Hello, you are using an old browser that's unsafe and no longer supported. Please consider updating your browser to a newer version, or downloading a modern browser.

Skip to Main Content
Legacy Standard Bible Translation Notes
Return to:
The Tyndale Center for Bible Translation

NOTES

BIBLE

John 5

1

After these things there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

Μετὰ ταῦτα ἦν ἑορτὴ τῶν Ἰουδαίων, καὶ ἀνέβη Ἰησοῦς εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα.

 
2

Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porticoes.

ἔστιν δὲ ἐν τοῖς Ἱεροσολύμοις ἐπὶ τῇ προβατικῇ κολυμβήθρα ἡ ἐπιλεγομένη Ἑβραϊστὶ Βηθεσδά, πέντε στοὰς ἔχουσα·

 
3

In these lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered, [waiting for the moving of the waters;

ἐν ταύταις κατέκειτο πλῆθος τῶν ἀσθενούντων, τυφλῶν, χωλῶν, ξηρῶν.

 
4

for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool and stirred up the water; whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was made well from whatever sickness with which he was afflicted.]

 
5

And a man was there who had been sick for thirty-eight years.

ἦν δέ τις ἄνθρωπος ἐκεῖ τριάκοντα ὀκτὼ ἔτη ἔχων ἐν τῇ ἀσθενείᾳ αὐτοῦ·

sick
Translations vary on how to translate the term ἀσθένεια (astheneia), but at its core the term refers to a sickness or debilitating illness. This lack of health can manifest itself in different ways, but the term refers to someone who is physically unwell. For that reason, it is translated as “sick” in consistency with verses 3 and 7.

 
6

When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been sick a long time, He said to him, “Do you wish to get well?”

τοῦτον ἰδὼν ὁ Ἰησοῦς κατακείμενον, καὶ γνοὺς ὅτι πολὺν ἤδη χρόνον ἔχει, λέγει αὐτῷ· Θέλεις ὑγιὴς γενέσθαι;

 
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.”

ἀπεκρίθη αὐτῷ ὁ ἀσθενῶν· Κύριε, ἄνθρωπον οὐκ ἔχω ἵνα ὅταν ταραχθῇ τὸ ὕδωρ βάλῃ με εἰς τὴν κολυμβήθραν· ἐν ᾧ δὲ ἔρχομαι ἐγὼ ἄλλος πρὸ ἐμοῦ καταβαίνει.

Sir
“Sir” translates “κύριος” (kyrios), which is normally translated as “lord.” However, “sir” is maintained here because it can legitimately be used as a generic title of respect, including with Jesus if people do not know Him. This distinguishes the usages of κύριος (kyrios) in contexts like this from when it is used with Jesus as an official title, or when the term is translating an Old Testament phrase referring to Yahweh.

 
8

Jesus said to him, “Get up, pick up your mat and walk.”

λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· Ἔγειρε ἆρον τὸν κράβαττόν σου καὶ περιπάτει.

mat
The translation “mat” gives a better sense of the word κράβαττος (krabattos) here than something like “pallet.” This word describes a kind of bed or mattress, and does not necessarily include the connotations of carrying or mobility that “pallet” might convey. Thus, the translation “mat” helps to draw the contrast between immobility and mobility; Jesus heals the man and even instructs him to pick up and take away the mat that symbolized his prior inability to move. There would thus no longer be any evidence of his prior sickness.

 
9

And immediately the man became well, and picked up his mat and began to walk. Now it was the Sabbath on that day.

καὶ εὐθέως ἐγένετο ὑγιὴς ὁ ἄνθρωπος καὶ ἦρε τὸν κράβαττον αὐτοῦ καὶ περιεπάτει. Ἦν δὲ σάββατον ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ.

 
10

So the Jews were saying to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to carry your mat.”

ἔλεγον οὖν οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι τῷ τεθεραπευμένῳ· Σάββατόν ἐστιν, καὶ οὐκ ἔξεστίν σοι ἆραι τὸν κράβαττον.

not lawful
In most of the New Testament, the phrase οὐκ ἔξεστίν (ouk exestin) is rendered as “it is not lawful” (e.g., Matt 14:4; Mark 2:26; Luke 6:4), and so this rendering has been given here as well. The translation helps readers to see that certain actions are said not to be in accord with a higher law. In this verse, such a charge is striking, as the context points out how it is the man’s very Maker who commanded him to carry his mat.

 
11

But he answered them, “He who made me well was the one who said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’”

ὃς δὲ ἀπεκρίθη αὐτοῖς· Ὁ ποιήσας με ὑγιῆ ἐκεῖνός μοι εἶπεν Ἆρον τὸν κράβαττόν σου καὶ περιπάτει.

 
12

They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Pick up your mat and walk’?”

