Papyrus 75 — The Second Sign and the Pool of Bethesda (John 4:46–5:23)

PAPYRUS 75 · 𝔓75 · P. BODMER XIV–XV

The Second Sign and the Pool of Bethesda

Folio 49 — John 4:46–54 and John 5:1–23, read letter by letter. One of the earliest and most carefully copied manuscripts of the Gospels of Luke and John.

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The short answerWhat is this leaf?

This is a single leaf from Papyrus 75, a papyrus codex of Luke and John copied around AD 175–225. On this one page you can read two moments from John’s Gospel: the second sign, when Jesus heals a royal official’s son from a distance with a word, and then — on the back — the healing of the man who had been ill thirty-eight years at the pool of Bethesda, and Jesus’ reply to those who opposed him: “my Father is working until now, and I am working.”

Unlike most early fragments, almost the entire leaf survives. Nearly every letter you see below is real ink on the papyrus — so this page lets you read your replica, front and back, essentially in full.

How to read this page

ΛΟΓΟΣ

On your replica — highlighted ink that physically survives. On this leaf, that is almost everything.

ΙΣ

Nomen sacrum — a sacred name (Jesus, God, Lord, Son) the scribe abbreviated and marked with an overline. The full word is given in the gloss.

[ΟΠ]ΟΥ

Supplied — the rare bracketed, grey letters not on the leaf, restored from the surrounding text. Here, the opening letters of ΟΠΟΥ (“where,” John 4:46) at the torn top of the front, and the initial Κ of ΚΑΙ at the top of the back.

The featureThe verse that isn’t there

Look at the transcription of the pool of Bethesda on the front. After listing the sick who lay in the porticoes — ΤΥΦΛΩΝ ΧΩΛΩΝ ΞΗΡΩΝ (“blind, lame, withered”) — the scribe goes straight on to ΗΝ ΔΕ ΤΙΣ ΑΝΘΡΩΠΟΣ ΕΚΕΙ (“Now a certain man was there”). The familiar explanation about an angel who “troubled the water,” and the words about the sick “waiting for the moving of the water” — part of John 5:3 and all of John 5:4 in the King James Version — are simply not on the page. P75 is one of the earliest witnesses to leave them out, together with Codex Vaticanus and Codex Sinaiticus, which is why most modern Bibles now print John 5:4 only in a footnote or in brackets. On this leaf you can see, in a hand from around AD 200, that the verse was already absent.

Line by lineThe Greek exactly as it sits on the leaf

Transcribed from the INTF/IGNTP transcription (NTVMR, folios 49r and 49v) and shown in the majuscule capitals the scribe used, with the original line breaks preserved — so the shape of the text on the page matches the leaf, line for line. Nomina sacra keep the scribe’s overline.

gold = ink on the manuscript overline = nomen sacrum (sacred name) [ grey ] = supplied

Folio 49r — John 4:46–54 · 5:1–9

Papyrus 75, folio 49r (recto), John 4:46–54, in its acrylic display — Papyrus 75 · recto (folio 49r) · John 4:46–54 · tap to enlarge

1[ΟΠ]ΟΥ ΕΠΟΙΗΣΕΝ ΤΟ ΥΔΩΡ ΟΙΝΟΝ· ΚΑΙ ΗΝJohn 4:46

2ΤΙΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΙΚΟΣ ΟΥ Ο ΥΙΟΣ ΗΣΘΕΝΕΙ ΕΝ ΚΑ

