John 5 12

John 5:12 kjv

Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?

John 5:12 nkjv

Then they asked him, "Who is the Man who said to you, 'Take up your bed and walk'?"

John 5:12 niv

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

John 5:12 esv

They asked him, "Who is the man who said to you, 'Take up your bed and walk'?"

John 5:12 nlt

"Who said such a thing as that?" they demanded.

John 5 verses

John 5 12 Meaning

John 5:12 describes the Jewish leaders' interrogation of the man Jesus had healed. Their question, "Who is this fellow who told you to pick up your mat and walk?", reveals their immediate concern was not the miracle itself but the identity of the person who, in their view, commanded a violation of the Sabbath law by instructing the man to carry his mat. This question highlights their legalistic focus and their spiritual blindness to Jesus' divine authority and the work of God.

John 5 12 Context

This verse takes place immediately after the miraculous healing of a man who had been paralyzed for thirty-eight years at the Pool of Bethesda (Jn 5:1-9). Jesus healed him on the Sabbath and instructed him to pick up his mat and walk. When the man later encountered Jewish authorities, they immediately challenged him for carrying his mat on the Sabbath, citing the law. In John 5:11, the healed man defends himself by stating, "The man who made me well told me to pick up my mat and walk." This response prompts their question in verse 12.

The historical and cultural context is crucial: the Sabbath law (Ex 20:8-11, Deut 5:12-15) was a cornerstone of Jewish life, and by Jesus' time, extensive oral traditions had codified precise rules regarding what constituted "work." Carrying an object from a private domain to a public domain, even one's mat, was explicitly considered a violation of the Sabbath by rabbinic interpretation (Jer 17:21-22). The Jewish leaders were the guardians of this law. Their inquiry is not borne out of awe at the miracle, nor compassion for the man, but out of a rigid adherence to their interpretation of the law, viewing Jesus' command as a direct affront to their religious authority and an act of Sabbath-breaking. This encounter sets the stage for Jesus' profound discourse on His divine Sonship and equality with the Father in the rest of John chapter 5.

John 5 12 Word analysis

• Then (καὶ - kai): A conjunction often translated as "and" or "then," linking this interrogation to the healed man's previous statement (Jn 5:11). It shows continuity in the questioning by the Jewish leaders.

• they asked (ἠρώτων - ērotōn): Imperfect tense of the Greek verb erotao (to ask, question). The imperfect suggests a sustained or perhaps even intense or forceful interrogation, not a casual inquiry. It highlights their persistent focus on finding fault.

• him (αὐτόν - auton): Refers to the man who was just healed. The Jewish leaders direct their legalistic questions to the victim of the supposed "Sabbath violation."

• "Who (Τίς - Tis): An interrogative pronoun, signaling a direct and critical question about identity. This isn't a curious "what kind of man?" but a pointed "who is this specific individual?"

• is (ἐστιν - estin): Present tense of "to be." The question focuses on the identity of the person currently active.

• this fellow (ὁ ἄνθρωπος - ho anthrōpos): Literally "the man." The Greek article ho and noun anthrōpos in this context can subtly imply a certain disdain or a desire to dismiss the one who issued the command as just "some man," lacking legitimate authority in their eyes.

• who told (ὁ εἰπών - ho eipōn): Literally "the one having said." A present active participle (derived from lego, to say/speak) functioning as an adjective, describing the man. It pinpoints the specific action that incited their concern—the command.

• you (σοι - soi): Dative form of "you" (singular), directly referring to the healed man. The command was given directly to him.

• `Pick up (ἆρον - Aron): An aorist active imperative from airo, meaning "to lift, take up, carry away." This is a direct command. For the Jewish leaders, the act of "picking up" the mat (a burden) and carrying it constituted work forbidden on the Sabbath.

• your mat (τὸν κράβαττον - ton krabatton): Krabatton refers to a crude, simple pallet or mat, often used by the poor. This was the specific "burden" whose carrying they deemed unlawful.

• and (καὶ - kai): Connects the two commands given by Jesus: picking up the mat and walking.

• walk (περιπάτει - peripatei): Present active imperative from peripateo, meaning "to walk about, conduct oneself." This was the expected action following healing. For the religious leaders, carrying the mat while walking intensified the Sabbath violation.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "Who is this fellow..." (Τίς ἐστιν ὁ ἄνθρωπος): This phrasing indicates not an honest search for truth or wonder at a miracle, but a desire to identify and potentially accuse the alleged Sabbath-breaker. It hints at suspicion and an intent to bring legal action, or at least condemnation.
  • "who told you to pick up your mat and walk": This clause encapsulates the core of their accusation. They ignore the healing part of the command and zero in on the two actions they considered illicit on the Sabbath: carrying a mat and performing an action that resembles normal life activities ("walk"). Their focus is on the command giver for transgressing their interpretation of the Law, rather than the miracle demonstrating God's power.

John 5 12 Bonus section

The Pool of Bethesda, the setting for this healing, traditionally held belief in the angelic stirring of the waters for healing (Jn 5:4, though this verse is not present in some early manuscripts, it reflects common cultural belief). This cultural backdrop means Jesus performed a direct, unmediated healing, entirely independent of the superstitions surrounding the pool. He healed simply by His word, demonstrating unparalleled authority. The leaders, by questioning who commanded the mat be picked up, further highlight their focus on the external legal technicality rather than the internal power that restored a man for decades lame. The phrase "pick up your mat and walk" is also significant as it symbolizes Jesus' authority to completely restore and reverse long-standing afflictions, inviting the healed individual back into active life, physically demonstrating God's work.

John 5 12 Commentary

John 5:12 stands as a pivotal moment in John's narrative, underscoring the deep spiritual conflict between Jesus and the Jewish leadership. Their interrogation is profoundly ironic: they witness undeniable proof of divine power in the instant healing of a 38-year invalid, yet their rigid adherence to traditional law overshadows any awe or theological inquiry. The question "Who is this fellow?" reveals their pre-judgment; they view Jesus as "some man" (ho anthrōpos), a law-breaker whose actions require immediate identification and condemnation, not as the Son of God. They dissect Jesus' command, meticulously finding two violations of the Sabbath (carrying a mat, walking in a public manner after being healed).

This moment exemplifies legalism’s spiritual blindness. They are concerned with the human source of a perceived transgression rather than the divine source of a profound miracle. Their inquiry foreshadows the escalating persecution Jesus would face for challenging their established religious system and revealing a deeper, life-giving understanding of God's Law, centered on mercy and truth, rather than strict ritualistic adherence. The question here sets the stage for Jesus to unveil His equality with the Father, His authority over the Sabbath, and His life-giving power, which they utterly fail to grasp.

Practical usage: This verse teaches us to guard against focusing so intently on external rules or traditions that we miss the greater work of God or the person of Jesus Christ. It reminds us that true spirituality looks to the heart and the Spirit, not merely the letter of the law.