John 5:4

John 5:4 (KJV) describes a popular belief surrounding the Pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem, where many sick and infirm people gathered. It suggests that an angel would periodically "trouble" the water, and the first person to enter the pool afterward would be healed of their ailment.

Context

This verse sets the scene for one of Jesus's significant miracles, the healing of a man who had been infirm for thirty-eight years. The narrative immediately following this verse, starting with John 5:5, details Jesus encountering this man at the very same pool. The belief described in verse 4 explains why such a large number of sick people were present, highlighting the desperation and hope for a miraculous cure that permeated the atmosphere of the site.

Linguistic and Textual Insights

It is crucial for understanding John 5:4 that this verse is not found in the earliest and most reliable Greek manuscripts of the New Testament. Scholars generally consider it a later textual addition, likely a marginal note or explanation that was eventually incorporated into the main text in some later manuscripts (such as those used for the KJV, often referred to as the Textus Receptus). Its absence from critical editions of the Greek New Testament (and thus from many modern translations like the NIV, ESV, or NASB) does not diminish the truth of the events that follow, but rather clarifies the textual history. The verse itself reflects a popular tradition of the time, explaining the prevailing belief at the pool, even if the angelic visitation was not part of the original inspired text.

Key Themes

• Popular Belief and Superstition: The verse vividly portrays a widespread belief in a specific, almost mechanical, method of divine healing. This contrasts sharply with the sovereign and unconditional nature of Jesus's miraculous healings, which often transcended such human-conceived limitations.
• Human Desperation and Hope: The presence of a "great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered" (as described in the full KJV text of verse 3) underscores the profound suffering and the intense longing for relief among the people. They clung to any glimmer of hope, even if based on a superstitious practice.
• Setting for Divine Intervention: Regardless of its textual origin, the verse provides the necessary background for Jesus's arrival, demonstrating His compassion by entering a place of profound human need and offering true healing beyond ritual or chance.

Significance and Application

While the textual integrity of John 5:4 is debated, its inclusion in the KJV serves to highlight the environment in which Jesus operated. It emphasizes the contrast between the superstitious hope of the people and the genuine, transformative power of Christ. Jesus's healing of the paralytic, who had no chance of being "first" into the troubled water, demonstrates that His power is not limited by human traditions or physical limitations. This narrative encourages believers to place their trust in the true source of healing and salvation, Jesus Christ, rather than in rituals or superstitions. It reminds us that Jesus is the ultimate source of life and healing, offering restoration that goes beyond physical ailments to address the deepest needs of the human soul.