3ΦΑΡΝΑΟΥΜ· ΟΥΤΟΣ ΑΚΟΥΣΑΣ ΟΤΙ ΙΗΣ Η47

4ΚΕΙ ΕΚ ΤΗΣ ΙΟΥΔΑΙΑΣ ΕΙΣ ΤΗΝ ΓΑΛΙΛΑΙΑΝ·

5ΑΠΗΛΘΕΝ ΚΑΙ ΗΡΩΤΑ ΙΝΑ ΚΑΤΑΒΗ ΚΑΙ ΙΑ

6ΣΗ ΑΥΤΟΥ ΤΟΝ ΥΙΟΝ· ΗΜΕΛΛΕΝ ΓΑΡ ΑΠΟ

7ΘΝΗΣΚΕΙΝ· ΕΙΠΕΝ ΟΥΝ Ο ΙΣ ΠΡΟΣ ΑΥΤΟΝ48

8ΕΑΝ ΜΗ ΣΗΜΕΙΑ ΚΑΙ ΤΕΡΑΤΑ ΙΔΗΤΕ ΟΥ ΜΗ

9ΠΙΣΤΕΥΣΗΤΕ ΛΕΓΕΙ ΠΡΟΣ ΑΥΤΟΝ Ο ΒΑΣΙΛΙ49

10ΚΟΣ ΚΕ ΚΑΤΑΒΗΘΙ ΠΡΙΝ ΑΠΟΘΑΝΕΙΝ ΤΟ ΠΑΙ

11ΔΙΟΝ ΜΟΥ· ΛΕΓΕΙ ΑΥΤΩ Ο ΙΣ ΠΟΡΕΥΟΥ Ο ΥΙΟΣ50

12ΣΟΥ ΖΗ· ΕΠΙΣΤΕΥΣΕΝ Ο ΑΝΟΣ ΤΩ ΛΟΓΩ

13ΟΝ ΕΙΠΕΝ Ο ΙΣ ΚΑΙ ΕΠΟΡΕΥΕΤΟ· ΗΔΗ ΔΕ ΑΥ51

14ΤΟΥ ΚΑΤΑΒΑΙΝΟΝΤΟΣ ΟΙ ΔΟΥΛΟΙ ΑΥΤΟΥ Υ

15ΠΗΝΤΗΣΑΝ ΑΥΤΩ ΛΕΓΟΝΤΕΣ ΟΤΙ Ο ΠΑΙΣ

16ΑΥΤΟΥ ΖΗ· ΕΠΥΘΕΤΟ ΟΥΝ ΤΗΝ ΩΡΑΝ Ε52

17ΚΕΙΝΗΝ ΕΝ Η ΚΟΨΟΤΕΡΟΝ ΕΣΧΕΝ ΕΙΠΟΝ ΟΥΝ

18ΑΥΤΩ ΟΤΙ ΕΧΘΕΣ ΩΡΑΝ ΕΒΔΟΜΗΝ ΑΦΗ

19ΚΕΝ ΑΥΤΟΝ Ο ΠΥΡΕΤΟΣ· ΕΓΝΩ ΟΥΝ Ο ΠΑ53

20ΤΗΡ ΟΤΙ ΕΚΕΙΝΗ ΤΗ ΩΡΑ ΕΝ Η ΕΙΠΕΝ ΑΥ

21ΤΩ Ο ΙΣ Ο ΥΙΟΣ ΣΟΥ ΖΗ· ΚΑΙ ΕΠΙΣΤΕΥΣΕΝ

22ΑΥΤΟΣ ΚΑΙ Η ΟΙΚΙΑ ΑΥΤΟΥ ΟΛΗ· ΤΟΥΤΟ ΔΕ54

23ΠΑΛΙΝ ΕΠΟΙΗΣΕΝ ΔΕΥΤΕΡΟΝ ΣΗΜΕΙΟΝ

24Ο ΙΣ ΕΛΘΩΝ ΕΚ ΤΗΣ ΙΟΥΔΑΙΑΣ ΕΙΣ ΤΗΝ ΓΑ

25ΛΙΛΑΙΑΝ· ΜΕΤΑ ΤΑΥΤΑ ΗΝ ΕΟΡΤΗ ΤΩΝ5:1

26ΙΟΥΔΑΙΩΝ ΚΑΙ ΑΝΕΒΗ ΙΣ ΕΙΣ ΙΕΡΟΣΟΛΥΜΑ

