John 5:7

KJV

The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.

KJV (with Strong's)

The impotent man {G770} answered {G611} him {G846}, Sir {G2962}, I have {G2192} no {G3756} man {G444}, when {G3752} the water {G5204} is troubled {G5015}, to {G2443} put {G906} me {G3165} into {G1519} the pool {G2861}: but {G1161} while {G1722}{G3739} I {G1473} am coming {G2064}, another {G243} steppeth down {G2597} before {G4253} me {G1700}.

Complete Jewish Bible

The sick man answered, “I have no one to put me in the pool when the water is disturbed; and while I’m trying to get there, someone goes in ahead of me.”

Berean Standard Bible

“Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am on my way, someone else goes in before me.”

American Standard Version

The sick man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
John 5:7 captures the poignant and revealing response of a man who had suffered from a debilitating illness for thirty-eight years, lying by the Pool of Bethesda. His words articulate a deep sense of frustration, isolation, and perceived helplessness, as he explains to Jesus the insurmountable obstacle preventing him from accessing the pool's purported healing waters, thereby setting the stage for Christ's sovereign and compassionate intervention.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is embedded within the broader narrative of [John chapter 5](/john/5 "John 5 - Jesus Heals at Bethesda and Claims Divine Authority"), which opens with Jesus' visit to Jerusalem for a feast. He encounters a multitude of sick, blind, lame, and paralyzed people gathered at the Pool of Bethesda, all awaiting the legendary stirring of the waters for healing. In [John 5:6](/john/5-6 "John 5:6 - Jesus Questions the Impotent Man"), Jesus singles out this particular man, asking him, "Wilt thou be made whole?" The man's reply in verse 7 is not a direct affirmation but rather an explanation of his chronic inability to be the "first" into the water, revealing his profound despair and the systemic failure of the prevailing tradition to address his unique and prolonged suffering. This sets up a dramatic contrast between human limitation and divine power, culminating in Jesus' authoritative command and immediate healing in [John 5:8-9](/john/5-8-9 "John 5:8-9 - Jesus Heals the Man").

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Pool of Bethesda, located near the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem, was a known gathering place for the infirm. Ancient sources, including archaeological findings, corroborate the existence of such a pool with five porticoes (as mentioned in [John 5:2](/john/5-2 "The Pool of Bethesda")). The belief that an angel periodically "troubled" the water, and that the first person to enter afterward would be healed, was a popular superstition or folk belief of the time, though it is only mentioned in some manuscripts of [John 5:3b-4](/john/5-3-4 "The Angel and the Troubled Water"). This belief highlights the desperate hope of the afflicted and the prevalent understanding of healing as a conditional, competitive event. The man's lament, "I have no man," underscores the communal and familial support systems that were often crucial for survival and care in that society, emphasizing his profound social and physical isolation.

