5:16a–b

Now: The common Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Now introduces a result. It is not a time word. The result of the Jewish leaders finding out that Jesus healed the man was that they started persecuting Jesus. Here is another way to translate this conjunction:

So (New International Version)

because: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as because introduces the reason why the Jewish leaders persecuted Jesus.

Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath: The phrase Jesus was doing these things refers to Jesus’ healing the lame man. It implies that Jesus had also been doing other similar deeds on the Sabbath. The leaders believed that in that way he was breaking the law about not working on the Sabbath. In some languages it may be necessary to make explicit the meaning of these things. For example

he kept healing people on the day of worship (God’s Word)
-or-
breaking the Sabbath rules (New Living Translation (2004))

the Sabbath: See the note on 5:9c.

the Jews began to persecute Him: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as persecute means that the Jewish leaders began to oppose and oppress Jesus. They did not like the fact that he had healed someone on the Sabbath. Here is another way to translate this clause:

the Jews began to cause Jesus to suffer

the Jews: The term Jews here refers mainly to the Jewish religious leaders or officials. See 5:10 and 5:15b.

General Comment on 5:16

In some languages, it may be natural to reverse the clauses. For example:

Therefore the Jews started persecuting Jesus, because he was doing such things on the sabbath. (New Revised Standard Version)

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