27ΕΣΤΙΝ ΔΕ ΕΝ ΤΟΙΣ ΙΕΡΟΣΟΛΥΜΟΙΣ ΕΠΙ ΤΗ2

28ΠΡΟΒΑΤΙΚΗ ΚΟΛΥΜΒΗΘΡΑ Η ΕΠΙΛΕΓΟΜΕ

29ΝΗ ΕΒΡΑΙΣΤΙ ΒΗΘΣΑΙΔΑ Ε ΣΤΟΑΣ ΕΧΟΥΣΑ

30ΕΝ ΤΑΥΤΑΙΣ ΚΑΤΕΚΕΙΤΟ ΠΛΗΘΟΣ ΤΩΝ ΑΣΘΕ3

31ΝΟΥΝΤΩΝ ΤΥΦΛΩΝ ΧΩΛΩΝ ΞΗΡΩΝ·4

32ΗΝ ΔΕ ΤΙΣ ΑΝΟΣ ΕΚΕΙ ΛΗ ΕΧΩΝ ΕΝ ΤΗ5

33ΑΣΘΕΝΕΙΑ ΑΥΤΟΥ ΤΟΥΤΟΝ ΙΔΩΝ Ο ΙΣ ΚΑΤΑ6

34ΚΕΙΜΕΝΟΝ ΚΑΙ ΓΝΟΥΣ ΟΤΙ ΠΟΛΛΥΝ ΧΡΟ

35ΝΟΝ ΗΔΗ ΕΧΕΙ ΛΕΓΕΙ ΑΥΤΩ ΘΕΛΕΙΣ ΥΓΙ

36ΗΣ ΓΕΝΕΣΘΑΙ. ΑΠΕΚΡΙΘΗ ΑΥΤΩ Ο ΑΣΘΕΝΩΝ·7

37ΚΕ ΑΝΟΝ ΟΥΚ ΕΧΩ ΙΝΑ ΟΤΑΝ ΤΑΡΑΧΘΗ

38ΤΟ ΥΔΩΡ ΒΑΛΗ ΜΕ ΕΙΣ ΤΗΝ ΚΟΛΥΜΒΗΘΡΑΝ

39ΕΝ Ω ΔΕ ΕΡΧΟΜΑΙ ΕΓΩ ΑΛΛΟΣ ΠΡΟ ΕΜΟΥ

40ΚΑΤΑΒΑΙΝΕΙ· ΛΕΓΕΙ ΑΥΤΩ Ο ΙΣ ΕΓΕΙΡΑΙ8

41ΑΡΟΝ ΤΟΝ ΚΡΑΒΒΑΤΟΝ ΣΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΠΕΡΙΠΑΤΕΙ·

42ΚΑΙ ΕΥΘΕΩΣ ΕΓΕΝΕΤΟ ΥΓΙΗΣ Ο ΑΝΘΡΩΠΟΣ9

Recto — the second sign at Cana (John 4:46–54) and the start of the Bethesda account (John 5:1–9).

Folio 49v — John 5:9–23

Papyrus 75, folio 49v (verso), John 5:9–23, in its acrylic display — Papyrus 75 · verso (folio 49v) · John 5:9–23 · tap to enlarge