* **Key Themes:** The man's response in [John 5:7](/john/5-7 "The Impotent Man's Plight") powerfully contributes to several key themes within the Gospel of John. Firstly, it highlights **Human Helplessness and Dependency**, showcasing humanity's utter inability to overcome certain obstacles or achieve salvation through self-effort or traditional means. The man's lack of a helper underscores a universal human need for external, divine intervention, echoing the spiritual impotence of all humanity before God, as described in [Romans 5:6](/romans/5-6 "Helplessness without Christ"). Secondly, the verse emphasizes **Frustration and Missed Opportunity**, as the man's repeated failures to enter the pool illustrate the futility of human striving when divine grace is absent. Finally, it serves as a powerful setup for **The Need for Divine Intervention**, contrasting the conditional and elusive healing offered by the pool with the direct, authoritative, and unconditional power of Jesus Christ, who bypasses all human systems to bring about immediate and complete restoration, foreshadowing His ultimate role as the source of eternal life, as proclaimed in [John 10:10](/john/10-10 "Life Abundantly").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **impotent man (Greek, _asthenéō'_):** Derived from G770, meaning "to be feeble (in any sense)," this term precisely describes the man's physical condition. It denotes not merely sickness but a profound state of weakness, debility, and inability to act independently. This word choice emphasizes his utter powerlessness and the chronic nature of his affliction, which rendered him incapable of competing for the pool's perceived benefits.
* **no man (Greek, _ou ánthrōpos'_):** This phrase, combining G3756 (the absolute negative "no" or "not") and G444 ("man" or "human being"), conveys a deep sense of isolation and abandonment. It's more than a simple statement of fact; it's a lament of his profound social and physical inadequacy, highlighting his lack of a helper, a crucial support system in his desperate situation. This underscores his complete dependency and vulnerability.
* **troubled (Greek, _tarássō'_):** From G5015, meaning "to stir or agitate (roil water)," this word describes the specific, intermittent phenomenon believed to activate the pool's healing properties. It signifies a moment of chaotic disturbance, a fleeting opportunity that the man, due to his "impotence" and "no man" to assist him, consistently missed. The term highlights the unpredictable and competitive nature of the traditional healing method.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The impotent man answered him, Sir,"**: This opening clause establishes the dialogue between Jesus and the man. The man's address, "Sir" (Greek _kýrios_), is a respectful title, acknowledging Jesus' authority or status, even if he doesn't yet fully grasp Jesus' divine identity. His immediate response indicates his readiness to engage and his long-held burden.
* **"I have no man,"**: This is the core of the man's lament. It reveals his profound isolation and helplessness. He is not merely stating a problem but expressing a deep-seated frustration rooted in his lack of a human helper to assist him in his desperate pursuit of healing. This phrase encapsulates his entire predicament.
* **"when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool:"**: This clause explains the specific context of his problem. He knows the condition for healing (the "troubled" water) and the action required (being "put into the pool"), but he lacks the means to fulfill it. This highlights the competitive and conditional nature of the traditional healing belief, which inherently disadvantaged the most severely afflicted.
* **"but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me."**: This final clause expresses the bitter reality of his repeated failures. Despite his own efforts to "come" or move towards the pool, someone else always manages to get there "before" him. The conjunction "but" (Greek _dé_) introduces a strong contrast, emphasizing the constant frustration and dashed hopes he has experienced over thirty-eight years, reinforcing his profound sense of being perpetually overlooked and disadvantaged.

#### Literary Devices
The man's response in [John 5:7](/john/5-7 "The Impotent Man's Lament") is rich in literary devices that amplify its emotional and theological impact. **Pathos** is powerfully evoked, drawing the reader's sympathy for the man's chronic suffering and his desperate, yet futile, attempts to be healed. His simple, direct complaint, "I have no man," resonates with anyone who has felt abandoned or unable to achieve a goal due to external limitations. There is a clear **Contrast** between the man's profound helplessness and the implied omnipotence of Jesus, setting the stage for the miraculous intervention that follows. The narrative also employs **Foreshadowing**, as the man's inability to help himself or find human assistance perfectly primes the reader for the absolute necessity and efficacy of divine, unconditional grace, which Jesus embodies. Furthermore, a subtle **Irony** is present: the man explains his inability to access a conditional, superstitious healing method, unaware that the true, unconditional Healer stands directly before him, ready to provide what no "troubled" water or human helper ever could.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The man's lament in John 5:7 serves as a profound theological statement about the human condition and the nature of divine intervention. His confession, "I have no man," transcends a mere physical complaint; it becomes a universal cry of humanity's spiritual impotence and inability to save itself. Just as he could not enter the pool without aid, so too fallen humanity is incapable of reaching God or achieving righteousness through its own efforts, rituals, or good works. This helplessness underscores the absolute necessity of God's initiative and grace. The scene at Bethesda, with its conditional and competitive healing, stands in stark contrast to the unconditional, sovereign, and freely given grace of Jesus Christ, who does not require human effort or a specific ritual for healing and salvation.

