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 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference ||---|---|---|| Jn 5:8-9 | Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” And immediately the man became well and took up his bed and walked... | Jesus' command to heal and its immediate fulfillment on the Sabbath. || Jn 5:10 | So the Jews were saying to the man who was cured, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed.” | The immediate context showing the Jewish authorities' focus on the Sabbath law. || Jn 5:16 | For this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath. | The direct result of Sabbath healings leading to persecution of Jesus. || Mk 2:27-28 | And He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” | Jesus' authority over the Sabbath law, contrasting with human tradition. || Mt 12:1-8 | [Disciples picking grain on Sabbath] He said, "I tell you, something greater than the temple is here... For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath." | Jesus' teachings on the Sabbath, emphasizing mercy over rigid legalism. || Lk 6:6-10 | ...He entered the synagogue... and healed a man with a withered hand... saying, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm...?” | Another example of Jesus performing a Sabbath healing to challenge legalism. || Jn 7:22-23 | “Moses gave you circumcision... and on the Sabbath you circumcise a man... do you resent Me because I made an entire man well on the Sabbath?” | Jesus defending His Sabbath healings, highlighting the hypocrisy of legalists. || Mt 23:23 | “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint... but neglect the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness.” | Highlights the misplaced priorities of the religious leaders focusing on trivial rules over substantial virtues. || Lk 11:42 | “But woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithe of mint... and neglect justice and the love of God.” | Similar to Mt 23:23, emphasizes the Pharisees' neglect of the core of God's law. || Isa 29:13 | These people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me... | A prophecy reflecting the spiritual superficiality and rule-bound religion. || Jer 17:21-22 | “Thus says the Lord: ‘Beware, and do not carry any burden on the Sabbath day... nor bring any burden out of your houses on the Sabbath day.’” | Old Testament injunctions against carrying burdens on the Sabbath, which the authorities were citing. || Neh 13:15-19 | In those days I saw in Judah people treading wine presses on the Sabbath... I confronted them... and commanded the gates to be shut... | Example from Israel's history enforcing Sabbath rest and restrictions. || Jn 9:16 | Some of the Pharisees therefore said, “This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” | Illustrates the divisive impact of Jesus' Sabbath healings among the Pharisees themselves. || Jn 9:25 | He answered, “Whether He is a sinner or not, I do not know. One thing I do know: that though I was blind, now I see.” | The man healed from blindness focusing on his deliverance, unlike the authorities. || 1 Sam 16:7 | ...For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” | God's perspective differing from human judgment, aligning with Jesus' focus on spiritual condition. || Rom 2:17-24 | You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law... For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you... | Addresses hypocritical legalism, where outward adherence is prioritized over internal transformation. || Gal 1:10 | For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. | Emphasizes prioritizing God's will over human approval and man-made rules. || Prov 29:25 | The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe. | Relates to the fear of consequences from challenging human tradition over divine authority. || Hos 6:6 | For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings. | Old Testament principle emphasized by Jesus, contrasting outward rituals with inner heart. || Mic 6:8 | He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? | Similar to Hosea, defining God's true requirements over rigid rule-keeping. || Mt 15:1-9 | Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders?... 'You nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition.' | Jesus criticizing the Pharisees for upholding human tradition over God's commands. |
John 5 verses
John 5 12 Meaning
John 5:12 records the reaction of the Jewish authorities to the man healed by Jesus at the Pool of Bethesda. Instead of celebrating the miraculous healing of a man who had been infirm for thirty-eight years, their immediate concern was the perceived violation of the Sabbath law. They questioned the healed man, focusing not on his restored health but on the identity of the person who commanded him to pick up his bed and walk on the Sabbath, aiming to find grounds for accusation rather than understanding the divine power at work.