ἠρώτησαν οὖν αὐτόν· Τίς ἐστιν ὁ ἄνθρωπος ὁ εἰπών σοι· Ἆρον καὶ περιπάτει;

 
13

But the man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away while there was a crowd in that place.

ὁ δὲ ἰαθεὶς οὐκ ᾔδει τίς ἐστιν, ὁ γὰρ Ἰησοῦς ἐξένευσεν ὄχλου ὄντος ἐν τῷ τόπῳ.

 
14

Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “Behold, you have become well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you.”

μετὰ ταῦτα εὑρίσκει αὐτὸν ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Ἴδε ὑγιὴς γέγονας· μηκέτι ἁμάρτανε, ἵνα μὴ χεῖρόν σοί τι γένηται.

 
15

The man went away, and disclosed to the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.

ἀπῆλθεν ὁ ἄνθρωπος καὶ ἀνήγγειλεν τοῖς Ἰουδαίοις ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ἐστιν ὁ ποιήσας αὐτὸν ὑγιῆ.

disclosed
“Disclosed” consistently translates ἀναγγέλλω (anangellō) in the Gospel of John. The word in John refers to the revelation of Jesus Himself or of information about Him (e.g., 14:21, 22; 16:13, 14, 15).

 
16

And for this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath.

καὶ διὰ τοῦτο ἐδίωκον οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι τὸν Ἰησοῦν ὅτι ταῦτα ἐποίει ἐν σαββάτῳ.

 
17

But He answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.”

ὁ δὲ ἀπεκρίνατο αὐτοῖς· Ὁ πατήρ μου ἕως ἄρτι ἐργάζεται κἀγὼ ἐργάζομαι.

 
18

For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.

διὰ τοῦτο οὖν μᾶλλον ἐζήτουν αὐτὸν οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι ἀποκτεῖναι ὅτι οὐ μόνον ἔλυε τὸ σάββατον, ἀλλὰ καὶ πατέρα ἴδιον ἔλεγε τὸν θεόν, ἴσον ἑαυτὸν ποιῶν τῷ θεῷ.

 
19

Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing from Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in the same manner.

Ἀπεκρίνατο οὖν ὁ Ἰησοῦς καὶ ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς· Ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, οὐ δύναται ὁ υἱὸς ποιεῖν ἀφʼ ἑαυτοῦ οὐδὲν ἐὰν μή τι βλέπῃ τὸν πατέρα ποιοῦντα· ἃ γὰρ ἂν ἐκεῖνος ποιῇ, ταῦτα καὶ ὁ υἱὸς ὁμοίως ποιεῖ.

from Himself
“From Himself” provides the literal translation of the phrase ἀφʼ ἑαυτοῦ (aph heautou). While many translations render the phrase differently (e.g., “of Himself,” “on His own initiative”), the preposition ἀπό (apo) is regularly translated as “from” (cf. v. 30). Furthermore, the reflexive pronoun ἑαυτοῦ (heautou) is translated in its literal sense, “Himself” (cf. vv. 30-31). By using this phrase Jesus is saying that, in the economy of the Trinity, the Son always does what He sees the Father doing. The Son does not act on His own initiative as a rogue agent but always works in concert with the guidance and example of His Father.

 
20

For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel.

ὁ γὰρ πατὴρ φιλεῖ τὸν υἱὸν καὶ πάντα δείκνυσιν αὐτῷ ἃ αὐτὸς ποιεῖ, καὶ μείζονα τούτων δείξει αὐτῷ ἔργα, ἵνα ὑμεῖς θαυμάζητε.

 
21

For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes.

ὥσπερ γὰρ ὁ πατὴρ ἐγείρει τοὺς νεκροὺς καὶ ζῳοποιεῖ, οὕτως καὶ ὁ υἱὸς οὓς θέλει ζῳοποιεῖ.

 
22

For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son,

οὐδὲ γὰρ ὁ πατὴρ κρίνει οὐδένα, ἀλλὰ τὴν κρίσιν πᾶσαν δέδωκεν τῷ υἱῷ,

 
23

so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.

ἵνα πάντες τιμῶσι τὸν υἱὸν καθὼς τιμῶσι τὸν πατέρα. ὁ μὴ τιμῶν τὸν υἱὸν οὐ τιμᾷ τὸν πατέρα τὸν πέμψαντα αὐτόν.

 
24

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.

Ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι ὁ τὸν λόγον μου ἀκούων καὶ πιστεύων τῷ πέμψαντί με ἔχει ζωὴν αἰώνιον, καὶ εἰς κρίσιν οὐκ ἔρχεται ἀλλὰ μεταβέβηκεν ἐκ τοῦ θανάτου εἰς τὴν ζωήν.