* [Romans 5:6](/romans/5-6 "Helplessness without Christ")
* [Ephesians 2:8-9](/ephesians/2-8-9 "Grace through Faith")
* [Psalm 142:4](/psalms/142-4 "No One Cares for My Soul")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
John 5:7 offers a powerful mirror for our own lives, reflecting moments when we feel utterly stuck, overlooked, or incapable of achieving a desired outcome despite our most earnest efforts. The impotent man's cry, "I have no man," resonates with the universal human experience of profound need and the limitations of self-reliance. It reminds us that there are circumstances in life—whether physical, emotional, or spiritual—where our best intentions, our hardest work, or even the most well-intentioned human systems fall short. We may find ourselves perpetually "coming," yet always falling short, watching others "step down before" us. This verse calls us to acknowledge our own areas of "impotence" and the limits of human solutions. It encourages us to look beyond conventional answers and recognize that true, transformative help often comes from an unexpected, divine source. Just as Jesus bypassed the pool's tradition to offer immediate and unconditional healing, so too He offers a solution that transcends our human limitations and failures, inviting us to trust in His sovereign power and compassionate intervention when we feel most helpless.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **Where in your life do you feel "impotent" or unable to overcome an obstacle on your own?**
* **In what ways have you, like the man, relied on human systems or efforts that have ultimately failed to provide the lasting solution you seek?**
* **How does the man's lament, "I have no man," speak to your own experiences of isolation or feeling overlooked?**
* **What might it look like to surrender your "coming" and "striving" and instead trust in Jesus' direct and unconditional power in your situation?**

### FAQ
**Why did Jesus ask the man if he wanted to be made whole, only for the man to give such a long, seemingly evasive answer?**

Answer: Jesus' question in [John 5:6](/john/5-6 "Jesus' Question to the Man") ("Wilt thou be made whole?") was not an inquiry into the man's desire but a profound diagnostic question designed to expose the man's spiritual and physical condition. The man's lengthy response in [John 5:7](/john/5-7 "The Man's Explanation") reveals the depth of his despair, his ingrained reliance on the pool's superstition, and his complete sense of helplessness. It shows that his hope was tied to a conditional, competitive system, not to a direct divine encounter. Jesus' question served to bring this all to the surface, preparing both the man and the reader for the radical, unconditional nature of the healing He was about to perform, which bypassed all human systems and limitations.

**What was the significance of the "troubled water" at the Pool of Bethesda?**

Answer: The belief in the "troubled water" was a popular tradition or superstition of the time, mentioned in some ancient manuscripts of [John 5:3b-4](/john/5-3-4 "The Angel and the Troubled Water"). It was thought that an angel would periodically stir the water, and the first person to enter the pool immediately afterward would be healed. While the Gospel does not explicitly endorse this belief as factual, it highlights the desperate hope and the competitive, conditional nature of healing that people sought. This tradition serves as a stark contrast to Jesus' method of healing, which is direct, authoritative, and requires no special conditions or human effort, demonstrating His sovereign power over all illness and tradition.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The narrative of the impotent man at the Pool of Bethesda, particularly his lament in [John 5:7](/john/5-7 "The Man's Helplessness"), finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus. The man's cry, "I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool," perfectly encapsulates humanity's spiritual condition: we are "impotent" (as described in [Romans 5:6](/romans/5-6 "Helplessness without Christ")), unable to save ourselves or achieve righteousness through our own efforts or religious rituals. The conditional healing of the pool, dependent on human timing and competition, mirrors the limitations of the Law or any system of works that demands human performance. In contrast, Jesus steps into this scene of human striving and failure, offering a salvation that is entirely of grace, unconditional, and freely given. He does not ask the man to enter the water or find a helper; instead, He sovereignly commands, "Rise, take up thy bed, and walk" ([John 5:8](/john/5-8 "Jesus Commands the Man")). This act demonstrates that Christ is the ultimate "man" who comes to our aid when we have no one, the One who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "Jesus, the Lamb of God")), and the source of true life, not through a troubled pool, but through His own divine power and sacrificial love. His healing of the man is a powerful foreshadowing of His spiritual healing, where He makes us whole, not by our efforts, but by His finished work on the cross, offering eternal life to all who believe ([John 3:16](/john/3-16 "God's Love and Salvation")).

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

Deuteronomy 32:36

For the LORD shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that [their] power is gone, and [there is] none shut up, or left.

Psalms 72:12

For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and [him] that hath no helper.

1 Corinthians 9:24

¶ Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

Psalms 142:4

¶ I looked on [my] right hand, and beheld, but [there was] no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.

2 Corinthians 1:8

For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:

2 Corinthians 1:10

Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver [us];

Romans 5:6

¶ For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.