The Healing at the Pool on the Sabbath

After this there was a (A)feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

Now there is in Jerusalem by (B)the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic[a] called Bethesda,[b] which has five roofed colonnades. In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and (C)paralyzed.[c] 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, (D)“Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” (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said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” 13 Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for (H)Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. 14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well!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.

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Footnotes

  1. John 5:2 Or Hebrew
  2. John 5:2 Some manuscripts Bethsaida
  3. John 5:3 Some manuscripts insert, wholly or in part, waiting for the moving of the water; 4for 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
  4. 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
  5. John 5:19 Greek he

The Healing at the Pool

Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate(A) a pool, which in Aramaic(B) is called Bethesda[a] and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. [4] [b] One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”

“Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”

Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.”(C) At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.

The day on which this took place was a Sabbath,(D) 10 and so the Jewish leaders(E) said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.”(F)

11 But he replied, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’

12 So they asked him, “Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?”

13 The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.

14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning(G) or something worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went away and told the Jewish leaders(H) that it was Jesus who had made him well.

The Authority of the Son

16 So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him. 17 In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father(I) is always at his work(J) to this very day, and I too am working.” 18 For this reason they tried all the more to kill him;(K) not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.(L)

19 Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself;(M) he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son(N) and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these,(O) so that you will be amazed. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life,(P) even so the Son gives life(Q) to whom he is pleased to give it. 22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son,(R) 23 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.(S)

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Footnotes

  1. John 5:2 Some manuscripts Bethzatha; other manuscripts Bethsaida
  2. John 5:4 Some manuscripts include here, wholly or in part, paralyzed—and they waited for the moving of the waters. From time to time an angel of the Lord would come down and stir up the waters. The first one into the pool after each such disturbance would be cured of whatever disease they had.

The Birth of Samuel

There was a certain man of (A)Ramathaim-zophim of (B)the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, (C)an Ephrathite. He had two wives. The name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other, Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

Now this man used to go up (D)year by year from his city (E)to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts (F)at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the Lord. On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, (G)he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb.[a] And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb. So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat. And Elkanah, her husband, said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? (H)Am I not more to you than ten sons?”

After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of (I)the temple of the Lord. 10 She was (J)deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. 11 And she (K)vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed (L)look on the affliction of your servant and (M)remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, (N)and no razor shall touch his head.”

12 As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. 14 And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.” 15 But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but (O)I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. 16 Do not regard your servant as (P)a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.” 17 Then Eli answered, (Q)“Go in peace, and the God of Israel (R)grant your petition that you have made to him.” 18 And she said, (S)“Let your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then the woman (T)went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.

19 They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at (U)Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord (V)remembered her. 20 And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “I have asked for him from the Lord.”[b]

Samuel Given to the Lord

21 The man Elkanah and all his house (W)went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and to pay his vow. 22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, so that he may appear in the presence of the Lord (X)and dwell there forever.” 23 (Y)Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him; (Z)only, may the Lord establish his word.” So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him. 24 And when she had weaned him, (AA)she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull,[c] an ephah[d] of flour, and a skin of wine, and she brought him to (AB)the house of the Lord at Shiloh. And the child was young. 25 Then they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli. 26 And she said, “Oh, my lord! (AC)As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord. 27 For this child I prayed, (AD)and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him. 28 Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.”

(AE)And he worshiped the Lord there.

Hannah's Prayer

And Hannah prayed and said,

(AF)“My heart exults in the Lord;
    (AG)my horn is exalted in the Lord.
My mouth derides my enemies,
    because (AH)I rejoice in your salvation.

(AI)“There is none holy like the Lord:
    for there is none besides you;
    there is (AJ)no rock like our God.
Talk no more so very proudly,
    let not arrogance come from your mouth;
for the Lord is a God of knowledge,
    and by him actions are weighed.
(AK)The bows of the mighty are broken,
    but the feeble bind on strength.
Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,
    but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger.
(AL)The barren has borne seven,
    (AM)but she who has many children is forlorn.
(AN)The Lord kills and brings to life;
    he brings down to Sheol and raises up.
(AO)The Lord makes poor and makes rich;
    (AP)he brings low and he exalts.
(AQ)He raises up the poor from the dust;
    he lifts the needy from the ash heap
(AR)to make them sit with princes
    and inherit a seat of honor.
(AS)For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's,
    and on them he has set the world.

(AT)“He will guard the feet of his faithful ones,
    but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness,
    for not by might shall a man prevail.
10 (AU)The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces;
    (AV)against them he will thunder in heaven.
(AW)The Lord will judge the ends of the earth;
    he will give strength to his king
    (AX)and exalt the horn of his anointed.”

11 Then Elkanah went home (AY)to Ramah. (AZ)And the boy[e] was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli the priest.