1[Κ]ΑΙ ΗΡΕΝ ΤΟΝ ΚΡΑΒΒΑΤΟΝ ΑΥΤΟΥ ΚΑΙJohn 5:9

2ΠΕΡΙΕΠΑΤΕΙ· ΗΝ ΔΕ ΣΑΒΒΑΤΟΝ ΕΝ ΕΚΕΙ

3ΝΗ ΤΗ ΗΜΕΡΑ· ΕΛΕΓΟΝ ΟΥΝ ΟΙ ΙΟΥΔΑΙΟΙ10

4ΤΩ ΤΕΘΕΡΑΠΕΥΜΕΝΩ· ΣΑΒΒΑΤΟΝ Ε

5ΣΤΙΝ ΚΑΙ ΟΥΚ ΕΞΕΣΤΙΝ ΣΟΙ ΑΡΑΙ ΤΟΝ ΚΡΑ

6ΒΒΑΤΤΟΝ ΣΟΥ· ΟΣ ΔΕ ΑΠΕΚΡΙΘΗ ΑΥΤΟΙΣ11

7Ο ΠΟΙΗΣΑΣ ΜΕ ΥΓΙΗ ΕΚΕΙΝΟΣ ΜΟΙ ΕΙΠΕΝ

8ΑΡΟΝ ΤΟΝ ΚΡΑΒΒΑΤΤΟΝ ΣΟΙ ΚΑΙ ΠΕΡΙΠΑ

9ΤΕΙ· ΗΡΩΤΗΣΑΝ ΟΥΝ ΤΙΣ ΕΣΤΙΝ Ο ΑΝΟΣ12

10Ο ΕΙΠΩΝ ΣΟΙ ΑΡΟΝ ΚΑΙ ΠΕΡΙΠΑΤΕΙ Ο ΔΕ13

11ΙΑΘΕΙΣ ΟΥΚ ΗΔΕΙ ΤΙΣ ΕΣΤΙΝ· Ο ΔΕ ΙΣ ΕΞΕ

12ΝΕΥΣΕΝ ΟΧΛΟΥ ΟΝΤΟΣ ΕΝ ΤΩ ΤΟΠΩ·

13ΜΕΤΑ ΤΑΥΤΑ ΕΥΡΙΣΚΕΙ ΑΥΤΟΝ Ο ΙΣ ΕΝ14

14ΤΩ ΙΕΡΩ ΚΑΙ ΕΙΠΕΝ ΑΥΤΩ ΙΔΕ ΥΓΙΗΣ

15ΓΕΓΟΝΑΣ ΜΗΚΕΤΙ ΑΜΑΡΤΑΝΕ ΙΝΑ ΜΗ

16ΧΕΙΡΟΝ ΣΟΙ ΤΙ ΓΕΝΗΤΑΙ· ΑΠΗΛΘΕΝ Ο ΑΝ15

17ΘΡΩΠΟΣ ΚΑΙ ΑΝΗΓΓΕΙΛΕΝ ΤΟΙΣ ΙΟΥΔΑΙ

18ΟΥΣ ΟΤΙ ΙΣ ΕΣΤΙΝ Ο ΠΟΙΗΣΑΣ ΑΥΤΟΝ Υ

19ΓΙΗ· ΚΑΙ ΔΙΑ ΤΟΥΤΟ ΕΔΙΩΚΟΝ ΟΙ ΙΟΥΔΑΙΟΙ16

20ΤΟΝ ΙΝ ΟΤΙ ΤΑΥΤΑ ΕΠΟΙΗΣΕΝ ΕΝ ΣΑΒΒΑΤΩ

21Ο ΔΕ ΑΠΕΚΡΙΝΑΤΟ ΑΥΤΟΙΣ Ο ΠΑΤΗΡ ΜΟΥ17

22ΕΩΣ ΑΡΤΙ ΕΡΓΑΖΕΤΑΙ ΚΑΓΩ ΕΡΓΑΖΟΜΑΙ

23ΔΙΑ ΤΟΥΤΟ ΟΥΝ ΜΑΛΛΟΝ ΕΖΗΤΟΥΝ ΑΥΤΟΝ18

24ΟΙ ΙΟΥΔΑΙΟΙ ΑΠΟΚΤΕΙΝΑΙ ΟΤΙ ΟΥ ΜΟΝΟΝ

25ΕΛΥΕ ΤΟ ΣΑΒΒΑΤΟΝ ΑΛΛΑ ΚΑΙ ΠΑΤΕΡΑ

26ΙΔΙΟΝ ΕΛΕΓΕΝ ΤΟΝ ΘΝ ΙΣΟΝ ΕΑΥΤΟΝ

27ΠΟΙΩΝ ΤΩ ΘΩ· ΑΠΕΚΡΙΝΑΤΟ ΟΥΝ ΚΑΙ19

28ΕΛΕΓΕΝ ΑΥΤΟΙΣ ΑΜΗΝ ΑΜΗΝ ΛΕΓΩ Υ

29ΜΙΝ ΟΥ ΔΥΝΑΤΑΙ Ο ΥΙΟΣ ΠΟΙΕΙΝ ΑΦ ΑΥ

30ΤΟΥ ΟΥΔΕΝ ΕΑΝ ΜΗ ΤΙ ΒΛΕΠΗ ΤΟΝ ΠΑ

31ΤΕΡΑ ΠΟΙΟΥΝΤΑ Α ΓΑΡ ΑΝ ΕΚΕΙΝΟΣ ΠΟΙ

32Η ΤΑΥΤΑ ΚΑΙ Ο ΥΣ ΟΜΟΙΩΣ ΠΟΙΕΙ· Ο ΓΑΡ20

33ΠΑΤΗΡ ΦΙΛΕΙ ΤΟΝ ΥΙΟΝ ΚΑΙ ΠΑΝΤΑ

34ΔΙΚΝΥΣΙΝ ΑΥΤΩ Α ΑΥΤΟΣ ΠΟΙΕΙ· ΚΑΙ

35ΜΕΙΖΟΝΑ ΤΟΥΤΩΝ ΔΕΙΞΕΙ ΑΥΤΩ ΕΡΓΑ

36ΙΝΑ ΥΜΕΙΣ ΘΑΥΜΑΣΗΤΕ ΩΣΠΕΡ ΓΑΡ21

37Ο ΠΑΤΗΡ ΕΓΕΙΡΕΙ ΤΟΥΣ ΝΕΚΡΟΥΣ ΚΑΙ

38ΖΩΟΠΟΙΕΙ ΟΥΤΩΣ ΚΑΙ Ο ΥΙΟΣ ΟΥΣ ΘΕ

39ΛΕΙ ΖΩΟΠΟΙΕΙ· ΟΥΔΕ ΓΑΡ Ο ΠΑΤΗΡ22

40ΚΡΕΙΝΕΙ ΟΥΔΕΝΑ ΑΛΛΑ ΤΗΝ ΚΡΙΣΙΝ

41ΠΑΣΑΝ ΤΕΔΩΚΕΝ ΤΩ ΥΙΩ ΙΝΑ ΠΑΝ

42ΤΕΣ ΤΙΜΩΣΙΝ ΤΟΝ ΥΙΟΝ ΚΑΘΩΣ ΤΙΜΩ23

