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THE MESSAGE

John 5:10

Even on the Sabbath Soon another Feast came around and Jesus was back in Jerusalem. Near the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem there was a pool, in Hebrew called Bethesda, with five alcoves. Hundreds of sick people—blind, crippled, paralyzed—were in these alcoves. One man had been an invalid there for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him stretched out by the pool and knew how long he had been there, he said, "Do you want to get well?" The sick man said, "Sir, when the water is stirred, I don't have anybody to put me in the pool. By the time I get there, somebody else is already in." Jesus said, "Get up, take your bedroll, start walking." The man was healed on the spot. He picked up his bedroll and walked off. That day happened to be the Sabbath. The Jews stopped the healed man and said, "It's the Sabbath. You can't carry your bedroll around. It's against the rules."

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Jesus, the Christ;   Miracles;   Sabbath;   Thompson Chain Reference - False;   Legalism;   Religion;   Religion, True-False;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - John, gospel of;   Sabbath;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Baptize, Baptism;   Miracle;   Sabbath;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Bed;   Jesus Christ;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Diseases;   Hour;   John, the Gospel of;   Pallet;   Sabbath;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Jesus Christ;   Law;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Bed;   Dates (2);   Death of Christ;   Dropsy;   Grace ;   Israel, Israelite;   Jews;   John Epistles of;   Psalms (2);   Quotations (2);   Sabbath ;   Salvation;   Worldliness (2);   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Bed, Bedstead;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Sabbath;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Jesus of Nazareth;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Bed;   Cure;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for February 1;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
and so the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “This is the Sabbath. The law prohibits you from picking up your mat.”
King James Version (1611)
The Iewes therefore said vnto him that was cured, It is the Sabbath day, it is not lawfull for thee to cary thy bed.
King James Version
The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.
English Standard Version
So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, "It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed."
New American Standard Bible
So the Jews were saying to the man who was cured, "It is a Sabbath, and it is not permissible for you to carry your pallet."
New Century Version
So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, "Today is the Sabbath. It is against our law for you to carry your mat on the Sabbath day."
Amplified Bible
So the Jews kept saying to the man who had been healed, "It is the Sabbath, and you are not permitted to pick up your pallet [because it is unlawful]."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
So the Jews were saying to the man who was cured, "It is the Sabbath, and it is not permissible for you to carry your pallet."
Legacy Standard Bible
So the Jews were saying to the man who had been healed, "It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to carry your mat."
Berean Standard Bible
so the Jews said to the man who had been healed, "This is the Sabbath! It is unlawful for you to carry your mat."
Contemporary English Version
When the Jewish leaders saw the man carrying his mat, they said to him, "This is the Sabbath! No one is allowed to carry a mat on the Sabbath."
Complete Jewish Bible
so the Judeans said to the man who had been healed, "It's Shabbat! It's against Torah for you to carry your mat!"
Darby Translation
The Jews therefore said to the healed [man], It is sabbath, it is not permitted thee to take up thy couch.
Easy-to-Read Version
So some Jews said to the man who had been healed, "Today is the Sabbath. It is against our law for you to carry your mat on the Sabbath day."
Geneva Bible (1587)
The Iewes therefore said to him that was made whole, It is the Sabbath day: it is not lawfull for thee to cary thy bed.
George Lamsa Translation
So the Jews said to him who was healed, It is the sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your quilt-bed.
Good News Translation
so the Jewish authorities told the man who had been healed, "This is a Sabbath, and it is against our Law for you to carry your mat."
Lexham English Bible
So the Jews were saying to the one who had been healed, "It is the Sabbath, and it is not permitted for you to pick up the mat!"
Literal Translation
Then the Jews said to the one having been healed, It is a sabbath. It is not lawful for you to lift up the cot.
American Standard Version
So the Jews said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath, and it is not lawful for thee to take up thy bed.
Bible in Basic English
So the Jews said to the man who had been made well, It is the Sabbath; and it is against the law for you to take up your bed.
Hebrew Names Version
So the Yehudim said to him who was cured, "It is the Shabbat. It is not lawful for you to carry the mat."
International Standard Version
So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, "It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to carry your mat."Exodus 20:10; Nehemiah 13:19; Jeremiah 17:21; Matthew 12:2; Mark 2:24; 3:4; Luke 6:2; 13:14;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
And the Jihudoyee said to him who had been healed, This is the shabath: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.
Murdock Translation
And the Jews said to him that was healed: It is the sabbath; it is not lawful for thee to bear thy bed.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
The Iewes therfore sayde vnto hym that was made whole: It is the Sabboth day, it is not lawfull for thee to carie thy bedde.
English Revised Version
So the Jews said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath, and it is not lawful for thee to take up thy bed.
World English Bible
So the Jews said to him who was cured, "It is the Sabbath. It is not lawful for you to carry the mat."
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Then said the Jews to him that was healed, It is the sabbath; it is not lawful for thee to take up the bed.
Weymouth's New Testament
That day was a Sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who had been cured, "It is the Sabbath: you must not carry your mat."
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor the Jewis seiden to him that was maad hool, It is sabat, it is not leueful to thee, to take awei thi bed.
Update Bible Version
So the Jews said to him that was cured, It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed.
Webster's Bible Translation
The Jews therefore said to him that was cured, it is the sabbath; it is not lawful for thee to carry [thy] bed.
New English Translation
So the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, "It is the Sabbath, and you are not permitted to carry your mat."
New King James Version
The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, "It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed."
New Living Translation
so the Jewish leaders objected. They said to the man who was cured, "You can't work on the Sabbath! The law doesn't allow you to carry that sleeping mat!"
New Life Bible
The Jews said to the man who had been healed, "This is the Day of Rest. It is against the Law for you to carry your bed."
New Revised Standard
So the Jews said to the man who had been cured, "It is the sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your mat."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
The Jews, therefore, were saying, unto him who had been cured - It is, Sabbath; and it is not allowable for thee to take up thy couch: -
Douay-Rheims Bible
The Jews therefore said to him that was healed: It is the sabbath. It is not lawful for thee to take up thy bed.
Revised Standard Version
So the Jews said to the man who was cured, "It is the sabbath, it is not lawful for you to carry your pallet."
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
The Iewes therfore sayde vnto him that was made whole. It is ye Saboth daye it is not laufull for the to cary thy beed
Young's Literal Translation
the Jews then said to him that hath been healed, `It is a sabbath; it is not lawful to thee to take up the couch.'
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Then sayde the Iewes vnto him that was made whole: To daye is ye Sabbath, it is not laufull for the to cary the bed.
Mace New Testament (1729)
the Jews said to him that was cured, it is the sabbath-day; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.
Simplified Cowboy Version
so the Jewish leaders weren't too happy about it. They approached the man and said, "You can't be carrying your bedroll around on the day of rest. That is against our laws."

