2 One lying at the pool, 5 is healed of Christ on the Sabbath. 10 The Jews that rashly find fault with that his deed, 17 he convinceth with the authority of his Father,  19, 20 He proveth his divine power by many reasons, 45 and with Moses’ testimony.

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

[a]And there is at Jerusalem by the place of the sheep, a [b]pool called in Hebrew [c]Bethesda, having five porches:

In the which lay a great multitude of sick folk, of blind, halt, and withered, waiting for the moving of the water.

For an Angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first, after the stirring of the water, stepped in, was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.

And a certain man was there, which had been diseased eight and thirty years.

When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he now long time had been diseased, he said unto him, Wilt 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 said unto him, Rise: take up thy bed, and walk.

And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and the same day was the Sabbath.

10 [d]The Jews therefore said to him that was made whole, It is the Sabbath day: (B)it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.

11 He answered them, He that made me whole he 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, knew not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away from the multitude that was in that place.

14 And after that, Jesus found 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 that had made him whole.

16 And therefore the Jews did persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the Sabbath day.

17 [e]But Jesus answered them, My father worketh hitherto, and I work.

18 (C)Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him: not only because he had broken the Sabbath: but said also that God was [f]his Father, and made himself equal with God.

19 Then answered Jesus, and said unto them, Verily, verily I say unto you, The Son can do nothing [g]of himself, save that he [h]seeth the Father do: for whatsoever things he doeth, the same things doeth the Son [i]in like manner.

20 For the Father loveth the Son, and showeth him all things, whatsoever he himself doeth, and he will show him greater works than these, that ye should marvel.

21 [j]For likewise as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them, so the Son quickeneth whom he will.

22 For the Father [k]judgeth [l]no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son,

23 Because that all men should honor the Son, as they honor the Father: he that honoreth not the Son, the same honoreth not the Father which hath sent him.

24 [m]Verily, verily I say unto you, he that heareth my word, and believeth him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but hath passed from death to life.

25 [n]Verily, verily I say unto you, the hour shall come, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear it shall live.

26 For as the Father hath life in himself, so likewise hath he given to the Son to have life in himself.

27 And hath given him [o]power also to execute judgment, in that he is the [p]Son of man.

28 [q]Marvel not at this: for the hour shall come, in the which all that are in the graves, shall hear his voice.

29 [r]And they shall come [s]forth, (D)that have done good, unto the [t]resurrection of life: but they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of condemnation.

30 [u]I can [v]do nothing of mine own self: [w]as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just, because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father who hath sent me.

31 If I (E)should bear witness of myself, my witness were not [x]true.

32 (F)There is another that beareth witness of me, and I know that the witness, which he beareth of me, is true.

33 (G)[y]Ye sent unto John, and he bore witness unto the truth.

34 But I receive not the record of man: nevertheless these things I say, that ye might be saved.

35 He was a burning and a shining candle: and ye would for [z]a season have rejoiced in his light.

36 But I have greater witness than the witness 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 sent me.

37 And the (H)Father himself, which hath sent me, beareth witness of me. Ye have not heard his voice at any time, (I)neither have ye seen his shape.

38 And his word have you not abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believed not.

39 (J)Search the Scriptures: for in them ye think to have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me.

40 But ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

41 I receive not the praise of men.

42 But I know you, that ye have not the [aa]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 will ye receive.

44 How can ye believe, which receive (K)honor one of another, and seek not the honor that cometh of God alone?

45 [ab]Do not think that I will accuse you to my 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 (L)wrote of me.

47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words.

