5:2a

Now: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Now introduces some background information about the city of Jerusalem. It is not a time word. In some languages it is more natural to leave this conjunction untranslated. For example:

Inside the city, near the Sheep Gate (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
In Jerusalem there is a pool (New Century Version)

near the Sheep Gate: The Greek text that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the Sheep Gate is more literally just “the sheep.” There are several possibilities as to what should be supplied here:

(1) the word Gate. For example:

near the Sheep Gate (New International Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, New American Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, English Standard Version, Revised English Bible, NET Bible, God’s Word, Good News Translation, New Living Translation (2004), Contemporary English Version, New Century Version)

(2) the word “Pool.” For example:

next to the Sheep Pool (New Jerusalem Bible)

(3) the word “market.” For example:

by the sheep market (King James Version)

It is recommended that you follow option (1), along with most English translations. A Sheep Gate is also mentioned in Nehemiah 3:1, 32.

This was a gate or door in the northeast wall of the city. It was probably named Sheep Gate because it was the gate where the sheep entered the city. After they entered the city, they went to the market where people bought them for sacrifices. This place was quite close to the Temple, where the priests sacrificed the sheep.

Sheep: See the note explaining this animal in 2:14a. Also see how you translated the word there.

a pool: Next to the Sheep Gate there was a pool. The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as pool refers to a large container of water where one can bathe or swim. The water in this pool was probably used for washing the sheep. This pool was not natural; people had built it. Here is another way to translate pool :

bath

5:2b

with five covered colonnades: The word with starts a phrase that refers to the pool in 5:2a. This pool was surrounded by five covered colonnades. In some languages it may be natural to start a new sentence here. For example:

This pool is surrounded by five porticoes.
-or-
Around the pool are five porticoes.

colonnades: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as colonnades refers to open spaces under roofs supported by pillars or poles. A portico is like a porch on a house, the section outside the door that has a roof but no outside walls. See the picture below, although you can only see the columns or pillars and not the roof. Here are some other ways to translate this word:

roofed buildings
-or-
huts for shade
-or-
porches

5:2c

which in Hebrew is called Bethesda: There is a textual problem here. There is more than one way to write the name of the pool:

(1) Some Greek manuscripts say Bethesda. For example:

is called Bethesda (New International Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, English Standard Version, Revised English Bible, God’s Word, New Living Translation (2004), New Jerusalem Bible, New International Version)

(2) Some Greek manuscripts say Bethzatha. For example:

called Bethzatha (NET Bible)

(New Revised Standard Version, NET Bible, Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version)

(3) Other Greek manuscripts say Bethsaida, but no major English translation follows that reading.

Both options (1) and (2) have strong support. It is recommended that you follow option (1) and say Bethesda. It is also possible to follow the reading of the local major-language translation.

in Hebrew: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Hebrew can refer to either Hebrew or Aramaic. (Hebrew was the language of the Old Testament; Aramaic was the related language spoken by most Jews in Jesus’ time.) Here it refers to Aramaic. When translating this word you may:

• Use “Aramaic” in the text. For example:

in Aramaic (English Standard Version)

You could then supply a footnote saying that the word is more literally “Hebrew.”

• Use Hebrew in the text. For example:

in Hebrew (Good News Translation)
-or-
in the Hebrew language

You could then supply a footnote saying that here the word refers to Aramaic, a language related to Hebrew.

• Refer to the language without naming it. For example:

in the Jewish language (New Century Version)
-or-
in the language that the Jews spoke

You may follow any of the above examples. Or you may want to follow the national or major language translation used in your area.

is called: This verb is passive. There are several ways to translate it.

• Use a passive verb. For example:

is called Bethesda (Berean Standard Bible, New International Version)

• Use an active verb. For example:

a pool that people/they call Bethesda
-or-
whose Hebrew name is Bethesda (Revised English Bible)

• Do not use a verb. For example:

the pool of Bethesda (New Living Translation (2004))

General Comment on 5:2a–c

In some languages it may be natural to reorder the information in this verse. For example:

2a,c In Jerusalem there is a pool with five covered porches. 2b This pool is called Bethesda in the Jewish language. 2a It is near the Sheep Gate.

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