Verso — the healing on the Sabbath and Jesus’ answer: “my Father is working until now, and I am working” (John 5:9–23).

Word by wordRead it, sound it out, and see the meaning

The whole leaf, word by word: the Greek on the leaf, a transliteration to sound it out, and a word-for-word English gloss, with the smooth translation after each passage. Sacred names carry the scribe’s overline; their meaning is in the gloss. A gold underline under a box marks a word broken across the torn edge — the part in [brackets] is supplied.

gold = ink on the manuscript overline = nomen sacrum (sacred name) [ grey ] = supplied

Back to Cana; a father’s plea — John 4:46–47

[ΟΠ]ΟΥhopouwhere ΕΠΟΙΗΣΕΝepoiēsenhe made ΤΟtothe ΥΔΩΡhydōrwater ΟΙΝΟΝoinonwine ΚΑΙkaiand ΗΝēnthere was ΤΙΣtisa certain ΒΑΣΙΛΙΚΟΣbasilikosroyal official ΟΥhouwhose Οhothe ΥΙΟΣhuiosson ΗΣΘΕΝΕΙēstheneiwas sick ΕΝenin ΚΑΦΑΡΝΑΟΥΜKapharnaoumCapernaum ΟΥΤΟΣhoutosthis one ΑΚΟΥΣΑΣakousashaving heard ΟΤΙhotithat ΙΗΣIēsousJesus ΗΚΕΙhēkeihad come ΕΚekout of ΤΗΣtēs— ΙΟΥΔΑΙΑΣIoudaiasJudea ΕΙΣeisinto ΤΗΝtēn— ΓΑΛΙΛΑΙΑΝGalilaianGalilee ΑΠΗΛΘΕΝapēlthenhe went ΚΑΙkaiand ΗΡΩΤΑērōtaasked ΙΝΑhinathat ΚΑΤΑΒΗkatabēhe would come down ΚΑΙkaiand ΙΑΣΗiasēheal ΑΥΤΟΥautouhis ΤΟΝton— ΥΙΟΝhuionson ΗΜΕΛΛΕΝēmellenhe was about ΓΑΡgarfor ΑΠΟΘΝΗΣΚΕΙΝapothnēskeinto die

46 Jesus came therefore again to Cana of Galilee, where he made the water into wine. There was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to him and begged him that he would come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.

