John 5:2

KJV

Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep [market] a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.

KJV (with Strong's)

Now {G1161} there is {G2076} at {G1722} Jerusalem {G2414} by {G1909} the sheep {G4262} market a pool {G2861}, which {G3588} is called {G1951} in the Hebrew tongue {G1447} Bethesda {G964}, having {G2192} five {G4002} porches {G4745}.

Complete Jewish Bible

In Yerushalayim, by the Sheep Gate, is a pool called in Aramaic, Beit-Zata,

Berean Standard Bible

Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool with five covered colonnades, which in Hebrew is called Bethesda.

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
John 5:2 meticulously sets the scene for one of Jesus' most profound miracles in Jerusalem, introducing the Pool of Bethesda as a specific, historically identifiable location. This verse provides crucial geographical and architectural details, describing a pool near the Sheep Gate, known in Hebrew as Bethesda, and characterized by its five colonnaded porches. These precise descriptions not only ground the ensuing narrative in historical reality but also subtly prepare the reader for the significant encounter between Jesus and a paralyzed man, highlighting a place of profound human suffering awaiting divine intervention.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows the opening of [John chapter 5](/john/5 "John 5 - Healing at Bethesda"), which transitions from Jesus' ministry in Galilee and Samaria (as described in [John 4](/john/4 "John 4 - Jesus and the Samaritan Woman")) to a significant period of activity in Jerusalem. [John 5:1](/john/5-1 "John 5:1 - Jesus goes to Jerusalem") states that Jesus went up to Jerusalem for "a feast of the Jews," though the specific feast is not named. [John 5:2](/john/5-2 "John 5:2 - Description of Bethesda") then provides the precise setting for the miracle that will unfold, introducing the Pool of Bethesda. The subsequent verses ([John 5:3-4](/john/5-3-4 "John 5:3-4 - The Sick Waiting by the Pool")) describe the multitude of sick, blind, lame, and paralyzed people gathered at the pool, waiting for the water to be stirred, an ancient belief tied to healing. This detailed setting underscores the desperate human need that Jesus is about to address, making His intervention in [John 5:5-9](/john/5-5-9 "John 5:5-9 - Jesus Heals the Paralytic") all the more striking.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Jerusalem in the first century CE was a bustling city, the religious and political heart of Judaism. The "sheep [market]" mentioned in the KJV text is more accurately understood as the "Sheep Gate" (as referenced in [Nehemiah 3:1](/nehemiah/3-1 "Nehemiah 3:1 - The Sheep Gate")), a prominent entrance into the city, particularly for sheep intended for temple sacrifices. This proximity to the Temple area imbued the location with religious significance. The Pool of Bethesda itself was a well-known public facility, an ancient healing sanctuary where people believed that an angel would periodically stir the waters, granting healing to the first person to enter. Such pools, often fed by springs, were common in the ancient world for both ritual purification and therapeutic purposes. The "five porches" (colonnades) provided shelter for the many infirm individuals who gathered there, patiently enduring their suffering while hoping for a miraculous cure.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes to several major themes in John's Gospel. It highlights the theme of **Jesus' authority over sickness and infirmity**, setting the stage for a demonstration of divine power that transcends conventional means of healing. The detailed description of the pool and its occupants emphasizes the pervasive **human condition of helplessness and suffering**, a reality that Jesus directly confronts. Furthermore, the mention of Jerusalem reinforces the theme of **Jesus' ministry occurring within the heart of Jewish life and tradition**, yet often challenging its established norms and expectations. The name "Bethesda" itself, meaning "house of mercy" or "house of grace," creates a profound **irony**, as this place of unfulfilled hope is about to be visited by the true embodiment of divine mercy and grace, Jesus Christ, who offers a healing far superior to the pool's limited potential, as seen in [John 5:8-9](/john/5-8-9 "John 5:8-9 - The Man Is Healed").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Bethesda (Chaldee, _Bēthesdá'_):** This name, meaning "house of kindness" or "house of mercy/grace," is profoundly significant. It highlights the ironic contrast between the pool's name, suggesting compassion and healing, and the reality of prolonged suffering and limited hope experienced by those gathered there. It sets up the expectation for a true manifestation of mercy.
* **pool (Greek, _kolymbḗthra'_):** Literally "a diving-place" or "pond for bathing/swimming," this word describes a physical basin of water. Its presence signifies a place of gathering for those seeking therapeutic benefits, whether real or perceived, from its waters. The term underscores the natural, earthly means of healing that people sought, contrasting with the supernatural healing Jesus provides.
* **sheep (Greek, _probatikós'_):** This adjective, relating to sheep, is used to describe the gate or market near the pool. It most likely refers to the "Sheep Gate," through which sheep designated for sacrifice at the Temple were brought into Jerusalem. This detail subtly connects the location to the sacrificial system of the Old Covenant, foreshadowing Jesus' role as the ultimate sacrificial Lamb.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep [market] a pool,"**: This opening clause immediately situates the reader in the ancient city of Jerusalem, a central location for Jesus' ministry and the unfolding of God's redemptive plan. The phrase "by the sheep [market]" (more accurately, "by the Sheep Gate") specifies the pool's location near a significant entry point for animals destined for temple sacrifices, subtly linking the setting to the broader sacrificial system of Judaism. The mention of "a pool" introduces the specific site where the miracle will occur, a place of gathering for the infirm.
* **"which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches."**: This second clause provides the specific name of the pool, "Bethesda," and notes its Hebrew origin, emphasizing its local identity and perhaps its traditional significance. The name itself, "House of Mercy," carries deep theological irony given the suffering present. The description "having five porches" details the architectural layout, indicating a substantial structure with multiple colonnaded areas that provided shelter for the large number of sick people who congregated there, awaiting a chance at healing.