Eli's Worthless Sons

12 Now the sons of Eli were (BA)worthless men. (BB)They did not know the Lord. 13 The custom of the priests with the people was that when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant would come, while the meat was boiling, with a three-pronged fork in his hand, 14 and he would thrust it into the pan or kettle or cauldron or pot. All that the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. This is what they did at Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there. 15 Moreover, (BC)before the fat was burned, the priest's servant would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, “Give meat for the priest to roast, for he will not accept boiled meat from you but only raw.” 16 And if the man said to him, “Let them burn the fat first, and then take as much as you wish,” he would say, “No, you must give it now, and if not, I will take it by force.” 17 Thus the sin of the young men was very great (BD)in the sight of the Lord, (BE)for the men treated the offering of the Lord with contempt.

18 (BF)Samuel was ministering before the Lord, a boy (BG)clothed with a linen ephod. 19 And his mother used to make for him a little robe and take it to him each year (BH)when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. 20 Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, “May the Lord give you children by this woman (BI)for the petition she asked of the Lord.” So then they would return to their home.

21 (BJ)Indeed the Lord visited Hannah, and she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. (BK)And the boy Samuel grew in the presence of the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 1:5 Syriac; the meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain. Septuagint And, although he loved Hannah, he would give Hannah only one portion, because the Lord had closed her womb
  2. 1 Samuel 1:20 Samuel sounds like the Hebrew for heard of God
  3. 1 Samuel 1:24 Dead Sea Scroll, Septuagint, Syriac; Masoretic Text three bulls
  4. 1 Samuel 1:24 An ephah was about 3/5 bushel or 22 liters
  5. 1 Samuel 2:11 Hebrew na‘ar can be rendered boy (2:11, 18, 21, 26; 3:1, 8), servant (2:13, 15), or young man (2:17), depending on the context

The Birth of Samuel

There was a certain man from Ramathaim,(A) a Zuphite[a](B) from the hill country(C) of Ephraim,(D) whose name was Elkanah(E) son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. He had two wives;(F) one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.

Year after year(G) this man went up from his town to worship(H) and sacrifice to the Lord Almighty at Shiloh,(I) where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli,(J) were priests of the Lord. Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice,(K) he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters.(L) But to Hannah he gave a double portion(M) because he loved her, and the Lord had closed her womb.(N) Because the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her.(O) This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat.(P) Her husband Elkanah would say to her, “Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?(Q)

Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the Lord’s house.(R) 10 In her deep anguish(S) Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. 11 And she made a vow,(T) saying, “Lord Almighty(U), if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember(V) me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life,(W) and no razor(X) will ever be used on his head.”

12 As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk 14 and said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.”

15 “Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled.(Y) I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring(Z) out my soul to the Lord. 16 Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.”(AA)

17 Eli answered, “Go in peace,(AB) and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.(AC)

18 She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.(AD)” Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.(AE)

19 Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the Lord and then went back to their home at Ramah.(AF) Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered(AG) her. 20 So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son.(AH) She named(AI) him Samuel,[b](AJ) saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him.”

Hannah Dedicates Samuel

21 When her husband Elkanah went up with all his family to offer the annual(AK) sacrifice to the Lord and to fulfill his vow,(AL) 22 Hannah did not go. She said to her husband, “After the boy is weaned, I will take him and present(AM) him before the Lord, and he will live there always.”[c]

23 “Do what seems best to you,” her husband Elkanah told her. “Stay here until you have weaned him; only may the Lord make good(AN) his[d] word.” So the woman stayed at home and nursed her son until she had weaned(AO) him.

24 After he was weaned, she took the boy with her, young as he was, along with a three-year-old bull,[e](AP) an ephah[f] of flour and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. 25 When the bull had been sacrificed, they brought the boy to Eli, 26 and she said to him, “Pardon me, my lord. As surely as you live, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord. 27 I prayed(AQ) for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. 28 So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life(AR) he will be given over to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there.

Hannah’s Prayer

Then Hannah prayed and said:(AS)

“My heart rejoices(AT) in the Lord;
    in the Lord my horn[g](AU) is lifted high.
My mouth boasts(AV) over my enemies,(AW)
    for I delight in your deliverance.

“There is no one holy(AX) like(AY) the Lord;
    there is no one besides you;
    there is no Rock(AZ) like our God.

“Do not keep talking so proudly
    or let your mouth speak such arrogance,(BA)
for the Lord is a God who knows,(BB)
    and by him deeds(BC) are weighed.(BD)

“The bows of the warriors are broken,(BE)
    but those who stumbled are armed with strength.(BF)
Those who were full hire themselves out for food,
    but those who were hungry(BG) are hungry no more.
She who was barren(BH) has borne seven children,
    but she who has had many sons pines away.