“Unless you see signs”; the word that heals — John 4:48–50

ΕΙΠΕΝeipensaid ΟΥΝountherefore Οho— ΙΣIēsousJesus ΠΡΟΣprosto ΑΥΤΟΝautonhim ΕΑΝeanunless ΜΗmēnot ΣΗΜΕΙΑsēmeiasigns ΚΑΙkaiand ΤΕΡΑΤΑteratawonders ΙΔΗΤΕidēteyou see ΟΥounot ΜΗmēat all ΠΙΣΤΕΥΣΗΤΕpisteusētewill you believe ΛΕΓΕΙlegeisays ΠΡΟΣprosto ΑΥΤΟΝautonhim Οhothe ΒΑΣΙΛΙΚΟΣbasilikosroyal official ΚΕkyrieLord ΚΑΤΑΒΗΘΙkatabēthicome down ΠΡΙΝprinbefore ΑΠΟΘΑΝΕΙΝapothaneindies ΤΟtothe ΠΑΙΔΙΟΝpaidionchild ΜΟΥmoumy ΛΕΓΕΙlegeisays ΑΥΤΩautōto him Οho— ΙΣIēsousJesus ΠΟΡΕΥΟΥporeuougo Οhothe ΥΙΟΣhuiosson ΣΟΥsouyour ΖΗzēlives ΕΠΙΣΤΕΥΣΕΝepisteusenbelieved Οhothe ΑΝΟΣanthrōposman ΤΩtōthe ΛΟΓΩlogōword ΟΝhonwhich ΕΙΠΕΝeipensaid Οho— ΙΣIēsousJesus ΚΑΙkaiand ΕΠΟΡΕΥΕΤΟeporeuetohe went

48 Jesus therefore said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders, you will in no way believe.” 49 The nobleman said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” 50 Jesus said to him, “Go your way. Your son lives.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way.

The fever left at the seventh hour — John 4:51–53

ΗΔΗēdēalready ΔΕdeand ΑΥΤΟΥautouhe ΚΑΤΑΒΑΙΝΟΝΤΟΣkatabainontosgoing down ΟΙhoithe ΔΟΥΛΟΙdouloiservants ΑΥΤΟΥautouhis ΥΠΗΝΤΗΣΑΝhypēntēsanmet ΑΥΤΩautōhim ΛΕΓΟΝΤΕΣlegontessaying ΟΤΙhoti— Οhothe ΠΑΙΣpaischild ΑΥΤΟΥautouhis ΖΗzēlives ΕΠΥΘΕΤΟeputhetohe inquired ΟΥΝountherefore ΤΗΝtēnthe ΩΡΑΝhōranhour ΕΚΕΙΝΗΝekeinēnthat ΕΝenin Ηhēwhich ΚΟΨΟΤΕΡΟΝkompsoteronbetter ΕΣΧΕΝeschenhe got ΕΙΠΟΝeiponthey said ΟΥΝountherefore ΑΥΤΩautōto him ΟΤΙhoti— ΕΧΘΕΣechthesyesterday ΩΡΑΝhōranat hour ΕΒΔΟΜΗΝhebdomēnseventh ΑΦΗΚΕΝaphēkenleft ΑΥΤΟΝautonhim Οhothe ΠΥΡΕΤΟΣpyretosfever ΕΓΝΩegnōknew ΟΥΝountherefore Οhothe ΠΑΤΗΡpatērfather ΟΤΙhotithat ΕΚΕΙΝΗekeinēthat ΤΗtē— ΩΡΑhōrahour ΕΝenin Ηhēwhich ΕΙΠΕΝeipensaid ΑΥΤΩautōto him Οho— ΙΣIēsousJesus Οhothe ΥΙΟΣhuiosson ΣΟΥsouyour ΖΗzēlives ΚΑΙkaiand ΕΠΙΣΤΕΥΣΕΝepisteusenbelieved ΑΥΤΟΣautoshe himself ΚΑΙkaiand Ηhēthe ΟΙΚΙΑoikiahousehold ΑΥΤΟΥautouhis ΟΛΗholēwhole

51 As he was now going down, his servants met him and reported, saying “Your child lives!” 52 So he inquired of them the hour when he began to get better. They said therefore to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour, the fever left him.” 53 So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives.” He believed, as did his whole house.

