John 5
Disciples’ Literal New Testament
Jesus Goes To Jerusalem For a Feast, And Heals a Man On The Sabbath
5 After these things there was a Feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now in Jerusalem near the Sheep gate, there is a pool— the one being called Bethzatha in Hebrew, having five porticos[a]. 3 In these porticos, a multitude of the ones being sick were lying-down— blind ones, lame ones, withered ones. 4 [b] 5 And there was a certain man there having thirty and eight years in his sickness. 6 Jesus— having seen this one lying down, and having known[c] that he already had a long time [in his sickness]— says to him, “Do you want to become healthy?” 7 The one being sick answered Him, “Sir, I do not have a man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred-up. But while I am going, another goes down before me”. 8 Jesus says to him, “Arise, pick up your cot and walk!” 9 And immediately the man became healthy, and picked up his cot and was walking.
They Want To Kill Jesus Because He Breaks The Sabbath And Makes Himself Equal To God
Now it was a Sabbath on that day. 10 So the Jews were saying to the one having been cured, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to pick up your cot”. 11 But the one answered them, “The One having made me healthy, that One said to me, ‘Pick up your cot and walk’”. 12 They asked him, “Who is the man having said to you, ‘Pick up and walk’?” 13 But the one having been healed did not know who He was. For Jesus withdrew, a crowd being in the place. 14 After these things, Jesus finds him in the temple. And He said to him, “See— you have become healthy! Do not be sinning any longer in order that something worse may not happen to you”. 15 The man went away and reported to the Jews that Jesus was the One having made him healthy. 16 And for this reason, the Jews were persecuting Jesus— because He was doing these things on a Sabbath. 17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and[d] I am working”. 18 Therefore, for this reason the Jews were seeking more to kill Him: because He was not only breaking[e] the Sabbath, but He was also calling God His own Father, making Himself equal[f] to God! 19 Therefore Jesus responded and was saying to them—
Jesus Responds Regarding His Work: The Son Does Only What The Father Does
“Truly, truly, I say to you— the Son can do nothing from Himself except[g] something He sees the Father doing. For whatever things that One is doing, these things the Son is also likewise doing. 20 For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing. And He will show Him greater works than these, in order that you may marvel.
The Son Raises And Judges The Dead, And Thus Is Due Equal Honor With God
21 “For[h] just as the Father raises the dead and gives-life-to them, so also the Son gives-life-to the ones whom He wishes[i]. 22 For the Father does not even judge anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, 23 in order that all may honor the Son just-as[j] they are honoring the Father. The one not honoring the Son is not honoring the Father having sent Him. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you that the one hearing My word and believing the One having sent Me has eternal life. And he does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
The Son Has Life In Himself And Gives Life To The Spiritually Dead
25 “Truly, truly, I say to you that an hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and the ones having heard will live. 26 For just as the Father has life in Himself, so also He gave to the Son to have life in Himself. 27 And He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is a son[k] of man.
The Son Will Give Life To The Physically Dead
28 Do not be marveling-at this, because an hour is coming in which all the ones in the graves will hear His voice, 29 and will come out— the ones having done the good things to a resurrection of life; the ones having practiced the bad things to a resurrection of judgment.
I Am Doing The Will of The One Who Sent Me
30 “I can do nothing from Myself. Just as I am hearing[l], I am judging. And My judgment is righteous, because I am not seeking My will, but the will of the One having sent Me.
Jesus Responds Regarding His Identity: Others Testify About Him
31 “If I am[m] testifying about Myself, My testimony is not true. 32 There is Another— the One testifying about Me— and I know that the testimony which He is testifying about Me is true.
John The Baptist Testified
33 “You have sent out messengers to John, and he has testified to the truth[n]. 34 But I do not receive[o] testimony from a human. Nevertheless, I am saying these things in order that you may be saved. 35 That one was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to be overjoyed in his light for an hour.
