John 5 9

John 5:9 kjv

And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.

John 5:9 nkjv

And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.

John 5:9 niv

At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath,

John 5:9 esv

And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath.

John 5:9 nlt

Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking! But this miracle happened on the Sabbath,

John 5 verses

John 5 9 Meaning

John 5:9 describes the instantaneous and complete healing of a man who had been paralyzed for thirty-eight years at the pool of Bethesda. At Jesus' command, the man was immediately made whole, demonstrated by his ability to rise, pick up his mat, and walk. The verse concludes by highlighting that this significant event occurred on the Sabbath, setting the stage for the ensuing conflict with the Jewish authorities. It underscores Jesus' divine power to restore life and His direct challenge to the rigid interpretations of religious law.

John 5 9 Context

John 5:9 is part of Jesus' third sign in John's Gospel, performed during a Jewish feast in Jerusalem, likely Passover. Jesus visits the Pool of Bethesda, known for its infirm residents awaiting healing. There, He encounters a man who has been ill for 38 years. Instead of performing a ritual, Jesus simply commands him, "Rise, take up your bed, and walk." This immediate, demonstrative act of healing, occurring on the Sabbath, directly confronts the prevailing legalistic interpretations of the Mosaic Law held by the Jewish leaders. The act of carrying a "bed" (a small mat) on the Sabbath was considered a breach of rabbinic regulations, despite being an act of recovery rather than work. This controversy instantly shifts the narrative from the miracle itself to the ensuing theological and legal conflict, which forms the core of John chapter 5, establishing Jesus' authority over the Sabbath and His identity as God's Son.

John 5 9 Word analysis

• Immediately (Greek: Eutheōs - εὐθέως): This adverb signifies instantaneity and swiftness. It emphasizes the miraculous, undeniable nature of the healing. The healing was not gradual or partial, but a complete and sudden restoration of health, highlighting Jesus' divine power and authority over sickness. It also sets up the immediacy of the conflict that follows.

• the man (Greek: ho anthrōpos - ὁ ἄνθρωπος): Refers to the man who had been paralytic for 38 years. The focus shifts from his previous identity as "invalid" to simply "the man," signifying his restoration to full personhood and ability.

• was made well (Greek: hygiēs egeneto - ὑγιὴς ἐγένετο): Translates to "became healthy" or "became sound." This phrase signifies a complete and perfect restoration of physical health, not just an improvement. It underscores that the healing was absolute, empowering him to perform physical actions immediately.

• and he took up (Greek: kai ēren - καὶ ἦρεν): "Took up" means to lift or carry. This action demonstrates the man's full recovery and obedience to Jesus' command. It's not a mere act of convenience but a public demonstration of his renewed strength.

• his bed (Greek: autou ten krabaton - αὐτοῦ τὴν κράβαττον): Krabatton refers to a humble mat, pallet, or stretcher, often associated with the poor or infirm. It was easily portable, emphasizing that the command was a simple, yet legally significant, act of carrying on the Sabbath. This small item becomes the central object of controversy.

• and walked (Greek: kai periepatei - καὶ περιεπάτει): "Walked" (imperfect tense) implies he continued walking or began to move freely. It signifies full mobility and liberation from 38 years of confinement, confirming the profound and complete nature of the miracle. It shows that he was not only able to lift his bed, but also to use his legs.

• And that day (Greek: ē de hēmera ekeinē - ἦν δὲ ἡμέρα ἐκείνη): This phrase transitions the narrative. "That day" directly points to the particular significance of the timing. The abruptness indicates the central issue for the upcoming conflict.

• was the Sabbath (Greek: sabbatōn - σαββάτων): The seventh day of the week, consecrated for rest by divine command in the Old Testament. Jewish law, particularly as interpreted by the Pharisees, prohibited carrying burdens on the Sabbath (Jer 17:21-22). Jesus' healing on this day and the command to carry the mat deliberately challenges the rigid, traditional interpretations of Sabbath law, initiating the critical theological debate of the chapter.

• Immediately the man was made well, and he took up his bed and walked. This phrase underscores the power and authority of Jesus' word. The instantaneous recovery and the man's ability to perform actions previously impossible validate Jesus' divine claims and the reality of the miracle. It's a sign pointing to Christ's ability to bring complete spiritual and physical restoration.

• And that day was the Sabbath. This short, declarative sentence acts as a pivotal narrative turn. It immediately highlights the crucial point of contention and legal offense from the perspective of the Jewish authorities. It sets the stage for the persecution and debate concerning Jesus' identity and authority that follows. The Sabbath becomes not merely a temporal setting, but a theological battleground between divine authority and human legalism.

John 5 9 Bonus section

The act of the healed man taking up his krabattos (a small, lowly mat) contrasts sharply with the monumental act of healing. This particular detail is often highlighted by scholars to show that the religious authorities focused on the trivial violation of their traditions rather than the glorious miracle of a man's life being restored after nearly four decades of suffering. It also symbolizes the former burden (his mat, representing his long-term infirmity and immobility) now being carried with ease, a testament to his freedom and renewed strength provided by Christ. This specific Sabbath healing (and others like it in the Gospels) showcases a pattern where Jesus performs good and frees people on the day supposedly reserved for "rest" from work, thereby re-interpreting the true spirit of the Sabbath as a day for God's redemptive work to continue, a day of true rest found in healing and salvation, rather than adherence to man-made regulations.

John 5 9 Commentary

John 5:9 encapsulates a moment of profound divine intervention and sets the stage for escalating conflict. The immediate and complete restoration of the man's health by Jesus’ simple command highlights the absolute authority and life-giving power of Christ. The choice to heal and command the man to carry his mat on the Sabbath was a deliberate action, not an oversight. It directly challenged the prevailing, often legalistic, interpretations of Sabbath observance prevalent among the Jewish leaders of the day. For Jesus, divine compassion and the liberation of suffering individuals transcended the burdensome human-made rules of ritual. This miracle serves as a visible sign, confirming Jesus’ identity as the Lord of the Sabbath and equal to God, ultimately revealing the spiritual freedom found in Him, a freedom from both physical ailment and the bondage of rigid religiosity. The verse, therefore, moves beyond a simple miracle account to introduce the profound theological assertion of Jesus' identity and authority.