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Verse Takeaways
1
A Real Place of Mercy
Scholars clarify that the pool was near the "sheep gate" (a known landmark from the book of Nehemiah), not a "sheep market." The name Bethesda means "House of Mercy," fitting for a place where people sought healing. The mention of "five porches," or covered colonnades, indicates this was a large, well-known public structure, grounding the biblical account in a real, historical setting.
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John
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Commentaries
9
Albert Barnes
On John 5:2
18th Century
Theologian
The sheep-market. This might have been translated as the sheep-gate, or the gate through which the sheep were taken into the city…
AT Robertson
On John 5:2
There is (εστιν). Bengel argues that this proves a date before the destruction of Jerusalem, but it is probably only John's vivid …
Charles Ellicott
On John 5:2
19th Century
Bishop
Now there is at Jerusalem.—We have no certain knowledge of the time referred to in the last verse, nor of the place refer…
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Charles Spurgeon
On John 5:1–9
19th Century
Preacher
After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called…
Expositor's Bible Commentary
On John 5:2
Excavations have located this pool in the northwest corner of old Jerusalem. It was surrounded by a colonnade on all four sides and down the middle…
John Calvin
On John 5:2
16th Century
Theologian
There was in Jerusalem, at the sheep-market, a pool. The circumstance of the place is added, from which we learn that the miracle was not …
John Gill
On John 5:2
17th Century
Pastor
Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep [market]
The word "market" is not in the text, and of such a market, no accou…
Matthew Henry
On John 5:1–9
17th Century
Minister
We are all by nature impotent people in spiritual things: blind, lame, and withered. However, full provision is made for our cure, if we pay attent…