Contextual Overview

1Soon another Feast came around and Jesus was back in Jerusalem. Near the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem there was a pool, in Hebrew called Bethesda, with five alcoves. Hundreds of sick people—blind, crippled, paralyzed—were in these alcoves. One man had been an invalid there for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him stretched out by the pool and knew how long he had been there, he said, "Do you want to get well?" 7 The sick man said, "Sir, when the water is stirred, I don't have anybody to put me in the pool. By the time I get there, somebody else is already in." 8Jesus said, "Get up, take your bedroll, start walking." The man was healed on the spot. He picked up his bedroll and walked off. That day happened to be the Sabbath. The Jews stopped the healed man and said, "It's the Sabbath. You can't carry your bedroll around. It's against the rules." But he told them, "The man who made me well told me to. He said, ‘Take your bedroll and start walking.'" They asked, "Who gave you the order to take it up and start walking?" But the healed man didn't know, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd. A little later Jesus found him in the Temple and said, "You look wonderful! You're well! Don't return to a sinning life or something worse might happen." The man went back and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. That is why the Jews were out to get Jesus—because he did this kind of thing on the Sabbath. But Jesus defended himself. "My Father is working straight through, even on the Sabbath. So am I." That really set them off. The Jews were now not only out to expose him; they were out to kill him. Not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was calling God his own Father, putting himself on a level with God. So Jesus explained himself at length. "I'm telling you this straight. The Son can't independently do a thing, only what he sees the Father doing. What the Father does, the Son does. The Father loves the Son and includes him in everything he is doing. "But you haven't seen the half of it yet, for in the same way that the Father raises the dead and creates life, so does the Son. The Son gives life to anyone he chooses. Neither he nor the Father shuts anyone out. The Father handed all authority to judge over to the Son so that the Son will be honored equally with the Father. Anyone who dishonors the Son, dishonors the Father, for it was the Father's decision to put the Son in the place of honor. "It's urgent that you listen carefully to this: Anyone here who believes what I am saying right now and aligns himself with the Father, who has in fact put me in charge, has at this very moment the real, lasting life and is no longer condemned to be an outsider. This person has taken a giant step from the world of the dead to the world of the living. "It's urgent that you get this right: The time has arrived—I mean right now!—when dead men and women will hear the voice of the Son of God and, hearing, will come alive. Just as the Father has life in himself, he has conferred on the Son life in himself. And he has given him the authority, simply because he is the Son of Man, to decide and carry out matters of Judgment. "Don't act so surprised at all this. The time is coming when everyone dead and buried will hear his voice. Those who have lived the right way will walk out into a resurrection Life; those who have lived the wrong way, into a resurrection Judgment. "I can't do a solitary thing on my own: I listen, then I decide. You can trust my decision because I'm not out to get my own way but only to carry out orders. If I were simply speaking on my own account, it would be an empty, self-serving witness. But an independent witness confirms me, the most reliable Witness of all. Furthermore, you all saw and heard John, and he gave expert and reliable testimony about me, didn't he? "But my purpose is not to get your vote, and not to appeal to mere human testimony. I'm speaking to you this way so that you will be saved. John was a torch, blazing and bright, and you were glad enough to dance for an hour or so in his bright light. But the witness that really confirms me far exceeds John's witness. It's the work the Father gave me to complete. These very tasks, as I go about completing them, confirm that the Father, in fact, sent me. The Father who sent me, confirmed me. And you missed it. You never heard his voice, you never saw his appearance. There is nothing left in your memory of his Message because you do not take his Messenger