Footnotes

  1. John 5:2 There is no disease so old, which Christ cannot heal.
  2. John 5:2 Whereof cattle drank, and used to be plunged in; whereof there could not be but great store at Jerusalem.
  3. John 5:2 That is to say, the house of pouring out, because great store of water was poured out into that place.
  4. John 5:10 True religion is no more cruelly assaulted by any means, than by the pretence of religion itself.
  5. John 5:17 The work of God was never the breach of the Sabbath: but the works of Christ are the works of the Father, both because they are one God, and also because the Father doth not work but in the Son.
  6. John 5:18 That is, his only and no man’s else, which they gather by that, that he saith, (And I work) applying this word (work) to himself, which is proper to God, and therefore maketh himself equal to God.
  7. John 5:19 Not only without his Father’s authority, but also without his mighty working and power.
  8. John 5:19 This must be understood of Christ’s person, which consisteth of two natures, and not simply of his Godhead: so then he saith that his Father moveth and governeth him in all things, but yet notwithstanding, when he saith he worketh with his Father, he voucheth his Godhead.
  9. John 5:19 In like sort, jointly and together. Not for that the Father doeth some things, and then the son worketh after him, and doeth the like, but because the might and power of the Father and the Son do work equally and jointly together.
  10. John 5:21 The Father maketh no man partaker of everlasting life, but in Christ, in whom only also he is truly worshipped.
  11. John 5:22 This word (judgeth) is taken by the figure Synecdoche, for all government.
  12. John 5:22 These words are not so to be taken, as though they simply denied that God governeth the world, but as the Jews imagined it, which separate the Father from the Son, whereas indeed, the Father doth not govern the world but only in the person of his Son, being made manifest in the flesh: so saith he afterward, verse 30, that he came not to do his own will: that his doctrine is not his own, John 7:16, that the blind man and his parents sinned not, etc., John 9:3.
  13. John 5:24 The Father is not worshipped but by his Son’s word apprehended by faith, which is the only way that leadeth to eternal life.
  14. John 5:25 We are all dead in sin and cannot be quickened by any other means, than by the word of Christ apprehended by faith.
  15. John 5:27 That is, high and sovereign power to rule and govern all things, insomuch that he hath power of life and death.
  16. John 5:27 That is, he shall not only judge the world as he is God, but also as he is man, he received this of his Father to be judge of the world.
  17. John 5:28 All shall appear before the judgment seat of Christ at length to be judged.
  18. John 5:29 Faith and infidelity shall be judged by their fruits.
  19. John 5:29 Of their graves.
  20. John 5:29 To that resurrection which had life everlasting following it: against which is set the resurrection of condemnation: that is, which condemnation followeth.
  21. John 5:30 The father is the author and approver of all things which Christ doeth.
  22. John 5:30 See verse 22.
  23. John 5:30 As my father directeth me, who dwelleth in me.
  24. John 5:31 Faithful, that is, worthy to be credited, see John 8:14.
  25. John 5:33 Christ is declared to be the only Savior by John’s voice, and infinite miracles, and by the testimonies of all the Prophets. But the world notwithstanding being addicted to false prophets, and desirous to seem religious, seeth none of all these things.
  26. John 5:35 A little while.
  27. John 5:42 Love toward God.
  28. John 5:45 This denial doth not put away that which is here said, but correcteth it, as if Christ said, the Jews shall have no sorer an accuser than Moses.

After these things, there was a Chag (Feast) in Yehudah and Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach went up to Yerushalayim.

Now there is in Yerushalayim at the Sha’ar HaTzon (Sheepgate) [NECHEMYAH 3:1,32; 12:39] a pool, the one being called in Aramaic, Beit-Zata, having chamasha colonnades.

In these lay a multitude of invalids‖ivrim (blind men), pisechim (lame persons), paralyzed.

[For a malach Hashem from time to time descended into the berekhah (pool) and agitated the mayim; therefore, he who entered first after the agitation of the mayim, became whole, whatever choli (disease, sickness) he was held by.]

And there was a certain man there SHELOSHIM U’SHEMONEH SHANAH [DEVARIM 2:14] having been in his machla (illness).

Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, seeing this man lying there, and having da’as that the man had been in this condition for a long time already, says to him, Do you want to have refu’ah [YESHAYAH 53:5]?

In reply, the choleh (sick one) said, Adoni, I have no one, when the mayim is disturbed, to put me into the pool. While I am coming, someone steps into the pool ahead of me.

Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach says to him, Rise up, take your mat and walk.

And immediately the man received his refu’ah (healing) and took his mat and was walking around. And that day was Shabbos.

10 So those of Yehudah were saying to the one having been granted refu’ah (healing), It is Shabbos, so it is asur (prohibited), it is chillul Shabbos [desecration of Shabbat] for you to carry your mat. [NECHEMYAH 13:15 22; YIRMEYAH 17:21]

11 But the man in reply said to them, The one having given me refu’ah, that one said to me, Take up your mat and walk!

12 They asked him, Who is haIsh (the man) telling you to take up your mat and walk?

13 But the one having been granted refu’ah (healing) did not have da’as who it is, for Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach slipped away, there being a multitude in the place.

14 After these things Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach finds him in the Beis Hamikdash, and said to him, Hinei, you have received your refu’ah. No longer commit averos, for fear that something worse happen to you.

15 The man went away and reported to the Yehudim that Yehoshua is the one having granted him his refu’ah,

16 And, because of this, those of Yehudah brought redifah (persecution) upon Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, because these things he was doing on Shabbos.

17 But Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach in reply, said to them, Avi until now is working and I am working. [BERESHIS 2:3]

18 Because of this, therefore, those of Yehudah were seeking all the more to kill Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, because not only was he not Shomer Shabbos, but also Rebbe was saying that his own Av was Hashem, thereby making himself equal with Elohim [Yochanan 1:1].