“The second sign that Jesus did” — John 4:54

ΤΟΥΤΟtoutothis ΔΕdeand ΠΑΛΙΝpalinagain ΕΠΟΙΗΣΕΝepoiēsendid ΔΕΥΤΕΡΟΝdeuterona second ΣΗΜΕΙΟΝsēmeionsign Οho— ΙΣIēsousJesus ΕΛΘΩΝelthōnhaving come ΕΚekout of ΤΗΣtēs— ΙΟΥΔΑΙΑΣIoudaiasJudea ΕΙΣeisinto ΤΗΝtēn— ΓΑΛΙΛΑΙΑΝGalilaianGalilee

54 This is again the second sign that Jesus did, having come out of Judea into Galilee.

Smooth translation: World English Bible (public domain).

The feast; the pool called Bethesda — John 5:1–3

ΜΕΤΑmetaafter ΤΑΥΤΑtautathese things ΗΝēnthere was ΕΟΡΤΗheortēa feast ΤΩΝtōnof the ΙΟΥΔΑΙΩΝIoudaiōnJews ΚΑΙkaiand ΑΝΕΒΗanebēwent up ΙΣIēsousJesus ΕΙΣeisto ΙΕΡΟΣΟΛΥΜΑIerosolymaJerusalem ΕΣΤΙΝestinthere is ΔΕdenow ΕΝenin ΤΟΙΣtois— ΙΕΡΟΣΟΛΥΜΟΙΣIerosolymoisJerusalem ΕΠΙepiby ΤΗtēthe ΠΡΟΒΑΤΙΚΗprobatikēsheep gate ΚΟΛΥΜΒΗΘΡΑkolymbēthraa pool Ηhēwhich ΕΠΙΛΕΓΟΜΕΝΗepilegomenēis called ΕΒΡΑΙΣΤΙHebraistiin Hebrew ΒΗΘΣΑΙΔΑBēthsaidaBethesda Εpentefive (numeral Ε) ΣΤΟΑΣstoasporticoes ΕΧΟΥΣΑechousahaving ΕΝenin ΤΑΥΤΑΙΣtautaisthese ΚΑΤΕΚΕΙΤΟkatekeitolay ΠΛΗΘΟΣplēthosa multitude ΤΩΝtōnof the ΑΣΘΕΝΟΥΝΤΩΝasthenountōnsick ΤΥΦΛΩΝtyphlōnblind ΧΩΛΩΝchōlōnlame ΞΗΡΩΝxērōnwithered

1 After these things, there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now in Jerusalem by the sheep gate, there is a pool, which is called in Hebrew “Bethesda,” having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, or withered. — here P75 goes straight on; the words about waiting for the moving of the water, and all of verse 4 (the angel who stirred the pool), are not on the leaf.

Thirty-eight years; “I have no one” — John 5:5–7

ΗΝēnwas ΔΕdeand ΤΙΣtisa certain ΑΝΟΣanthrōposman ΕΚΕΙekeithere ΛΗlēthirty-eight (numeral ΛΗ) ΕΧΩΝechōnhaving (been) ΕΝenin ΤΗtēthe ΑΣΘΕΝΕΙΑastheneiaillness ΑΥΤΟΥautouhis ΤΟΥΤΟΝtoutonthis one ΙΔΩΝidōnseeing Οho— ΙΣIēsousJesus ΚΑΤΑΚΕΙΜΕΝΟΝkatakeimenonlying ΚΑΙkaiand ΓΝΟΥΣgnousknowing ΟΤΙhotithat ΠΟΛΛΥΝpolyna long ΧΡΟΝΟΝchronontime ΗΔΗēdēalready ΕΧΕΙecheihe had been ΛΕΓΕΙlegeisays ΑΥΤΩautōto him ΘΕΛΕΙΣtheleisdo you want ΥΓΙΗΣhygiēswell ΓΕΝΕΣΘΑΙgenesthaito become ΑΠΕΚΡΙΘΗapekrithēanswered ΑΥΤΩautōhim Οhothe ΑΣΘΕΝΩΝasthenōnsick man ΚΕkyrieLord ΑΝΟΝanthrōpona man ΟΥΚouknot ΕΧΩechōI have ΙΝΑhinathat ΟΤΑΝhotanwhen ΤΑΡΑΧΘΗtarachthēis stirred ΤΟtothe ΥΔΩΡhydōrwater ΒΑΛΗbalēhe may put ΜΕmeme ΕΙΣeisinto ΤΗΝtēnthe ΚΟΛΥΜΒΗΘΡΑΝkolymbēthranpool ΕΝenin Ωhōwhich (time) ΔΕdebut ΕΡΧΟΜΑΙerchomaiam coming ΕΓΩegōI ΑΛΛΟΣallosanother ΠΡΟprobefore ΕΜΟΥemoume ΚΑΤΑΒΑΙΝΕΙkatabaineigoes down

