SEV Biblia, Chapter 5:5
Y estaba allí un hombre que hacía treinta y ocho aos que estaba enfermo.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - John 5:5
Verse 5. Had an infirmity thirty and eight years.] St. Chrysostom conjectured that blindness was the infirmity of this person: what it was, the inspired writer does not say- probably it was a palsy: his case was deplorable-he was not able to go into the pool himself, and he had no one to help him; so that poverty and disease were here connected. The length of the time he had been afflicted makes the miracle of his cure the greater. There could have been no collusion in this case: as his affliction had lasted thirty-eight years, it must have been known to multitudes; therefore he could not be a person prepared for the occasion. All Christ's miracles have been wrought in such a way, and on such persons and occasions, as absolutely to preclude all possibility of the suspicion of imposture.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 5. And a certain man was there , etc.] At Bethesdas pool, in one of the five porches, or cloisters, that belonged to it: which had an infirmity thirty and eight years ; what his infirmity was, is not said; he was one of the weak, or impotent folk, for so he is called, ( John 5:7). Some think his distemper was the palsy, and though he had had this infirmity so many years, it is not certain that he had waited so long in this place for a cure; though it may be, for that he had attended some time, is clear from ( John 5:7). Nor indeed can it be known how long there had been such a preternatural motion in this pool, and such a miraculous virtue in the water; some have thought, that it began at the repairing of the sheep gate by Eliashib, in Nehemiahs time; so Tremellius and Junius, on ( Nehemiah 3:1); and others have thought, that it had been some few years before the birth of Christ, and about the time that this man was first taken with his disorder. Tertullian says f234 , that there was in Judea a medicinal lake, before Christs time; and that the pool of Bethsaida (it should be Bethesda) was useful in curing the diseases of the Israelites; but ceased from yielding any benefit, when the name of the Lord was blasphemed by them, through their rage and fury, and continuance in it f235 ; but in what year it began, and the precise time it ceased, he says not. The Persic version here adds, and was reduced to such a state that he could not move.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-9 - We are all by nature impotent folk in spiritual things, blind, halt and withered; but full provision is made for our cure, if we attend to it. An angel went down, and troubled the water; and what disease soeve it was, this water cured it, but only he that first stepped in ha benefit. This teaches us to be careful, that we let not a season sli which may never return. The man had lost the use of his limb thirty-eight years. Shall we, who perhaps for many years have scarcel known what it has been to be a day sick, complain of one wearisom night, when many others, better than we, have scarcely known what it has been to be a day well? Christ singled this one out from the rest Those long in affliction, may comfort themselves that God keeps accoun how long. Observe, this man speaks of the unkindness of those abou him, without any peevish reflections. As we should be thankful, so we should be patient. Our Lord Jesus cures him, though he neither aske nor thought of it. Arise, and walk. God's command, Turn and live; Make ye a new heart; no more supposes power in us without the grace of God his distinguishing grace, than this command supposed such power in the impotent man: it was by the power of Christ, and he must have all the glory. What a joyful surprise to the poor cripple, to find himself of sudden so easy, so strong, so able to help himself! The proof of spiritual cure, is our rising and walking. Has Christ healed ou spiritual diseases, let us go wherever he sends us, and take u whatever he lays upon us; and walk before him.
Greek Textus Receptus
ην 2258 5713 V-IXI-3S δε 1161 CONJ τις 5100 X-NSM ανθρωπος 444 N-NSM εκει 1563 ADV {VAR1: τριακονταοκτω 5144 A-NUI 3638 A-NUI } {VAR2: τριακοντα 5144 A-NUI και 2532 CONJ οκτω 3638 A-NUI } ετη 2094 N-APN εχων 2192 5723 V-PAP-NSM εν 1722 PREP τη 3588 T-DSF ασθενεια 769 N-DSF
Vincent's NT Word Studies
5. Had an infirmity thirty and eight years. Literally, having thirty and eight years in his infirmity.