19 In reply, therefore, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach was saying to them, Omein, omein, I say to you, HaBen is not able to do anything from himself except what he sees HaAv doing, for what things that One is doing, these things also HaBen likewise is doing.

20 For HaAv has ahavah for HaBen and all things He shows to him which He does and ma’asim gedolim (greater works) than these He will show him that you may marvel.

21 For just as HaAv raises the Mesim (dead ones) and makes them alive, so also HaBen makes alive whom he wills. [DEVARIM 32:39; SHMUEL ALEF 2:6; MELACHIM BAIS 5:7; HOSHEA 6:2; RUTH 4:5]

22 For not even HaAv judges anyone, but all Mishpat Hashem has given to HaBen [BERESHIS 18:25; SHOFETIM 11:27; DANIEL 7:10,13-14]

23 That kol Bnei Adam may honor HaBen as they honor HaAv. The one not honoring HaBen does not honor HaAv who sent him [Dan 7:13-14].

24 Omein, omein, I say to you, that the one, hearing my dvar and having emunah in the One who sent me, has Chayyei Olam and does not come into the Mishpat Hashem, but has been transferred out of mavet (death) into Chayyim (Life).

25 Omein, omein, I say to you, that a sha’ah (hour) is coming and now is, when the Mesim (dead ones) will hear the kol (voice) of the Ben HaElohim and the ones having heard will live.

26 For just as HaAv has Chayyim (Life) in himself [DEVARIM 30:20; IYOV 10:12; 33:4; TEHILLIM 36:10 (9)], so also HaBen He gave to have Chayyim (Life) in himself.

27 And samchut (authority) He gave to him to make mishpat (judgment) because he is the Ben HaAdam [DANIEL 7:13-14].

28 Do not marvel at this. For a sha’ah (hour, time) is coming in which all the ones in the kevarim (graves) will hear the kol of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, [YESHAYAH 26:19; YECHEZKEL 37:12]

29 And will come out, the ones having practiced HaTov to a Techiyas HaMesim of Chayyim (Life), the ones having practiced HaRah to a Techiyas HaMesim of Mishpat (Judgment). [DANIEL 12:2]

30 I am not able to do from myself anything. As I hear I judge, and mine is mishpat tzedek [YESHAYAH 28:6], because I do not seek my own ratzon (will) but the ratzon (will) of the One having sent me. [BAMIDBAR 16:28]

31 If I give solemn edut (testimony) about myself, the edut of mine is not ne’emanah (reliable).

32 There is Another giving solemn edut about me, however, and I have da’as that the edut He testifies about me is ne’emanah (reliable).

33 You (pl.) have sent to Yochanan and he has given solemn edut (testimony) to HaEmes (the Truth).

34 Not that I accept edut from Bnei Adam, but I say these things that you may come to Yeshu’at Eloheinu.

35 He [Yochanan] was a menorah burning and shining and you chose to exult for a time in his Ohr (Light); [TEHILLIM 132:16; DANIEL 12:3]

36 but l have edut (testimony) greater than Yochanan’s. For the ma’asim (works) which HaAv has given to me that I should accomplish, these ma’asim which I do give solemn edut (testimony) about me, that HaAv has sent me.

37 And HaAv who sent me has Himself given solemn edut (testimony) about me. You have neither heard His kol (voice) nor the mareh of Hashem have you seen [DEVARIM 4:12],

38 and the dvar Hashem you do not have abiding and dwelling in you, because you have no bitachon (trust), no emunah (faith) in the one whom Hashem has sent. [YESHAYAH 26:10; 53:1; YIRMEYAH 8:8]

39 You search the Kitvei Hakodesh because you think in them you have Chayyei Olam. And those are the ones giving solemn edut about me.

40 And you do not want to come to me that you may have Chayyim.

41 I do not accept kavod (glory) from Bnei Adam.

42 But I have had da’as of you, that the ahavas Hashem (the love of G-d) you do not have in yourselves.

43 I have come b’Shem Avi and you do not accept me. If another comes in his own name, him you will accept.

44 How are you able to have emunah, when you receive kavod from one another, and the kavod from the only Elohim HaEchad you do not seek? [MELACHIM BAIS 19:15,19; YESHAYAH 37:20; DANIEL 3:45 TARGUM HASHIVIM]

45 Do not think that I will accuse you before HaAv; however, there is one accusing you: Moshe, in whom you have set your tikvah. [Dt 31:26-27]

46 For if you were having emunah in Moshe, you would have had emunah in me, for he himself wrote concerning me. [BERESHIS 3:15; 45:4-9; DEVARIM 18:15]

47 But if in the Kitvei Hakodesh of that one you lack emunah, how will you have emunah in my dvar?

Afterwards Jesus returned to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish religious holidays. Inside the city, near the Sheep Gate, was Bethesda Pool, with five covered platforms or porches surrounding it. Crowds of sick folks—lame, blind, or with paralyzed limbs—lay on the platforms (waiting for a certain movement of the water, for an angel of the Lord came from time to time and disturbed the water, and the first person to step down into it afterwards was healed).[a]

One of the men lying there had been sick for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him and knew how long he had been ill, he asked him, “Would you like to get well?”