John 5 12 Context
John 5 opens with Jesus visiting Jerusalem for an unnamed feast, possibly a major festival, indicating a significant gathering of people and heightened religious observance. At the Pool of Bethesda, known for its multitude of sick, Jesus encounters a man who had been paralyzed for thirty-eight years. Without the man expressing a direct request for healing, Jesus takes the initiative, asking if he wants to get well (Jn 5:6), then commanding him to "Get up, pick up your mat and walk" (Jn 5:8). The man is immediately healed and does as commanded, carrying his bed. Verse 5:9 notes explicitly that "that day was a Sabbath." This fact is crucial, as the Jewish authorities immediately focus on this detail in Jn 5:10, confronting the healed man for carrying his mat. This sets the stage for the escalating conflict with the Jewish leaders concerning Jesus's identity and authority, especially over the Sabbath law. The context reveals a clash between divine compassion and miraculous power versus rigid, human-made interpretations of religious law.
John 5 12 Word analysis
- Then: Signifies an immediate sequence, showing the direct follow-up reaction of the Jewish authorities to the man carrying his bed on the Sabbath, as mentioned in the preceding verses.
- asked they him: The Greek word "epeerōtōn" (ἐπηρώτων) is in the imperfect tense, suggesting continuous or persistent questioning. It conveys a demanding inquiry rather than a curious one, implying they were pressing him for information to lay a charge. "They" refers to "the Jews" from verse 10, likely the religious authorities or leaders present. Their questioning is formal and accusatory, not celebratory of the miracle.
- What man is that: The Greek "tis estin ho anthrōpos" (τίς ἐστιν ὁ ἄνθρωπος) means literally "who is the man." Their primary concern is to identify the individual who issued the command to carry the bed. This indicates their focus on finding someone to blame for the perceived Sabbath transgression, rather than on the miracle of healing or the authority behind it. It highlights a legalistic concern over a spiritual reality.
- which said unto thee: Focuses directly on the command issued. The authorities are interested in the source of the instruction, which they considered unlawful on the Sabbath, intending to hold that person accountable.
- Take up thy bed: This specific command was given by Jesus in Jn 5:8. The Greek word for "bed" here is "krabaton" (κράββατον), a common term for a small mat or pallet often used by the poor or infirm. The very act of the healed man picking up this humble mat, a sign of his former incapacity, served as undeniable proof of his complete restoration. However, this act was deemed illegal under strict interpretations of Sabbath law.
- and walk?: The command to "walk" ("peripatei" - περιπάτει) signifies complete and total healing. The man was able to perform a normal human function denied to him for nearly four decades. This action, following the taking up of the mat, confirmed his full restoration, but also his "violation" of the Sabbath.
- Words-group: "What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?" This phrase encapsulates the Jewish leaders' spiritual blindness and misplaced priorities. They prioritize the rigid adherence to their Sabbath regulations over the immense miracle of healing. Their question is entirely accusatory and driven by legalism, seeking to apprehend the "offender" rather than giving glory to God for His intervention or seeking to understand the nature of the Healer. The question subtly highlights the irony of their religious piety—they missed the Divine entirely while meticulously upholding man-made interpretations of the Law.
John 5 12 Bonus section
The healed man's initial ignorance of Jesus's identity (Jn 5:13) stands in stark contrast to the spiritual insight he would later gain after encountering Jesus in the temple (Jn 5:14). This highlights the progression from physical healing to spiritual awakening. The authorities' failure to ask about the healing itself suggests their hardened hearts and their inability or unwillingness to see God's work. This scenario establishes Jesus as "Lord of the Sabbath" not through abstract claim, but through His compassionate and authoritative actions that fulfill the true intent of the Sabbath—restoration, liberation, and life.
John 5 12 Commentary
John 5:12 exposes a critical theological and spiritual divide. The Jewish authorities' interrogation of the healed man demonstrates their preoccupation with external observance of the Law, specifically their interpretation of Sabbath rules. They failed to grasp the significance of a divine act of mercy and power. Their concern was not "How was this miracle done?" or "Who possesses such power?", but "Who caused you to violate the Sabbath?" This attitude reveals a system where rules superseded compassion and divine revelation. The very action that publicly validated the healing—the man carrying his mat—became the precise point of contention for them. This legalistic focus, seeking to incriminate the one who restored life and wholeness, sets the stage for the severe opposition Jesus faced throughout His ministry, particularly regarding His claim of divine authority over the Sabbath. It underscores that true worship and understanding of God involve seeking justice and mercy, not merely external conformity to tradition.