seriously. "You have your heads in your Bibles constantly because you think you'll find eternal life there. But you miss the forest for the trees. These Scriptures are all about me! And here I am, standing right before you, and you aren't willing to receive from me the life you say you want. "I'm not interested in crowd approval. And do you know why? Because I know you and your crowds. I know that love, especially God's love, is not on your working agenda. I came with the authority of my Father, and you either dismiss me or avoid me. If another came, acting self-important, you would welcome him with open arms. How do you expect to get anywhere with God when you spend all your time jockeying for position with each other, ranking your rivals and ignoring God? "But don't think I'm going to accuse you before my Father. Moses, in whom you put so much stock, is your accuser. If you believed, really believed, what Moses said, you would believe me. He wrote of me. If you won't take seriously what he wrote, how can I expect you to take seriously what I speak?" 10Even on the Sabbath Soon another Feast came around and Jesus was back in Jerusalem. Near the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem there was a pool, in Hebrew called Bethesda, with five alcoves. Hundreds of sick people—blind, crippled, paralyzed—were in these alcoves. One man had been an invalid there for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him stretched out by the pool and knew how long he had been there, he said, "Do you want to get well?" The sick man said, "Sir, when the water is stirred, I don't have anybody to put me in the pool. By the time I get there, somebody else is already in." Jesus said, "Get up, take your bedroll, start walking." The man was healed on the spot. He picked up his bedroll and walked off. That day happened to be the Sabbath. The Jews stopped the healed man and said, "It's the Sabbath. You can't carry your bedroll around. It's against the rules." 11 But he told them, "The man who made me well told me to. He said, ‘Take your bedroll and start walking.'" 12They asked, "Who gave you the order to take it up and start walking?" But the healed man didn't know, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd. 14 A little later Jesus found him in the Temple and said, "You look wonderful! You're well! Don't return to a sinning life or something worse might happen." 15The man went back and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. That is why the Jews were out to get Jesus—because he did this kind of thing on the Sabbath.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

it is not: Exodus 20:8-11, Exodus 31:12-17, Nehemiah 13:15-21, Isaiah 58:13, Jeremiah 17:21, Jeremiah 17:27, Matthew 12:2-8, Mark 2:24, Mark 3:4, Luke 6:2, Luke 13:14, Luke 23:56

Reciprocal: Matthew 12:10 - Is it Luke 6:7 - watched John 5:9 - and on

Gill's Notes on the Bible

The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured,.... When they saw him, either at the place, or as he walked through the streets, with his bed on his back:

it is the sabbath day: do not you know it? surely you forget yourself, or you would never be guilty of such an action as this;

it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed. It was forbid by the law, to carry any burden on the sabbath day; see Nehemiah 13:15; for

"carrying out and bringing in anything, from one place to another, is said x to be work, and one of the principal works;''

and therefore forbid by the law, which says, "thou shall not do any work"; and one of the traditions of the elders is this y,

"whoever carries anything out (i.e. on the sabbath day), whether in his right hand, or in his left, in his bosom, or על כתיפו, "on his shoulder", is guilty; for so carried the Kohathites.''

And particularly it is said z, that

"he that rolls up a bed of the brasiers or tinkers (i.e. on the sabbath day) is bound to a sin offering.''

Which was a fold up bed, such as tinkers, and those that went from city to city to work, had; and who carried their beds with them, as the gloss observes; and were so far from being lawful to be carried by them, on the sabbath, that they might not fold them up.

x Maimon. Hilchot Sabbat, c. 12. sect. 6. y Misn. Sabbat, c. 10. sect. 3. z T. Bab. Sabbat, fol. 47. 1. & 138. 1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Not lawful - It was forbidden, they supposed, in the Old Testament. The Jews were very strenuous in the observation of the external duties of religion.


 
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