John 5:2 kjv
Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.
John 5:2 nkjv
Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches.
John 5:2 niv
Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades.
John 5:2 esv
Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades.
John 5:2 nlt
Inside the city, near the Sheep Gate, was the pool of Bethesda, with five covered porches.
John 5 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 5:2 | "Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool..." | Jn 5:2 (This Verse) |
| Neh 3:1 | "...and they consecrated it and set up its doors. They consecrated it to the wall of the Sheep Gate..." | Neh 3:1 (Sheep Gate location) |
| Neh 3:3 | "The sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate; they laid its beams and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars." | Neh 3:3 (Fish Gate) |
| Neh 12:39 | "...and they went up to the City of David by the Stairway of the City, from the Gate of Ephraim to the East Gate, the Tower of Hananel, and the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Sheep Gate. And they halted at the Gate of the Ephraim, by the Old Gate." | Neh 12:39 (Sheep Gate, City of David) |
| Ps 30:2 | "O LORD my God, I cried to You for help, and You healed me." | Ps 30:2 (Theme of healing) |
| Is 53:5 | "But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed." | Is 53:5 (Jesus as healer) |
| Jer 33:6 | "Behold, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them and reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth." | Jer 33:6 (God's healing promise) |
| Ezek 47:8 | "Then he said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, and enters the sea; when it mixes with the sea, its waters become fresh." | Ezek 47:8 (Life-giving waters) |
| Ezek 47:12 | "And by the river on its bank, on this side and on that, will grow all kinds of trees for food, whose leaf shall not fall, nor shall its fruit be diminished. It shall bring forth abundantly because its waters issued from the sanctuary. Its fruit shall be for food, and its leaf for medicine." | Ezek 47:12 (Water and fruit for healing) |
| Matt 4:23 | "And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every affliction among the people." | Matt 4:23 (Jesus' ministry of healing) |
| Matt 9:35 | "Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every affliction." | Matt 9:35 (Jesus' ministry of healing) |
| Luke 6:19 | "And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power was coming from him and healing them all." | Luke 6:19 (Jesus' healing power) |
| Acts 3:6 | "But Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”" | Acts 3:6 (Healing in Jesus' name) |
| Acts 4:12 | "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”" | Acts 4:12 (Salvation only in Jesus) |
| Jn 5:4 | "For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first after the stirring of the water was made well, whatever ailment he had." | Jn 5:4 (Belief in angelic stirring) |
| Mk 5:25-29 | "And a certain woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse..." | Mk 5:25-29 (Woman healed by touching Jesus) |
| Jn 9:1-7 | "As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. ... So he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. He anointed the man's eyes with the mud and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). He went and washed and came seeing." | Jn 9:1-7 (Healing at another pool) |
| Rom 15:4 | "For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." | Rom 15:4 (Old Testament for instruction) |
| Gal 4:4 | "But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law..." | Gal 4:4 (Fulness of time) |
| 1 Cor 1:18 | "For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." | 1 Cor 1:18 (Power of God) |
John 5 verses
John 5 2 Meaning
John 5:2 describes a specific location in Jerusalem known as the Pool of Bethesda. This pool was a place where many people suffering from various ailments gathered, hoping for healing.
John 5 2 Context
This verse sets the scene for Jesus' miraculous healing of a man who had been an invalid for 38 years. The pool of Bethesda was located in Jerusalem, near the Sheep Gate. The historical and cultural context suggests it was a place known for its association with supposed healing powers. Many sick and disabled people gathered here, particularly after the belief arose that an angel periodically stirred the waters, causing them to have therapeutic properties. This expectation of a physical, opportune healing highlights the desperate faith of those who waited, contrasting with the deeper, spiritual healing Jesus offered.
John 5 2 Word Analysis
- Now: Indicates the commencement of a new thought or description.
- there: Refers to a specific place.
- is: States existence.
- in: Signifies location within.
- Jerusalem: The holy city, capital of Israel, a focal point of Jewish life and worship.
- by: Indicates proximity to.
- the: Definite article, specifying.
- Sheep Gate: A gate in Jerusalem's northern wall, through which sacrificial lambs were brought to the Temple. Its location implies a connection to the Temple precinct and religious activities.
- a: Indefinite article, introducing an unspecific instance of.
- pool: A body of standing water.
- called: Named or identified as.
- in: Within.
- Hebrew: Refers to the Hebrew language and people; the name itself carries significant meaning.
- Bethesda: The name of the pool. Its exact meaning is debated, but commonly suggested meanings relate to "house of mercy" or "house of grace." This meaning is deeply ironic given the context of suffering and the eventual healing provided by Jesus, the embodiment of God's mercy and grace.
- having: Possessing or containing.
- five: The number itself, potentially suggesting the structure or number of porticoes or Colonnades around the pool.
- roofs: Refers to porticoes or Colonnades, which were covered walkways or structures providing shelter. The mention of five such areas likely describes the architectural design of the pool area, offering space for many people to rest.
- Colonades/Porticoes: These structures provided shade and protection from the elements for the large number of people gathered. This physical description emphasizes the scene of sickness and waiting.
Words Group Analysis:
- "by the Sheep Gate": This detail roots the location within Jerusalem and connects it to the Temple’s activities, suggesting a place adjacent to sacred precincts. The Sheep Gate was the entry point for sacrificial animals, a poignant association with sacrifice and purity that foreshadows Jesus, the ultimate sacrifice.
- "called in the Hebrew Bethesda": The use of the Hebrew name connects the event to Jewish tradition and scripture. The proposed meaning, "house of mercy" or "house of grace," is particularly significant. It serves as a powerful foreshadowing of Jesus, who embodies God's mercy and grace, and who would soon offer true, divine healing at this very location. The name itself creates an ironic backdrop, a "house of mercy" filled with those receiving no mercy from the pool's reputed power.
- "having five porticoes": This describes the physical structure of the pool complex, indicating a substantial gathering place. The "five roofs" or porticoes would have housed a large number of infirm individuals, emphasizing the scale of human suffering and desperation present at this location. This architectural detail makes the scene more vivid and emphasizes the multitudes waiting for a physical cure.
John 5 2 Bonus Section
The tradition of the angel stirring the waters, mentioned in John 5:4 (though not in verse 2 itself), is a key element contributing to the scene's atmosphere. While not found in the earliest Greek manuscripts of John's Gospel, its presence in later ones and early traditions indicates a strong understanding or embellishment of the pool's reputed power. This belief reflects an attempt by people to understand or orchestrate divine intervention in their lives, seeking a mechanical, albeit supernatural, means of healing. This human endeavor for direct, tangible intervention contrasts sharply with Jesus' more profound offer of spiritual and eternal life, His healing being rooted in His identity and divine authority, not a temporal stirring of waters. The Sheep Gate's proximity to the Temple reinforces the theme of sacrificial cleansing and restoration, which Jesus, as the Lamb of God, ultimately fulfills.
John 5 2 Commentary
John 5:2 introduces the setting of Bethesda, a pool in Jerusalem renowned not for its water's natural properties, but for the belief in supernatural healing through an angel's intervention. This belief highlights humanity's perpetual search for physical restoration and a quick fix, often seeking physical manifestations of divine power rather than embracing God's deeper redemptive work. The name "Bethesda," meaning "house of mercy" or "house of grace," becomes deeply symbolic as it contrasts with the palpable suffering and unmet expectations of the people gathered there. It foreshadows Jesus, who truly embodies divine mercy and grace, and who offers not just physical, but eternal healing, starting with the man He encounters here. The five porticoes suggest a well-established gathering place for the afflicted, a scene of communal desperation.