#### Literary Devices
John's meticulous description in this verse employs several literary devices. **Descriptive language** is paramount, providing vivid details like "Jerusalem," "sheep [market]," "pool," "Bethesda," and "five porches" to ground the narrative firmly in a historical and geographical reality. This precision lends credibility to the miracle that follows. There is also a subtle **foreshadowing** through the mention of the "Sheep Gate," which implicitly connects the location to the sacrificial system and, by extension, to Jesus as the ultimate Lamb of God. Most significantly, the name "Bethesda," meaning "House of Mercy," introduces a profound **irony**. A place named for mercy is, in reality, a place of prolonged suffering and unfulfilled hope, highlighting the inadequacy of human remedies and setting the stage for the arrival of true divine mercy embodied in Jesus Christ.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
John 5:2 serves as a theological prelude, establishing a scene of profound human need and limited hope, which Jesus then dramatically transcends. The Pool of Bethesda, despite its name "House of Mercy," offered only a fleeting and uncertain chance of healing, highlighting the limitations of human efforts and traditional remedies in the face of deep-seated suffering. This sets up a powerful contrast with Jesus, who enters this very space not with a ritualistic stirring of water, but with direct, authoritative divine power, demonstrating that true mercy and healing come not from a place or a ritual, but from His person. The verse thus underscores the Gospel's central message: that Christ is the ultimate source of life, healing, and salvation, capable of addressing humanity's deepest spiritual and physical ailments.

* [Psalm 103:2-3](/psalms/103-2-3 "Psalm 103:2-3 - Bless the Lord, who heals all your diseases")
* [Matthew 9:35](/matthew/9-35 "Matthew 9:35 - Jesus Heals and Teaches")
* [Luke 4:18-19](/luke/4-18-19 "Luke 4:18-19 - Jesus' Mission Statement")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
John 5:2, while descriptive, invites us to reflect on the places of "Bethesda" in our own lives and in the world around us. Just as the pool was a place where many gathered, hoping for a touch of healing that rarely came, we too often find ourselves in situations or environments where hope is scarce, and solutions are fleeting or insufficient. Whether it's chronic illness, relational brokenness, financial hardship, or spiritual emptiness, we can easily become like those waiting by the porches, clinging to limited possibilities. This verse reminds us that true, lasting healing and transformation do not come from external rituals, chance occurrences, or human systems, but from the direct, compassionate intervention of Jesus Christ. It challenges us to shift our gaze from the "porches" of temporary fixes to the Person of Christ, who is the true "House of Mercy." Our application is to bring our deepest needs, our long-held infirmities, and our unfulfilled hopes directly to Him, trusting that His power and compassion are infinitely greater than any earthly remedy.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "porches" or limited sources of hope might I be relying on instead of fully trusting in Jesus for healing and provision?**
* **How does the irony of "Bethesda" (House of Mercy) being a place of suffering speak to the human condition and our need for divine intervention?**
* **In what ways can I, as a follower of Christ, become an agent of His mercy in the "Bethesda" places of my community, pointing others to the true source of healing?**

