John 5:7

7 The sick man answered to him, Lord, I have no man, that when the water is moved [that when the water is troubled], to put me into the cistern; for while I come, another goeth down before me.

John 5:7 Meaning and Commentary

John 5:7

The impotent man answered him, Sir
Which was a common and courteous way of speaking, much in use with the Jews, especially to strangers. The Syriac, Arabic, and Persic versions read, "yea Lord", which is a direct answer to the question:

I have no man;
the Ethiopic version reads, "men"; he had no servant, so Nonnus, or servants, to wait upon him, and take him up in their arms, and carry him into the pool; he was a poor man, and such God is pleased to choose and call by his grace:

when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool;
that is, as soon as it is troubled by the angel, to put him in first before any other; for it was the first man only that had a cure this way:

but while I am coming;
in a slow way, by the help of his crutches, or in the best manner he could:

another steppeth down before me;
not so much disordered, or more active and nimble: so among those that wait on the ministry of the word, some are sooner in Christ, or earlier called by his grace, than others; some lie here a long time, and see one and another come to Christ, believe in him, profess his name, and are received into the church; and they still left, in an uncalled and unconverted estate.

John 5:7 In-Context

5 And a man was there [Forsooth some man was there], having eight and thirty years in his sickness.

6 And when Jesus had seen him lying, and had known, that he had much time [and had known, for now he had much time], he saith to him, Wilt thou be made whole?

7 The sick man answered to him, Lord, I have no man, that when the water is moved [that when the water is troubled], to put me into the cistern; for while I come, another goeth down before me.

8 Jesus saith to him, Rise up, take thy bed, and go. [Jesus saith to him, Rise up, take thy bed, and wander.]

9 And at once the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and went forth [And anon the man is made whole, and took up his bed, and wandered]. And it was sabbath in that day.