“The Lord brings death and makes alive;(BI)
    he brings down to the grave and raises up.(BJ)
The Lord sends poverty and wealth;(BK)
    he humbles and he exalts.(BL)
He raises(BM) the poor(BN) from the dust(BO)
    and lifts the needy(BP) from the ash heap;
he seats them with princes
    and has them inherit a throne of honor.(BQ)

“For the foundations(BR) of the earth are the Lord’s;
    on them he has set the world.
He will guard the feet(BS) of his faithful servants,(BT)
    but the wicked will be silenced in the place of darkness.(BU)

“It is not by strength(BV) that one prevails;
10     those who oppose the Lord will be broken.(BW)
The Most High will thunder(BX) from heaven;
    the Lord will judge(BY) the ends of the earth.

“He will give strength(BZ) to his king
    and exalt the horn(CA) of his anointed.”

11 Then Elkanah went home to Ramah,(CB) but the boy ministered(CC) before the Lord under Eli the priest.

Eli’s Wicked Sons

12 Eli’s sons were scoundrels; they had no regard(CD) for the Lord. 13 Now it was the practice(CE) of the priests that, whenever any of the people offered a sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come with a three-pronged fork in his hand while the meat(CF) was being boiled 14 and would plunge the fork into the pan or kettle or caldron or pot. Whatever the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. This is how they treated all the Israelites who came to Shiloh. 15 But even before the fat was burned, the priest’s servant would come and say to the person who was sacrificing, “Give the priest some meat to roast; he won’t accept boiled meat from you, but only raw.”

16 If the person said to him, “Let the fat(CG) be burned first, and then take whatever you want,” the servant would answer, “No, hand it over now; if you don’t, I’ll take it by force.”

17 This sin of the young men was very great in the Lord’s sight, for they[h] were treating the Lord’s offering with contempt.(CH)

18 But Samuel was ministering(CI) before the Lord—a boy wearing a linen ephod.(CJ) 19 Each year his mother made him a little robe and took it to him when she went up with her husband to offer the annual(CK) sacrifice. 20 Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, saying, “May the Lord give you children by this woman to take the place of the one she prayed(CL) for and gave to[i] the Lord.” Then they would go home. 21 And the Lord was gracious to Hannah;(CM) she gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew(CN) up in the presence of the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 1:1 See Septuagint and 1 Chron. 6:26-27,33-35; or from Ramathaim Zuphim.
  2. 1 Samuel 1:20 Samuel sounds like the Hebrew for heard by God.
  3. 1 Samuel 1:22 Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scrolls always. I have dedicated him as a Nazirite—all the days of his life.”
  4. 1 Samuel 1:23 Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scrolls, Septuagint and Syriac your
  5. 1 Samuel 1:24 Dead Sea Scrolls, Septuagint and Syriac; Masoretic Text with three bulls
  6. 1 Samuel 1:24 That is, probably about 36 pounds or about 16 kilograms
  7. 1 Samuel 2:1 Horn here symbolizes strength; also in verse 10.
  8. 1 Samuel 2:17 Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint; Masoretic Text people
  9. 1 Samuel 2:20 Dead Sea Scrolls; Masoretic Text and asked from

37 Then he brought out Israel with (A)silver and gold,
    and there was none among his tribes who stumbled.
38 (B)Egypt was glad when they departed,
    for (C)dread of them had fallen upon it.

39 He (D)spread a cloud for a covering,
    and fire to give light by night.
40 (E)They asked, and he (F)brought quail,
    and gave them (G)bread from heaven in abundance.
41 He opened the rock, and (H)water gushed out;
    it flowed through (I)the desert like a river.
42 For he (J)remembered his holy promise,
    and (K)Abraham, his servant.

43 So he brought his people out with joy,
    his (L)chosen ones with (M)singing.
44 And he (N)gave them the lands of the nations,
    and they took possession of the fruit of the peoples' toil,
45 that they might (O)keep his statutes
    and (P)observe his laws.
(Q)Praise the Lord!

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37 He brought out Israel, laden with silver and gold,(A)
    and from among their tribes no one faltered.
38 Egypt was glad when they left,
    because dread of Israel(B) had fallen on them.

39 He spread out a cloud(C) as a covering,
    and a fire to give light at night.(D)
40 They asked,(E) and he brought them quail;(F)
    he fed them well with the bread of heaven.(G)
41 He opened the rock,(H) and water gushed out;
    it flowed like a river in the desert.

42 For he remembered his holy promise(I)
    given to his servant Abraham.
43 He brought out his people with rejoicing,(J)
    his chosen ones with shouts of joy;
44 he gave them the lands of the nations,(K)
    and they fell heir to what others had toiled(L) for—
45 that they might keep his precepts
    and observe his laws.(M)

Praise the Lord.[a](N)

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 105:45 Hebrew Hallelu Yah

28 In (A)a multitude of people is the glory of a king,
    but without people a prince is ruined.
29 Whoever is (B)slow to anger has great understanding,
    but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.

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28 A large population is a king’s glory,
    but without subjects a prince is ruined.(A)

29 Whoever is patient has great understanding,(B)
    but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.(C)

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