John 5:10

10 The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured , It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.

John 5:10 Meaning and Commentary

John 5:10

The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured
When they saw him, either at the place, or as he walked through the streets, with his bed on his back:

it is the sabbath day:
do not you know it? surely you forget yourself, or you would never be guilty of such an action as this;

it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.
It was forbid by the law, to carry any burden on the sabbath day; see ( Nehemiah 13:15 Nehemiah 13:19 ) ( Jeremiah 17:22 ) ; for

``carrying out and bringing in anything, from one place to another, is said F24 to be work, and one of the principal works;''

and therefore forbid by the law, which says, "thou shall not do any work"; and one of the traditions of the elders is this F25,

``whoever carries anything out (i.e. on the sabbath day), whether in his right hand, or in his left, in his bosom, or (wpytk le) , "on his shoulder", is guilty; for so carried the Kohathites.''

And particularly it is said F26, that

``he that rolls up a bed of the brasiers or tinkers (i.e. on the sabbath day) is bound to a sin offering.''

Which was a fold up bed, such as tinkers, and those that went from city to city to work, had; and who carried their beds with them, as the gloss observes; and were so far from being lawful to be carried by them, on the sabbath, that they might not fold them up.


FOOTNOTES:

F24 Maimon. Hilchot Sabbat, c. 12. sect. 6.
F25 Misn. Sabbat, c. 10. sect. 3.
F26 T. Bab. Sabbat, fol. 47. 1. & 138. 1.

John 5:10 In-Context

8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise , take up thy bed, and walk .
9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked : and on the same day was the sabbath.
10 The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured , It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.
11 He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk .
12 Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk ?
The King James Version is in the public domain.