombs. Therefore they are not in heaven or hell.

Verse 29

done = wrought. Greek. poieo = accomplished (referring to the object, aim or end of the act), and generally associated with good.

good = good things (Plural)

the = a. resurrection. Greek. anastasis. App-178 .

done (Greek. prasso. Compare John 3:20 , John 3:21 ) = practised (referring to the means by which the object is obtained) and is associated with evil, as are four out of six occurrences of the noun praxis (= deed), Matthew 16:27 . Luke 23:51 .Acts 19:18 . Romans 8:13 ; Romans 12:4 .Colossians 3:9 .

evil = evil things (plural) Same word as in John 3:20 .

damnation = judgment. Greek. krisis, as in John 5:22 .

Verse 30

will. Greek. thelema. App-102 .

the Father . All the texts read "Him".

Verse 31

If. Assuming the condition, where experience will decide. App-118 .

I. Emphatic = I alone.

bear witness . See note on John 1:7 .

of = concerning. Greek. peri. App-104 . The emphasis being on "Myself". Greek. emautou.

witness . See note on John 1:7 .

true . App-175 . Referring to Deuteronomy 19:15 . Compare John 8:14 . See p. 1511.

Verse 32

There is . See John 5:31 with John 7:28 ; John 8:26 .

know. Greek. oida. App-132 .

Verse 33

sent = have sent. Greek. apostello. App-174 . unto. Greek. pros. App-104 .

he bare = he hath borne.

truth. See note on John 1:14 .

Verse 34

from . Greek. para. App-104 .

Verse 35

a . . . light = the . . . lamp. Greek. luchnos. App-130 . A common Rabbinic idiom for a famous man. In contrast with Christ (John 8:12 ).

for. Greek. pros. App-104 .

season . Greek. hour, put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), App-6 , for a brief period. Compare John 12:23 .

light. Greek. phos. App-130 .

Verse 36

greater witness = the witness, greater.

to finish = in order that I should complete them.

Verse 37

hath sent = sent (at a definite time).

hath borne . And still bears.

neither . . . nor. Greek. oute . . . oute.

seen. Greek. horao. App-133 .

shape = form. Greek. eidos. Compare Luke 3:22 ; Luke 9:39 .

Verse 38

abiding . See note on John 1:32 .

hath sent = sent.

Verse 39

Search . Greek. ereunao = to search as a lion or hound tracks by the scent. Not the same word as in Acts 17:11 . Here the Verb may be the imperative or indicative mood; but the indicative never commences a sentence without the pronoun or some other word, while the imperative is so used. See John 7:52 ; John 14:11 (Believe); John 15:20 (Remember).

the scriptures = the (sacred) writings.

eternal. App-151 . as in John 5:24 .

testify . See note on John 1:7 .

Verse 40

will not come = do not will (John 5:6 ) to come.

to. Greek. pros. App-104 .

might = may.

Verse 41

honour . Greek. doxa = approval, here, as in John 5:44 ; or "praise", as in John 9:21 ; John 12:43 . 1 Peter 4:11 . See p. 1511.

Verse 42

love of God = love toward God. Genitive of Relation. App-17 . Occurs in the Gospels elsewhere only in Luke 11:42 .

you = yourselves, as in John 6:53 .Mark 4:17 . 1 John 5:10 .

Verse 43

him , &c. Compare 2 Thessalonians 2:4 .

Verse 44

believe . App-150 .

one of another = from (Greek. para. App-104 ) one another.

the. Note the Art. here, and not in the preceding clause.

God only = the only God ( App-98 .) Compare 1 Timothy 1:17 .

Verse 45

Moses. See note on John 1:17 .

in = on. Greek. eis. App-104 .

ye trust = ye have set your hope.

Verse 46

had ye = if ( App-118 . a) ye had.

wrote . See App-47 .

Me . See note on Luke 24:27 .

Verse 47

if . App-118 .

writings. Greek. Plural of gramma = letters, used of written characters, or of a document. For the former, see Luke 23:38 . 2 Corinthians 3:7 ; or the letter of Scripture contrasted with its spirit (Romans 2:27 , Romans 2:29 ; Romans 7:6 . 2 Corinthians 3:6 ). For the latter see Luke 16:6 , Luke 16:7 (where it is a debtor's account), and Acts 28:21 (where it is an ordinary letter). in John 7:15 and Acts 26:24 , it is used for learning (compare Isaiah 29:11 , Isaiah 29:12 .Acts 4:13; Acts 4:13 ). In 2 Timothy 3:15 it is used for the sacred writings as a whole. Hence the Scribes were called grammateis.

words . Greek. rhema (plural) See note on Mark 9:32 .