Devine Scripture

John 5:3

What does John 5:3 mean?

A plain-English look at John 5:3 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What John 5:3 means

The porches are filled with a multitude—sick, blind, lame, and withered. The scene portrays the brokenness of humanity waiting for relief. It is a picture of longing and delay: many needs, little help. This verse prepares us to see Jesus’ compassion as He focuses not on the crowd in general but on an individual case. The list of conditions underscores the inadequacy of human remedies at the pool. Their waiting implies hope mixed with despair. Into this mass of suffering, Jesus will act sovereignly and specifically, reminding us that God’s mercy finds us in the very places where human resources are exhausted, and that His attention is personal even in a multitude.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

In these lay a multitude of them that were sick, blind, halt, withered.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

In these lay a multitude of them that were sick, blind, halt, withered.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

In these doorways there were a great number of people with different diseases: some unable to see, some without the power of walking, some with wasted bodies.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

in these were lying a great multitude of the ailing, blind, lame, withered, waiting for the moving of the water,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

In these lay a great multitude of sick, of blind, of lame, of withered: waiting for the moving of the water.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

In these lay a multitude of sick, blind, lame, withered, [awaiting the moving of the water.

Context

With the pool identified, John describes the human need gathered there, intensifying the emotional weight before the miracle in verses 5–9. The multitude forms the backdrop against which Jesus selects one man (verse 5), engages him (verse 6), hears his explanation (verse 7), and heals him (verses 8–9). This crowded setting helps explain why the healed man later cannot identify Jesus (verse 13). The public nature of the place also ensures that the ensuing Sabbath dispute (verses 10–18) will be unavoidable, propelling the narrative into Jesus’ discourse on His relationship with the Father (verses 19–47).

v.2Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheepgatea pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porches.

v.3This passage

v.4

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Lamentations 3:26

    It is good that a man should hope and quietly wait for the salvation of Jehovah.

  • Romans 8:25

    But if we hope for that which we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

  • 1 Kings 13:4

    And it came to pass, when the king heard the saying of the man of God, which he cried against the altar in Beth-el, that Jeroboam put forth his hand from the altar, saying, Lay hold on him. And his hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not draw it back again to him.

  • Proverbs 8:34

    Blessed is the man that heareth me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors.

  • James 5:7

    Be patient therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient over it, until it receive the early and latter rain.

  • Mark 3:1

    And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there who had his hand withered.

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