 
25

Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.

Ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι ἔρχεται ὥρα καὶ νῦν ἐστιν ὅτε οἱ νεκροὶ ἀκούσουσιν τῆς φωνῆς τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ οἱ ἀκούσαντες ζήσουσιν.

 
26

For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself;

ὥσπερ γὰρ ὁ πατὴρ ἔχει ζωὴν ἐν ἑαυτῷ, οὕτως καὶ τῷ υἱῷ ἔδωκεν ζωὴν ἔχειν ἐν ἑαυτῷ·

 
27

and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man.

καὶ ἐξουσίαν ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ κρίσιν ποιεῖν, ὅτι υἱὸς ἀνθρώπου ἐστίν.

 
28

Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice,

μὴ θαυμάζετε τοῦτο, ὅτι ἔρχεται ὥρα ἐν ᾗ πάντες οἱ ἐν τοῖς μνημείοις ἀκούσουσιν τῆς φωνῆς αὐτοῦ

 
29

and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.

καὶ ἐκπορεύσονται οἱ τὰ ἀγαθὰ ποιήσαντες εἰς ἀνάστασιν ζωῆς, οἱ δὲ τὰ φαῦλα πράξαντες εἰς ἀνάστασιν κρίσεως.

 
30

“I can do nothing from Myself. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

Οὐ δύναμαι ἐγὼ ποιεῖν ἀπʼ ἐμαυτοῦ οὐδέν· καθὼς ἀκούω κρίνω, καὶ ἡ κρίσις ἡ ἐμὴ δικαία ἐστίν, ὅτι οὐ ζητῶ τὸ θέλημα τὸ ἐμὸν ἀλλὰ τὸ θέλημα τοῦ πέμψαντός με.

from Myself
Refer to the discussion on verse 19 above.

righteous
“Righteous” is the consistent translation of the adjective δίκαιος (dikaios) in John’s writings. With this translation, readers can better detect the irony and contrast at play when Jesus later calls the unrighteous crowd to judge one of His acts in a righteous manner (cf. 7:24). Such judgment is to be rendered not according to what a mere man can see with his eyes, but according to what a man can see in the light of God’s law and character (cf. Isa 11:3–4). Unlike the unrighteous crowd, Jesus is the One who can render such judgment.

 
31

“If I alone bear witness about Myself, My witness is not true.

Ἐὰν ἐγὼ μαρτυρῶ περὶ ἐμαυτοῦ, ἡ μαρτυρία μου οὐκ ἔστιν ἀληθής·

bear witness…witness
The phrase “bear witness” translates the Greek verb μαρτυρέω (martyreō), which shares the same root with the word μαρτυρία (martyria; “witness”) used later in the verse. Here Jesus is marshaling courtroom imagery in order to substantiate His own righteousness. Jesus does so by highlighting how the Father helps Him by bearing witness about Him (v. 32). The logic of Jesus’ approach is much the same as what He said in the previous verse, namely, that the Father also speaks in judgment and therein Jesus’ judgments are in accordance with His will (v. 30). In both cases the point is the same—Jesus is not standing alone, but the Father is backing Him.

 
32

There is another who bears witness about Me, and I know that the witness which He gives about Me is true.

ἄλλος ἐστὶν ὁ μαρτυρῶν περὶ ἐμοῦ, καὶ οἶδα ὅτι ἀληθής ἐστιν ἡ μαρτυρία ἣν μαρτυρεῖ περὶ ἐμοῦ.

bears witness…witness
Refer to the discussion on verse 31 above.

 
33

You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth.

ὑμεῖς ἀπεστάλκατε πρὸς Ἰωάννην, καὶ μεμαρτύρηκε τῇ ἀληθείᾳ·

borne witness
Refer to the discussion on verse 31 above.

 
34

But the witness I receive is not from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved.

ἐγὼ δὲ οὐ παρὰ ἀνθρώπου τὴν μαρτυρίαν λαμβάνω, ἀλλὰ ταῦτα λέγω ἵνα ὑμεῖς σωθῆτε.

witness
Refer to the discussion on verse 31 above.

 
35

He was the lamp that was burning and shining and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.

ἐκεῖνος ἦν ὁ λύχνος ὁ καιόμενος καὶ φαίνων, ὑμεῖς δὲ ἠθελήσατε ἀγαλλιαθῆναι πρὸς ὥραν ἐν τῷ φωτὶ αὐτοῦ·

 
36

But the witness I have is greater than the witness of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish⁠—the very works that I do⁠—bear witness about Me, that the Father has sent Me.