Three Greater Witnesses Testify: My Works, The Father, And The Scriptures
36 “But I have testimony greater than John’s. For the works which the Father has given to Me that I should accomplish them— the works themselves which I am doing are testifying about Me, that the Father has sent Me forth. 37 And the Father having sent Me— that One has testified about Me. Neither His voice have you ever heard, nor His form have you seen. 38 And you do not have His word abiding in you, because the One Whom that One sent-forth— this One you are not believing! 39 You[p] search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life— and those Scriptures are the ones testifying about Me! 40 And you are not willing to come to Me in order that you may have life.
But You Are Not Receiving Me Because You Do Not Love God
41 “I do not receive glory from people, 42 but I know you— that you do not have the love of God in yourselves. 43 I have come in the name of My Father, and you are not receiving Me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive that one. 44 How are you able to believe while receiving glory from one another, and you are not seeking the glory from the only God?
Moses Will Be Your Accuser. For If You Believed Him, You Would Believe Me
45 Do not be thinking that I will accuse you before the Father. The one accusing you is Moses, in whom you have put-hope. 46 For if you were believing Moses, you would be believing Me, for that one wrote about Me. 47 But if you do not believe the writings of that one, how will you believe My words?”
Footnotes
- John 5:2 That is, covered colonnades where people gathered.
- John 5:4 Some manuscripts add as verse 4, For an angel in due season was going down in the pool and stirring up the water. Then the one first having stepped in after the stirring up of the water was becoming healthy for whatever disease he was indeed being afflicted.
- John 5:6 Or, learned.
- John 5:17 Jesus places His working on the Sabbath on an equal plane with God’s doing so.
- John 5:18 That is, annulling the authority of the Sabbath over how people should live.
- John 5:18 If God is His own Father, then Jesus has the same nature and essence as God, as do all fathers and sons, and thus is Himself God. Jesus was killed for claiming this, 19:7.
- John 5:19 That is, the Son does only and always what the Father does, explaining v 17. They are in perfect harmony.
- John 5:21 Jesus gives the ultimate example of ‘whatever things’ the Father is doing.
- John 5:21 Or, wills, wants, desires.
- John 5:23 Or, in the same manner. Only one claiming to be equal to God would say such a thing.
- John 5:27 That is, a human. Or, the Son of Man, the one mentioned in Dan 7:13.
- John 5:30 That is, hearing from the Father, complementing the seeing in v 19.
- John 5:31 That is, If I alone am, apart from God.
- John 5:33 See 1:34.
- John 5:34 That is, do not merely receive.
- John 5:39 Or, this may be a command, Search.
John 5
King James Version
5 After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
2 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 and eight years.
6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?
7 The impotent 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.
8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.
10 The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.
11 He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.
12 Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?
13 And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.
14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
15 The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.
16 And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.
17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.
21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.
22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
31 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.
32 There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.
33 Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.
34 But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.
35 He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.
37 And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.
38 And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.
39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
41 I receive not honour from men.
42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.
43 I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.
46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me.
47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?
John 5
New King James Version
A Man Healed at the Pool of Bethesda
5 After (A)this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus (B)went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem (C)by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, [a]Bethesda, having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, [b]paralyzed, [c]waiting for the moving of the water. 4 For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. 5 Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”
7 The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”
8 Jesus said to him, (D)“Rise, take up your bed and walk.” 9 And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.
And (E)that day was the Sabbath. 10 The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; (F)it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.”
11 He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’ ”
12 Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” 13 But the one who was (G)healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place. 14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. (H)Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”
15 The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.
Honor the Father and the Son
16 For this reason the Jews (I)persecuted Jesus, [d]and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath. 17 But Jesus answered them, (J)“My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.”
18 Therefore the Jews (K)sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, (L)making Himself equal with God. 19 Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, (M)the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. 20 For (N)the Father loves the Son, and (O)shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. 21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, (P)even so the Son gives life to whom He will. 22 For the Father judges no one, but (Q)has committed all judgment to the Son, 23 that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. (R)He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.
Life and Judgment Are Through the Son
24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, (S)he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, (T)but has passed from death into life. 25 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when (U)the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. 26 For (V)as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have (W)life in Himself, 27 and (X)has given Him authority to execute judgment also, (Y)because He is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will (Z)hear His voice 29 (AA)and come forth—(AB)those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. 30 (AC)I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because (AD)I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.
