John 5 · Verse 16

John 5:16

And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.
John 5:16, King James Version

John 5:16 in other translations

BSBNow because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews began to persecute Him.
WEBFor this cause the Jews persecuted Jesus and sought to kill him, because he did these things on the Sabbath.
ASVAnd for this cause the Jews persecuted Jesus, because he did these things on the sabbath.
YLTand because of this were the Jews persecuting Jesus, and seeking to kill him, because these things he was doing on a sabbath.
DARBYAnd for this the Jews persecuted Jesus and sought to kill him, because he had done these things on sabbath.
BBEAnd for this reason the Jews were turned against Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath.
WebsterAnd therefore the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath.

What does John 5:16 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 5:10-16

10-16. The Jews--that is, those in authority. (See on Joh 1:19.) it is not lawful to carry thy bed--a glorious testimony to the cure, as instantaneous and complete, from the lips of the most prejudiced! (And what a contrast does it, as all our Lord's miracles, present to the bungling miracles of the Church of Rome!) In ordinary circumstances, the rulers had the law on their side (Ne 13:15; Jr 17:21). But when the…

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Barnes' Notes
Verse 16. Persecuted Jesus. They opposed him; attempted to ruin his character; to destroy his popularity; and probably held him up before the people as a violator of the law of God. Instead of making inquiry whether he had not given proof that he was the Messiah, they assumed that he must be wrong, and ought to be punished. Thus every bigot and persecutor does in regard to those who differ from them.

To slay him. To put him to death. This they attempted to do because it was directed in the law of Moses, Ex 31:15, 35:2, Lk 6:7, 11, 13:14. We see here,

1st. How full of enmity and how bloody was the purpose of the Jews. All that Jesus had done was to restore an infirm man to health--a thing which they would have done for their cattle (Lk 6:7, 13:14), and yet they sought his life because he had done it for a sick man.

2nd. Men are often extremely envious because good is done by others, especially if it is not done according to the way of their denomination or party.

3rd. Here was an instance of the common feelings of a hypocrite. He often covers his enmity against the power of religion by great zeal for the form of it. He hates and persecutes those who do good, who seek the conversion of sinners, who love revivals of religion and the spread of the gospel, because it is not according to some matter of form which has been established, and on which he supposes the whole safety of the church to hang. There was nothing that Jesus was more opposed to than hypocrisy, and nothing that he set himself more against than those who suppose all goodness to consist in forms, and all piety in the shibboleths of a party.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 16 And sought to slay him - This clause is omitted by BCDL, some others, and several ancient versions. Griesbach has left it out of the text; and Professor White says, certissime delenda: but it does not appear to me that it should be omitted. However, it was true of the Jews, whether the words were originally in the evangelist or not. For what cause did these persons seek to destroy our Lord? Because he had healed a poor man, who had been diseased thirty-eight years, and ordered him to carry home the couch on which he lay! How implacable must their malice have been! The spirit of religious persecution has always been the most fell and dangerous of all on this side perdition. Every other disposition appears to have its moderator; but this is wholly abandoned to the guidance of Satan, and has for its objects the men who know the truth, and who live to the glory of their God, and for the benefit of mankind. How strange that such should ever be objects of malice and hatred! But the Satanic nature in fallen man is ever opposed to whatever comes from God.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 5:10-16

Those eased of the punishment of sin, are in danger of returning to sin, when the terror and restraint are over, unless Divine grace dries up the fountain. The misery believers are made whole from, warns us to sin no more, having felt the smart of sin. This is the voice of every providence, Go, and sin no more. Christ saw it necessary to give this caution; for it is common for people, when sick, to promise much…

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John 5:16 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καὶkaiAndG2532
διὰdiabecause ofG1223
τοῦτοtoutothisG3778
ἐδίωκονediōkonwere persecutingG1377
οἱhoitheG3588
ἸουδαῖοιIoudaioiJewsG2453
τὸνton<the>G3588
ἸησοῦνIēsounJesusG2424
καὶkaiandG2532
ἐζήτουνezētounwere seekingG2212
αὐτὸνautonhimG846
ἀποκτεῖναι,apokteinaito killG615
ὅτιhotibecauseG3754
ταῦταtautathese thingsG3778
ἐποίειepoieiHe was doingG4160
ἐνenonG1722
σαββάτῳ.¶sabbatō[the] Sabbath.G4521

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for John 5:16

  • Acts 9:4-5

    And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

  • John 10:39

    Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand,

  • Mark 3:6

    And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.

  • John 15:20

    Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

  • Matthew 12:13

    Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.

  • John 5:13

    And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.

  • Luke 6:11

    And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.

  • John 7:25

    Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he, whom they seek to kill?

  • John 7:19-20

    Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me? The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee?

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
persecute.
15:20; Ac 9:4,5
and sought.
13; 7:19,20,25; 10:39; Mt 12:13; Mr 3:6; Lu 6:11

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • John 5:15

    The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.

  • John 5:16

    And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.

  • John 5:17

    But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.

Read all of John 5

John 5:16 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y por esta causa los Judíos perseguían á Jesús, y procuraban matarle, porque hacía estas cosas en sábado.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et à cause de cela les Juifs persécutaient Jésus et cherchaient à le faire mourir, parce qu’il avait fait ces choses en un jour de sabbat.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und darum verfolgten die Juden Jesum und suchten ihn zu töten,weil er dies am Sabbath tat.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Propterea persequebantur Judæi Jesum, quia hæc faciebat in sabbato.