John 5 8

John 5:8 kjv

Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.

John 5:8 nkjv

Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your bed and walk."

John 5:8 niv

Then Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk."

John 5:8 esv

Jesus said to him, "Get up, take up your bed, and walk."

John 5:8 nlt

Jesus told him, "Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!"

John 5 verses

John 5 8 Meaning

John 5:8 records Jesus' authoritative command to the man who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years at the Pool of Bethesda. The verse directly states Jesus' instruction for the man to "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk," signifying an immediate, complete, and active restoration from his long-term infirmity. This command demonstrates Jesus' divine power to heal and bestow new life, bypassing the perceived supernatural qualities of the pool.

John 5 8 Context

John 5:8 is part of the narrative describing Jesus' healing of an invalid at the Pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem. This man had suffered from his infirmity for thirty-eight years, rendering him unable to enter the water when it was stirred, which was popularly believed to be the time of healing. Jesus encounters this man, seemingly singling him out among a great number of sick people. Instead of using rituals or asking about faith, Jesus directly commands him, initiating an instant and complete transformation. This miracle, performed on the Sabbath (Jn 5:9), immediately triggers controversy with the Jewish authorities, highlighting Jesus' sovereignty over legalistic interpretations of the law and His divine power to grant life and health.

John 5 8 Word analysis

• Jesus (Ὁ Ἰησοῦς - Ho Iesous): The subject of the command, emphasizing His divine identity and supreme authority. His personal presence and direct address are crucial, demonstrating that healing originates solely from Him, not from the pool or any ritual.
• said to him (εἶπεν αὐτῷ - eipen autō): Highlights a direct, personal encounter. This is not a generalized blessing but a specific, authoritative directive to an individual whom Jesus had specifically sought out.
• Get up! / Arise! (Ἔγεραι - Egerai): An imperative verb, demanding immediate action. "Egerai" is commonly used for "rise," "awaken," or "get up," but it also carries connotations of resurrection in biblical usage, subtly foreshadowing Jesus' power over death and His role as the giver of new life. It signifies a profound and immediate change from a state of paralysis and hopelessness to active restoration.
• Pick up (ἆρον - Aron): An imperative verb meaning "to lift" or "to take up." This command is active and requires participation from the healed man. It serves as tangible proof of his healing and demonstrates his new ability and freedom.
• your mat (τὸν κράβαττόν σου - ton krabattōn sou): Refers to the poor man's simple bedding or pallet. Carrying it away not only confirms the healing (he no longer needs to lie on it) but also serves as a public declaration. It symbolizes leaving behind the past of suffering and dependence and signifies that he is not simply relieved of pain, but entirely restored. Ironically, carrying this mat becomes the focal point of the Sabbath accusation (Jn 5:10).
• and walk (καὶ περιπάτει - kai peripatei): Another imperative verb, demanding continued action. "Peripatei" means "to walk around" or "to live life." It signifies a full return to normal function and a life of active movement. This contrasts sharply with 38 years of complete immobility and passivity, emphasizing the complete nature of the restoration and the freedom to engage fully in life.

• "Jesus said to him": Establishes Jesus' sovereign authority as the speaker, making His word the direct catalyst for change, distinct from any external means or human effort. His initiative underscores divine grace.
• "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk": This sequence of three swift imperatives (rise, take up, walk) reveals Jesus' complete power and immediate healing. It moves the man from a passive, prostrate state to an active, responsible agent. It also illustrates a progression from internal change (ability to rise) to external demonstration (picking up the mat) and sustained new life (walking). The commands collectively signify total physical and personal restoration.

John 5 8 Bonus section

The immediate and complete obedience of the man to Jesus' commands (to get up, pick up his mat, and walk) implies that not only was physical strength restored, but also the will and ability to act instantly after decades of being passive. This demonstrates that Jesus' power grants both the physical capacity and the necessary volitional change. The act of carrying his mat away on the Sabbath, though legally problematic according to some Jewish interpretations, served as an irrefutable testament to the miracle and publicly defied the limitations imposed by the religious authorities' legalism over acts of mercy and divine intervention. This act elevates the authority of the life-giver over human tradition.

John 5 8 Commentary

In John 5:8, Jesus bypasses any physical ritual or inquiry into faith, directly commanding a long-term invalid with a powerful, threefold imperative. "Get up!" signifies the immediate impartation of life and strength, drawing upon a verb often associated with resurrection. "Pick up your mat" acts as physical evidence of the healing and a symbolic break from the man's former life of helplessness, as he no longer needs it. It also paradoxically becomes the catalyst for controversy. "And walk" seals the miracle, indicating not merely relief but full, functional restoration. This passage underscores Jesus' unique, divine authority over physical infirmity, His active compassion, and His willingness to challenge religious legalism when it obstructs true mercy and God's powerful work. The healing is immediate, complete, and self-validating through the man's obedience.

• Practical Usage: Spiritually, this verse calls us to "get up" from complacency or spiritual paralysis, "pick up our mat" by abandoning burdens of past sin or old ways, and "walk" actively in the new life and freedom offered by Christ.