“I can’t,” the sick man said, “for I have no one to help me into the pool at the movement of the water. While I am trying to get there, someone else always gets in ahead of me.”

Jesus told him, “Stand up, roll up your sleeping mat and go on home!”

Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up the mat and began walking!

But it was on the Sabbath when this miracle was done. 10 So the Jewish leaders objected. They said to the man who was cured, “You can’t work on the Sabbath! It’s illegal to carry that sleeping mat!”

11 “The man who healed me told me to,” was his reply.

12 “Who said such a thing as that?” they demanded.

13 The man didn’t know, and Jesus had disappeared into the crowd. 14 But afterwards Jesus found him in the Temple and told him, “Now you are well; don’t sin as you did before,[b] or something even worse may happen to you.”

15 Then the man went to find the Jewish leaders and told them it was Jesus who had healed him.

16 So they began harassing Jesus as a Sabbath breaker.

17 But Jesus replied, “My Father constantly does good, and I’m following his example.”[c]

18 Then the Jewish leaders were all the more eager to kill him because in addition to disobeying their Sabbath laws, he had spoken of God as his Father, thereby making himself equal with God.

19 Jesus replied, “The Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing, and in the same way. 20 For the Father loves the Son, and tells him everything he is doing; and the Son will do far more awesome miracles than this man’s healing. 21 He will even raise from the dead anyone he wants to, just as the Father does. 22 And the Father leaves all judgment of sin to his Son, 23 so that everyone will honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. But if you refuse to honor God’s Son, whom he sent to you, then you are certainly not honoring the Father.

24 “I say emphatically that anyone who listens to my message and believes in God who sent me has eternal life, and will never be damned for his sins, but has already passed out of death into life.

25 “And I solemnly declare that the time is coming, in fact, it is here, when the dead shall hear my voice—the voice of the Son of God—and those who listen shall live. 26 The Father has life in himself, and has granted his Son to have life in himself, 27 and to judge the sins of all mankind because he is the Son of Man. 28 Don’t be so surprised! Indeed the time is coming when all the dead in their graves shall hear the voice of God’s Son, 29 and shall rise again—those who have done good, to eternal life; and those who have continued in evil, to judgment.

30 “But I pass no judgment without consulting the Father. I judge as I am told. And my judgment is absolutely fair and just, for it is according to the will of God who sent me and is not merely my own.

31 “When I make claims about myself they aren’t believed, 32-33 but someone else, yes, John the Baptist,[d] is making these claims for me too. You have gone out to listen to his preaching, and I can assure you that all he says about me is true! 34 But the truest witness I have is not from a man, though I have reminded you about John’s witness so that you will believe in me and be saved. 35 John shone brightly for a while, and you benefited and rejoiced, 36 but I have a greater witness than John. I refer to the miracles I do; these have been assigned me by the Father, and they prove that the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father himself has also testified about me, though not appearing to you personally, or speaking to you directly. 38 But you are not listening to him, for you refuse to believe me—the one sent to you with God’s message.

39 “You search the Scriptures, for you believe they give you eternal life. And the Scriptures point to me! 40 Yet you won’t come to me so that I can give you this life eternal!

41-42 “Your approval or disapproval means nothing to me, for as I know so well, you don’t have God’s love within you. 43 I know, because I have come to you representing my Father and you refuse to welcome me, though you readily enough receive those who aren’t sent from him, but represent only themselves! 44 No wonder you can’t believe! For you gladly honor each other, but you don’t care about the honor that comes from the only God!

45 “Yet it is not I who will accuse you of this to the Father—Moses will! Moses, on whose laws you set your hopes of heaven. 46 For you have refused to believe Moses. He wrote about me, but you refuse to believe him, so you refuse to believe in me. 47 And since you don’t believe what he wrote, no wonder you don’t believe me either.”

Footnotes

  1. John 5:4 Many of the ancient manuscripts omit the material within the parentheses.
  2. John 5:14 don’t sin as you did before, implied; literally, “sin no more.”
  3. John 5:17 My Father constantly does good, and I’m following his example, implied; literally, “My Father works even until now, and I work.”
  4. John 5:32 John the Baptist, implied. However, most commentators believe the reference is to the witness of his Father. See v. 37.