John 5:7

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.

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}.

The sick man answered, β€œI 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.”

β€œSir,” the invalid replied, β€œI 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.”

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

John 5:7 captures the poignant response of a man who had been afflicted for 38 years, lying by the Pool of Bethesda. This verse reveals his deep-seated frustration and perceived helplessness, setting the stage for Jesus' miraculous intervention.

Context

This verse is part of a larger narrative found in John chapter 5, where Jesus encounters a multitude of sick people at the Pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem. It was commonly believed that an angel would occasionally "trouble" the water, and the first person to enter the pool after this disturbance would be healed. In John 5:6, Jesus asks the man, "Wilt thou be made whole?" The man's answer in verse 7 is not a direct 'yes' but an explanation of his insurmountable obstacle, highlighting his despair and the systemic failure of the healing tradition for someone in his condition.

Key Themes

  • Human Helplessness and Dependency: The man's cry, "I have no man," powerfully articulates his complete inability to help himself. He is entirely dependent on others, yet none are there to assist him at the crucial moment. This speaks to the universal human experience of being unable to overcome certain obstacles without external aid.
  • Frustration and Missed Opportunity: His lament, "while I am coming, another steppeth down before me," conveys years of repeated failure and dashed hopes. He was perpetually close to a perceived solution but always fell short, leading to profound weariness and resignation.
  • The Need for Divine Intervention: The man's situation perfectly illustrates the limitations of human effort and traditional methods. His answer, though seemingly a complaint, primes the reader for the profound difference Jesus' direct and authoritative intervention will make, contrasting the pool's conditional healing with Christ's unconditional power. This foreshadows the immediate healing that follows in John 5:8.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV term "impotent man" (from the Greek asthenΔ“s, meaning "weak" or "feeble") precisely describes his physical condition and his inability to act independently. His repeated phrase, "I have no man," underscores a profound sense of isolation and abandonment, not just physical weakness. It's a statement of profound human inadequacy in the face of a perceived opportunity for healing at the Pool of Bethesda.

Practical Application

John 5:7 resonates deeply with anyone who has felt stuck, overlooked, or unable to achieve a desired outcome despite their best efforts. It reminds us that sometimes, our greatest need is not just a solution, but someone to help us reach it. The man's situation highlights that human systems and traditions, while well-intentioned, can often fail those most in need. His story encourages us to look beyond conventional solutions and recognize that true help often comes from an unexpected, divine source – exemplified by Jesus' compassionate power to heal and restore, even when we feel utterly helpless.

Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.

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

    ΒΆ 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

    ΒΆ 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

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