John 5:16

THE MESSAGE

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Therefore, the Jews began persecuting Jesus because he was doing these things on the Sabbath.

King James Version (1611)
And therefore did the Iewes persecute Iesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the Sabbath day.

King James Version
And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.

English Standard Version
And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath.

New American Standard Bible
For this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because He was doing these things on a Sabbath.

New Century Version
Because Jesus was doing this on the Sabbath day, some evil people began to persecute him.

Amplified Bible
For this reason the Jews began to persecute Jesus continually because He was doing these things on the Sabbath.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
For this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath.

Legacy Standard Bible
And for this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath.

Berean Standard Bible
Now because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews began to persecute Him.

Contemporary English Version
They started making a lot of trouble for Jesus because he did things like this on the Sabbath.

Complete Jewish Bible
and on account of this, the Judeans began harassing Yeshua because he did these things on Shabbat.

Darby Translation
And for this the Jews persecuted Jesus [and sought to kill him], because he had done these things on sabbath.

Easy-to-Read Version
Jesus was doing all this on the Sabbath day. So these Jews began trying to make him stop.

Geneva Bible (1587)
And therefore the Iewes did persecute Iesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the Sabbath day.

George Lamsa Translation
And for this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus and wanted to kill him, because he was doing these things on the sabbath.

Good News Translation
So they began to persecute Jesus, because he had done this healing on a Sabbath.

Lexham English Bible
And on account of this the Jews began to persecute Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath.

Literal Translation
And because of this, the Jews persecuted Jesus and lusted to kill Him, because He did these things on a sabbath.

American Standard Version
And for this cause the Jews persecuted Jesus, because he did these things on the sabbath.

Bible in Basic English
And for this reason the Jews were turned against Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath.

Hebrew Names Version
For this cause the Yehudim persecuted Yeshua, and sought to kill him, because he did these things on the Shabbat.

International Standard Version
So the Jews[fn] began persecuting Jesus because he kept doing such things on the Sabbath.

Etheridge Translation
On account of this the Jihudoyee persecuted Jeshu, and sought to kill him, because these things he had done on the shabath.

Murdock Translation
And for this cause the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill him; because he had done these things on the sabbath.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And therefore the Iewes dyd persecute Iesus, and sought [the meanes] to slea hym, because he hadde done these thynges on the Sabboth day.

English Revised Version
And for this cause did the Jews persecute Jesus, because he did these things on the sabbath.

World English Bible
For this cause the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill him, because he did these things on the Sabbath.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And therefore the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill him, because he had done these things on the sabbath.

Weymouth's New Testament
and on this account the Jews began to persecute Jesus--because He did these things on the Sabbath.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor the Jewis pursueden Jhesu, for he dide this thing in the sabat.

Update Bible Version
And for this cause the Jews persecuted Jesus, because he did these things on the Sabbath.

Webster's Bible Translation
And therefore the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath.

New English Translation
Now because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began persecuting him.

New King James Version
For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, [fn] because He had done these things on the Sabbath.

New Living Translation
So the Jewish leaders began harassing Jesus for breaking the Sabbath rules.

New Life Bible
Because Jesus did these things on the Day of Rest, the Jews made it very hard for Him.

New Revised Standard
Therefore the Jews started persecuting Jesus, because he was doing such things on the sabbath.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, on this account, were the Jews persecuting Jesus, because, these things, he had been doing, on Sabbath.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, because he did these things on the sabbath.

Revised Standard Version
And this was why the Jews persecuted Jesus, because he did this on the sabbath.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And therfore the Iewes dyd persecute Iesus and sought the meanes to slee him because he had done these thinges on the Saboth daye.

Young's Literal Translation
and because of this were the Jews persecuting Jesus, and seeking to kill him, because these things he was doing on a sabbath.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Therfore dyd ye Iewes persecute Iesus, and sought to slaye him, because he had done this vpo ye Sabbath.

Mace New Testament (1729)
upon which occasion the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he did such things on the sabbath-day.

Simplified Cowboy Version
So the Jewish leaders started nit-picking Jesus about healing a man on the day of rest.

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

persecute: John 15:20, Acts 9:4, Acts 9:5

and sought: John 5:13, John 7:19, John 7:20, John 7:25, John 10:39, Matthew 12:13, Mark 3:6, Luke 6:11

Reciprocal: Exodus 35:2 - whosoever Matthew 12:2 - Behold Luke 6:2 - Why Luke 13:14 - with John 8:37 - but John 9:14 - General John 11:46 - General John 11:57 - had Hebrews 12:3 - contradiction

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus,.... With their tongues, reproaching and reviling him, as a sabbath breaker, a destroyer of the law, and a sinful wicked man:

and sought to slay him; either in a violent way, by setting the zealots, a sort of ruffians under the pretence of religion, upon him; or rather in a judicial way, summoning him before the sanhedrim, in order to condemn him to death for the breach of the sabbath, which by the law of Moses was punishable with death:

because he had done these things on the sabbath day; because he had cured the man of his disease, under which he had laboured eight and thirty years, and had ordered him to take up his bed, and walk home with it on his back on the sabbath day. This drew upon him their resentment to such a degree, that they not only persecuted him with their tongues, but sought to take away his life. Nothing would satisfy them but his blood.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Persecuted Jesus - They opposed him; attempted to ruin his character; to destroy his popularity; and probably held him up before the people as a violator of the law of God. Instead of making inquiry whether he had not given proof that he was the Messiah, they “assumed” that he must be wrong, and ought to be punished. Thus every bigot and persecutor does in regard to those who differ from them.

To slay him - To put him to death. This they attempted to do because it was directed in the law of Moses, Exodus 31:15; Exodus 35:2. See Luke 6:7, Luke 6:11; Luke 13:14. We see here,

1. How full of enmity and how bloody was the purpose of the Jews, All that Jesus had done was to restore an infirm man to health - a thing which they would have done for their cattle Luke 6:7, and yet they sought. his life because he had done it for a sick “man.”

2. Men are often extremely envious because good is done by others, especially if it is not done according to the way of their denomination or party.

3. Here was an instance of the common feelings of a hypocrite. He often covers his enmity against the power of religion by great zeal for the form of it. He hates and persecutes those who do good, who seek the conversion of sinners, who love revivals of religion and the spread of the gospel, because it is not according to some matter of form which has been established, and on which he supposes the whole safety of the church to hang. There was nothing that Jesus was more opposed to than hypocrisy, and nothing that he set himself more against than those who suppose all goodness to consist in “forms,” and all piety in the “shibboleths” of a party.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse John 5:16. And sought to slay him — This clause is omitted by BCDL, some others, and several ancient versions. Griesbach has left it out of the text; and Professor White says, certissime delenda: but it does not appear to me that it should be omitted. However, it was true of the Jews, whether the words were originally in the evangelist or not. For what cause did these persons seek to destroy our Lord? Because he had healed a poor man, who had been diseased thirty-eight years, and ordered him to carry home the couch on which he lay! How implacable must their malice have been! The spirit of religious persecution has always been the most fell and dangerous of all on this side perdition. Every other disposition appears to have its moderator; but this is wholly abandoned to the guidance of Satan, and has for its objects the men who know the truth, and who live to the glory of their God, and for the benefit of mankind. How strange that such should ever be objects of malice and hatred! But the Satanic nature in fallen man is ever opposed to whatever comes from God.