The Fourfold Witness
31 (AE)“If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not [e]true. 32 (AF)There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true. 33 You have sent to John, (AG)and he has borne witness to the truth. 34 Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved. 35 He was the burning and (AH)shining lamp, and (AI)you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light. 36 But (AJ)I have a greater witness than John’s; for (AK)the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very (AL)works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. 37 And the Father Himself, who sent Me, (AM)has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, (AN)nor seen His form. 38 But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. 39 (AO)You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and (AP)these are they which testify of Me. 40 (AQ)But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.
41 (AR)“I do not receive honor from men. 42 But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. 43 I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. 44 (AS)How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek (AT)the honor that comes from the only God? 45 Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; (AU)there is one who accuses you—Moses, in whom you trust. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; (AV)for he wrote about Me. 47 But if you (AW)do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”
John 5
English Standard Version
The Healing at the Pool on the Sabbath
5 After this there was a (A)feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
2 Now there is in Jerusalem by (B)the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic[a] called Bethesda,[b] which has five roofed colonnades. 3 In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and (C)paralyzed.[c] 5 One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 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?” 7 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.” 8 Jesus said to him, (D)“Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” 9 (E)And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.
(F)Now that day was the Sabbath. 10 So the Jews[d] said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and (G)it is not lawful for you to take up your bed.” 11 But he answered them, “The man who healed me, that man said to me, ‘Take up your bed, and walk.’” 12 They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” 13 Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for (H)Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. 14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! (I)Sin no more, (J)that nothing worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. 16 And this was why the Jews (K)were persecuting Jesus, (L)because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. 17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”
Jesus Is Equal with God
18 This was why the Jews (M)were seeking all the more to kill him, (N)because not only was he (O)breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God (P)his own Father, (Q)making himself equal with God.
The Authority of the Son
19 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, (R)the Son (S)can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father[e] does, that the Son does likewise. 20 For (T)the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And (U)greater works than these will he show him, so that (V)you may marvel. 21 For as the Father (W)raises the dead and (X)gives them life, so (Y)also the Son gives life (Z)to whom he will. 22 (AA)For the Father judges no one, but (AB)has given all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son, just as they (AC)honor the Father. (AD)Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, (AE)whoever hears my word and (AF)believes him who sent me has eternal life. He (AG)does not come into judgment, but (AH)has passed from death to life.
25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, (AI)an hour is coming, and is now here, when (AJ)the dead will hear (AK)the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear (AL)will live. 26 (AM)For as the Father has life in himself, (AN)so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he (AO)has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this, for (AP)an hour is coming when (AQ)all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, (AR)those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
Witnesses to Jesus
30 (AS)“I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and (AT)my judgment is just, because (AU)I seek not my own will (AV)but the will of him who sent me. 31 (AW)If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true. 32 There is (AX)another who bears witness about me, and (AY)I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true. 33 (AZ)You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 34 Not that (BA)the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. 35 He was a burning and (BB)shining lamp, and (BC)you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. 36 But (BD)the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For (BE)the works that the Father has given me (BF)to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, (BG)bear witness about me that (BH)the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me (BI)has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, (BJ)his form you have never seen, 38 and (BK)you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. 39 (BL)You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and (BM)it is they that bear witness about me, 40 yet (BN)you refuse to come to me that you may have life. 41 (BO)I do not receive glory from people. 42 But (BP)I know that you do not have (BQ)the love of God within you. 43 I have come (BR)in my Father's name, and (BS)you do not receive me. (BT)If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. 44 How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and (BU)do not seek the glory that comes from (BV)the only God? 45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, (BW)on whom you have set your hope. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for (BX)he wrote of me. 47 But (BY)if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”
Footnotes
- John 5:2 Or Hebrew
- John 5:2 Some manuscripts Bethsaida
- John 5:3 Some manuscripts insert, wholly or in part, waiting for the moving of the water; 4 for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool, and stirred the water: whoever stepped in first after the stirring of the water was healed of whatever disease he had
- John 5:10 The Greek word Ioudaioi refers specifically here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, who opposed Jesus in that time; also verses 15, 16, 18
- John 5:19 Greek he
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
