John 5:3 NIV

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - John 5:1-47

Bethesda. Christ and the Sabbath1-47. A miracle at the Pool of Bethesda on the Sabbath Day, and a controversy arising therefrom. This miracle may be regarded as a parable illustrating the deadly effects of sin, and the power of the Saviour to deal with the most hopeless cases. This poor man in his youth had shattered his nervous system by a life of sensual indulgence (John 5:14), and had lain for thirty-eight years a hopeless paralytic (John 5:5). This being an extreme case, the usual order of... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - John 5:3

(3) In these lay a great multitude.—The word “great” before multitude, and the latter clause of the verse “waiting for the moving of the water,” and the whole of John 5:4, is omitted by most of the oldest MSS., including the Sinaitic and the Vatican, and is judged to be no part of the original text by a consensus of modern editors, including Tischendorf, Tregelles, Alford, and Westcott and Hort. It is interesting to note how a gloss like this has found its way into the narrative, and, for... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - John 5:1-47

Bethesda , the House of Mercy John 5:2-3 I. I ask you to look, first, at that sad, sick crowd. There was gathered a 'great multitude of impotent folk, blind, halt, withered'. That is a parable of humanity, looked at from the highest point of view, and considered in the deepest reality of their condition. The world is a sad world; but that is not the deepest thought about it. (1) Men are sinners, and therefore they are sorrowful. (2) The disease is universal. (3) This disease is unconscious.... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - John 5:1-14

Chapter 12SABBATH CURE AT BETHESDA.“After these things there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a multitude of them that were sick, blind, halt, withered. And a certain man was there, which 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... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - John 5:1-47

CHAPTER 5 1. The Healing of the Impotent Man. (John 5:1-9 .) 2. The Opposition of the Jews. (John 5:10-18 .) 3. His Unity with the Father. (John 5:19-23 .) 4. The Present Hour. Believers Delivered from Death and Judgment. (John 5:24-25 .) 5. The Future Hour. His Power to Raise the Dead. (John 5:26-29 .) 6. Witness Concerning Himself. (John 5:30-32 .) 7. The Witness of John. (John 5:33-35 .) 8. The Witness of His Works. (John 5:36 .) 9. The Witness of the Father. (John 5:37-38 .) 10.... read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - John 5:1-47

AGAIN IN JERUSALEM: THE POOL OF BETHESDA (vs.1-15) Once more we find the Lord Jesus visiting Jerusalem, and as in Chapter 2:13 the feast is called "the Jews' Passover" rather than the Passover of Jehovah, so here "a feast of the Jews" is the occasion of His visit. The feasts (or "set times") instituted inLeviticus 23:1-44; Leviticus 23:1-44 were really for Jehovah's pleasure in His people; but these had degenerated into merely occasions for the Jews' pleasure. The pool of Bethesda (meaning... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - John 5:1-47

THIRD VISIT TO JUDEA This visit like the second was occasioned by the Passover, and a year later (John 5:6 ). What miracle was wrought on this occasion (5:2-9)? With what effect on the unbelieving Jews (John 5:10-16 )? How does Jesus justify such labor on the Sabbath day (John 5:17 )? On what two-fold ground did His enemies seek to kill Him (John 5:18 )? The latter of these grounds, because he said “God was His Father,” is deeply important. The Revised Version translates it because “He also... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - John 5:1-47

Bethesda Joh 5:2-8 "Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water" ( Joh 5:2-3 ). The porches spoken of in the text were once places of luxurious indulgence; rich, self-indulgent people were in the habit of using them for purposes of self-enjoyment. They lingered there, luxuriating in ease and quiet and... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - John 5:2-14

Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep-market, a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue, Bethesda, having five porches. (3) In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. (4) For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water; whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. (5) And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - John 5:1-9

1-9 We are all by nature impotent folk in spiritual things, blind, halt, and withered; but full provision is made for our cure, if we attend to it. An angel went down, and troubled the water; and what disease soever it was, this water cured it, but only he that first stepped in had benefit. This teaches us to be careful, that we let not a season slip which may never return. The man had lost the use of his limbs thirty-eight years. Shall we, who perhaps for many years have scarcely known what it... read more