### FAQ
**What is the significance of the name "Bethesda"?**

Answer: The name "Bethesda" (Greek: Βηθεσδά, from Aramaic/Hebrew) is commonly understood to mean "House of Mercy" or "House of Grace." This etymology is highly significant because it creates a profound irony. The pool, despite its name, was a place of immense suffering, where many sick and infirm people gathered, often for long periods, with only a slim and uncertain hope of healing (as described in [John 5:3-4](/john/5-3-4 "John 5:3-4 - The Sick Waiting by the Pool")). The arrival of Jesus, the embodiment of God's mercy and grace, into this "House of Mercy" highlights that true healing and compassion come not from a physical location or a ritualistic stirring of water, but directly from His divine person and power, as demonstrated in [John 5:8-9](/john/5-8-9 "John 5:8-9 - Jesus Heals the Paralytic").

**Where was the Pool of Bethesda located in Jerusalem?**

Answer: John 5:2 states that the Pool of Bethesda was located "at Jerusalem by the sheep [market]," which is widely interpreted as being near the "Sheep Gate" (also mentioned in [Nehemiah 3:1](/nehemiah/3-1 "Nehemiah 3:1 - The Sheep Gate")). Archaeological excavations in Jerusalem, particularly in the area north of the Temple Mount, have uncovered the remains of a large, double pool complex with five porticoes, consistent with John's description. This site is now generally accepted as the historical Pool of Bethesda, confirming the geographical accuracy of John's Gospel. Its proximity to the Temple area suggests its importance within the city's religious and social landscape.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
John 5:2, by setting the scene at the Pool of Bethesda, profoundly foreshadows and illuminates the Christ-centered fulfillment of God's mercy and healing. The pool, a "House of Mercy" that offered only limited and uncertain hope, stands in stark contrast to Jesus, who is the ultimate and unfailing source of divine mercy and grace. Just as the Old Covenant sacrificial system, implicitly referenced by the "Sheep Gate," pointed to a greater sacrifice, so too did the inadequate healing at Bethesda point to the one who would bring true and complete restoration. Jesus' arrival at this place of human desperation demonstrates that He is the fulfillment of all longing for healing and compassion. He does not need a ritual or a specific time for the waters to be stirred; His very presence brings immediate and sovereign power, as seen when He commands the paralyzed man to "Rise, take up your bed and walk" ([John 5:8](/john/5-8 "John 5:8 - Jesus Heals the Paralytic")). This miracle, initiated by the setting described in [John 5:2](/john/5-2 "John 5:2 - Description of Bethesda"), reveals Jesus as the true "fountain of living waters" ([John 7:38](/john/7-38 "John 7:38 - Rivers of Living Water")), the one who offers not temporary relief but eternal life and spiritual wholeness to all who believe in Him ([John 3:16](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God So Loved the World")). He is the true Physician who heals not just physical ailments but the deepest spiritual sickness of sin, offering a mercy that flows eternally from His cross and resurrection ([Ephesians 2:4-5](/ephesians/2-4-5 "Ephesians 2:4-5 - God's Mercy and Grace")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Nehemiah 12:39

And from above the gate of Ephraim, and above the old gate, and above the fish gate, and the tower of Hananeel, and the tower of Meah, even unto the sheep gate: and they stood still in the prison gate.

Nehemiah 3:1

¶ Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests, and they builded the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even unto the tower of Meah they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananeel.

Nehemiah 3:32

And between the going up of the corner unto the sheep gate repaired the goldsmiths and the merchants.

Isaiah 22:11

Ye made also a ditch between the two walls for the water of the old pool: but ye have not looked unto the maker thereof, neither had respect unto him that fashioned it long ago.

John 19:13

When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.

John 19:17

And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called [the place] of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:

John 20:16

Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.