Paragraph 5:5–7

Jesus met a man who had been lame for thirty-eight (38) years. Jesus asked the man if he wanted to get well.

5:5

One man there: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as One man is more literally “a certain man.” This expression here introduces a major character in this incident. In some languages there are other ways of introducing a major character in a story. For example:

Now a certain man was present there
-or-
Among them was a man (Revised English Bible)
-or-
Beside the pool was a man (Contemporary English Version)

had been an invalid for thirty-eight years: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as an invalid is the same word as in 5:3a. It includes weakness or disability (lack of ability) of any sort. In some languages it is more natural to refer to the specific illness, saying that the man was lame. For example:

who had been lame for 38 years

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