ἐγὼ δὲ ἔχω τὴν μαρτυρίαν μείζω τοῦ Ἰωάννου, τὰ γὰρ ἔργα ἃ δέδωκέν μοι ὁ πατὴρ ἵνα τελειώσω αὐτά, αὐτὰ τὰ ἔργα ἃ ποιῶ, μαρτυρεῖ περὶ ἐμοῦ ὅτι ὁ πατήρ με ἀπέσταλκεν,

witness…bear witness
Refer to the discussion on verse 31 above.

to finish
“Finish” translates τελειόω (teleioō). This word connects Jesus’ mission in the Gospel of John to finish what the Father sent Him to earth to do, climaxing with the phrase “it is finished” (τετέλεσται; tetelestai) in 19:30 (cf. 4:34; 17:4; and 19:28).

 
37

And the Father who sent Me, He has borne witness about Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time nor seen His form.

καὶ ὁ πέμψας με πατὴρ ἐκεῖνος μεμαρτύρηκεν περὶ ἐμοῦ. οὔτε φωνὴν αὐτοῦ πώποτε ἀκηκόατε οὔτε εἶδος αὐτοῦ ἑωράκατε,

borne witness
Refer to the discussion on verse 31 above.

 
38

And you do not have His word abiding in you, for you do not believe Him whom He sent.

καὶ τὸν λόγον αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἔχετε ἐν ὑμῖν μένοντα, ὅτι ὃν ἀπέστειλεν ἐκεῖνος τούτῳ ὑμεῖς οὐ πιστεύετε.

 
39

You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that bear witness about Me;

Ἐραυνᾶτε τὰς γραφάς, ὅτι ὑμεῖς δοκεῖτε ἐν αὐταῖς ζωὴν αἰώνιον ἔχειν· καὶ ἐκεῖναί εἰσιν αἱ μαρτυροῦσαι περὶ ἐμοῦ·

bear witness
Refer to the discussion on verse 31 above.

 
40

and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.

καὶ οὐ θέλετε ἐλθεῖν πρός με ἵνα ζωὴν ἔχητε.

 
41

I do not receive glory from men;

δόξαν παρὰ ἀνθρώπων οὐ λαμβάνω,

 
42

but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves.

ἀλλὰ ἔγνωκα ὑμᾶς ὅτι τὴν ἀγάπην τοῦ θεοῦ οὐκ ἔχετε ἐν ἑαυτοῖς.

 
43

I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him.

ἐγὼ ἐλήλυθα ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι τοῦ πατρός μου καὶ οὐ λαμβάνετέ με· ἐὰν ἄλλος ἔλθῃ ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι τῷ ἰδίῳ, ἐκεῖνον λήμψεσθε.

 
44

How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the only God?

πῶς δύνασθε ὑμεῖς πιστεῦσαι, δόξαν παρʼ ἀλλήλων λαμβάνοντες, καὶ τὴν δόξαν τὴν παρὰ τοῦ μόνου θεοῦ οὐ ζητεῖτε;

 
45

Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have set your hope.

μὴ δοκεῖτε ὅτι ἐγὼ κατηγορήσω ὑμῶν πρὸς τὸν πατέρα· ἔστιν ὁ κατηγορῶν ὑμῶν Μωϋσῆς, εἰς ὃν ὑμεῖς ἠλπίκατε.

to
The Greek preposition here is πρός (pros), which usually means “to” when followed by a word in the accusative case, as it is here. For that reason, it implies directionality toward someone or something.Jesus has no need to go to the Father with an accusation against them since the role of accuser is already held by Moses as the one who himself wrote about Jesus.

 
46

For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me.

εἰ γὰρ ἐπιστεύετε Μωϋσεῖ, ἐπιστεύετε ἂν ἐμοί, περὶ γὰρ ἐμοῦ ἐκεῖνος ἔγραψεν.

 
47

But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”

εἰ δὲ τοῖς ἐκείνου γράμμασιν οὐ πιστεύετε, πῶς τοῖς ἐμοῖς ῥήμασιν πιστεύσετε;

 
Copyright © 2023 The Tyndale Center at The Master's Seminary. All rights reserved.
The English biblical text is taken from the Legacy Standard Bible
Legacy Standard Bible Copyright ©2021 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org
For permission to quote information visit http://www.LSBible.org
The Hebrew Old Testament is taken from the Unicode/XML Westminster Leningrad Codex
WLC Version 4.20 | UXLC 2.0 (27.1)
Transcribed to Unicode/XML by Christopher V. Kimball, Publisher (Tanach.us Inc.)
The Westminster Leningrad Codex is in the public domain.
For more information visit www.Tanach.us
The Greek New Testament is taken from the Society of Biblical Literature Greek New Testament
Edited by Michael W. Holmes
The SBLGNT is licensed freely under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Public License
Copyright 2010 Logos Bible Software and the Society of Biblical Literature
For more information about the SBLGNT visit www.SBLGNT.com