John 5:4 kjv
For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
John 5:4 nkjv
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 of whatever disease he had.
John 5 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 5:4 | "...for an angel went down at certain seasons into the pool and stirred the water; whoever stepped in first after the stirring was made well." | Fulfillment of the desire for healing |
| 2 Kings 5:10 | "So he sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.”" | God's appointed means of healing |
| Exodus 15:25 | "...and he cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a tree. He threw it into the water, and the waters were made sweet..." | Divine intervention for purification |
| Psalm 30:2 | "O LORD my God, I cried out to You, and You healed me." | God as the ultimate healer |
| Isaiah 53:5 | "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him..." | Christ's healing through His sacrifice |
| Matthew 10:1 | "And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease." | Authority to heal given to disciples |
| Mark 5:34 | "And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”" | Healing through faith |
| Luke 4:18 | "“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind..." | Jesus' ministry of healing |
| Luke 6:19 | "And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all." | Universal healing power of Jesus |
| Acts 3:2-10 | Describes a lame man healed at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple. | Healing by apostolic power |
| Acts 4:30 | "by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.”" | Healing in Jesus' name |
| Romans 15:19 | "...in the power of the Spirit of God, so that I have fully preached the gospel of Christ from Jerusalem to Illyricum..." | Healing as evidence of the Gospel |
| 1 Corinthians 12:9 | "...to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit..." | Gifts of healing from the Spirit |
| Revelation 22:1 | "Then he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb." | Source of ultimate life and healing |
| Revelation 22:17 | "And the Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!' And let him who hears say, 'Come!' And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely." | Invitation to receive life and healing |
| John 5:8 | "Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.”" | Jesus' superior healing power |
| John 11:3-4 | "So when He heard that, He said, 'This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.'" | Sickness used for God's glory |
| Matthew 15:22-28 | A Canaanite woman whose daughter was demon-possessed. | Faith as key to receiving |
| 1 Peter 2:24 | "Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed." | Healing through Christ's suffering |
| John 4:14 | "But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”" | Jesus as the source of living water |
John 5 verses
John 5 4 Meaning
This verse describes a specific occurrence at the Pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem, where an angel descended and stirred the waters. The belief held by many present was that the first person to enter the pool after this stirring would be healed of whatever ailment they had.
John 5 4 Context
John chapter 5 recounts Jesus' visit to Jerusalem during a festival. He encounters a man who has been an invalid for 38 years at the Pool of Bethesda. This pool was a gathering place for many sick people, as it was believed that at certain times, an angel would stir the waters, and the first person to enter would be healed. This practice reflects a prevalent belief system and perhaps a degree of superstitious expectation among the people seeking divine intervention. Jesus bypasses this perceived intermediary and directly heals the man, highlighting His authority and unique power. The verse serves to explain the common belief system surrounding the pool, providing the backdrop against which Jesus' miraculous healing of the man is presented. This setting is important for understanding the opposition Jesus later faces from the Jewish leaders, who challenge the man's healing on the Sabbath day, the day of the miracle.
John 5 4 Word Analysis
- "...for (gar - γάρ): A conjunction introducing a reason or explanation. Here, it explains why so many disabled people gathered at the pool.
- an (tis - τις): An indefinite pronoun, meaning "a certain" or "some."
- angel (angelos - ἄγγελος): A messenger, especially a divine messenger. Refers to a celestial being acting as God's agent.
- went down (katabasis - κατάβασις): Descent or going down. Implies movement from a higher place to a lower one.
- at certain seasons (en kairois - ἐν καιροῖς): Literally "in times." Indicates a recurring, though perhaps irregular or unannounced, event. The KJV "season" is a good interpretation.
- into the pool (eis tēn kolymbēthran - εἰς τὴν κολυμβήθραν): "Kolymbēthra" refers to a swimming pool or a large tank for bathing. Here, it specifies the location.
- and stirred (eneballein - ἐνέβαλλον): The imperfect tense suggests a continuous or repeated action of stirring. "Troubled" is a common translation for "eneballein" in this context, referring to disturbing the water.
- the water (to hydōr - τὸ ὕδωρ): Water.
- whoever (hos - ὅς): A relative pronoun introducing a conditional clause.
- stepped in first (prōtos echō - πρῶτος ἔχω): Literally "having the first." Indicates the immediate succession to the event of stirring.
- after the stirring (meta tên analogēn - μετὰ τὴν ἀνάλογον): After the stirring. The precise meaning of the word translated "stirring" here has been debated, but it refers to the action of the angel.
- was made well (yghainō - ὑγιαίνω): To be healthy, sound, or healed.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "...for an angel went down at certain seasons into the pool and stirred the water...": This clause explains the tradition associated with the Pool of Bethesda. The concept of divine intervention in the natural world, especially for healing, was common in ancient beliefs. The specificity of "certain seasons" suggests a known but perhaps unpredictable occurrence, feeding into the anticipation and hope of the afflicted. The action of "stirring" the water is key to the belief that it activated a healing property.
- "...whoever stepped in first after the stirring was made well.": This part outlines the "rule" for receiving healing. The emphasis on being "first" indicates a competitive element, fueled by desperation. The consequence of this action was physical healing. This belief system emphasizes the physical manifestation of divine power, mediated through a natural element (water) and a celestial messenger.
John 5 4 Bonus Section
The mention of the angel and the stirred water at Bethesda highlights a potential blend of superstition and genuine spiritual expectation in the populace. While the Old Testament does show God using water in miraculous ways (e.g., parting the Red Sea), the specific tradition at Bethesda is not explicitly recorded in the Old Testament scriptures, leading some scholars to question its full historicity or interpretation. However, its inclusion in the Gospel of John serves a vital narrative purpose: to showcase Jesus as the ultimate answer to the deepest human needs for healing and life, superseding any earthly or angelic intermediaries. Jesus' subsequent statement about giving "living water" in John 7 directly contrasts with the Bethesda pool, offering an eternal, ever-present source of spiritual refreshment and life.
John 5 4 Commentary
The Pool of Bethesda was a place of significant human suffering and hope. The belief in an angel stirring the waters for healing reveals a contemporary understanding of divine interaction with the world, one that was tangible and directly tied to physical well-being. This verse sets the scene for Jesus' confrontation with the religious authorities. His direct, instantaneous healing of the invalid man, without needing the ritualistic stirring of the water or the race to enter, demonstrates His superior authority and power over the established religious customs and perceived means of divine favor. Jesus offers a healing that transcends the limitations of the pool's supposed efficacy and the timing of angelic intervention, pointing to Himself as the ultimate source of living water and true healing. The faith required by the invalid was in Jesus, not in the water.