5 A certain man was there who had been sick for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been there a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to be made well?” 7 The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I’m coming, another steps down before me.”

“Rise, take up your mat, and walk” — John 5:8–9

ΛΕΓΕΙlegeisays ΑΥΤΩautōto him Οho— ΙΣIēsousJesus ΕΓΕΙΡΑΙegeirairise ΑΡΟΝarontake up ΤΟΝtonthe ΚΡΑΒΒΑΤΟΝkrabbatonmat ΣΟΥsouyour ΚΑΙkaiand ΠΕΡΙΠΑΤΕΙperipateiwalk ΚΑΙkaiand ΕΥΘΕΩΣeutheōsimmediately ΕΓΕΝΕΤΟegenetobecame ΥΓΙΗΣhygiēswell Οhothe ΑΝΘΡΩΠΟΣanthrōposman

8 Jesus said to him, “Arise, take up your mat, and walk.” 9 Immediately, the man was made well…

Smooth translation: World English Bible (public domain).

“Take up your mat”—but it was the Sabbath — John 5:9–10

[Κ]ΑΙkaiand ΗΡΕΝērenhe took up ΤΟΝtonthe ΚΡΑΒΒΑΤΟΝkrabbatonmat ΑΥΤΟΥautouhis ΚΑΙkaiand ΠΕΡΙΕΠΑΤΕΙperiepateiwalked ΗΝēnwas ΔΕdenow ΣΑΒΒΑΤΟΝsabbatonSabbath ΕΝenon ΕΚΕΙΝΗekeinēthat ΤΗtē— ΗΜΕΡΑhēmeraday ΕΛΕΓΟΝelegonsaid ΟΥΝountherefore ΟΙhoithe ΙΟΥΔΑΙΟΙIoudaioiJews ΤΩtōto the ΤΕΘΕΡΑΠΕΥΜΕΝΩtetherapeumenōone who was cured ΣΑΒΒΑΤΟΝsabbatonSabbath ΕΣΤΙΝestinit is ΚΑΙkaiand ΟΥΚouknot ΕΞΕΣΤΙΝexestinit is lawful ΣΟΙsoifor you ΑΡΑΙaraito carry ΤΟΝtonthe ΚΡΑΒΒΑΤΤΟΝkrabbattonmat ΣΟΥsouyour

…9 and took up his mat and walked. Now it was the Sabbath on that day. 10 So the Jews said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath. It is not lawful for you to carry the mat.”

“Who told you to carry it?” — John 5:11–13

ΟΣhoswho ΔΕdebut ΑΠΕΚΡΙΘΗapekrithēanswered ΑΥΤΟΙΣautoisthem Οhothe (one) ΠΟΙΗΣΑΣpoiēsaswho made ΜΕmeme ΥΓΙΗhygiēwell ΕΚΕΙΝΟΣekeinosthat one ΜΟΙmoito me ΕΙΠΕΝeipensaid ΑΡΟΝarontake up ΤΟΝtonthe ΚΡΑΒΒΑΤΤΟΝkrabbattonmat ΣΟΙsouyour ΚΑΙkaiand ΠΕΡΙΠΑΤΕΙperipateiwalk ΗΡΩΤΗΣΑΝērōtēsanthey asked ΟΥΝounthen ΤΙΣtiswho ΕΣΤΙΝestinis Οhothe ΑΝΟΣanthrōposman Οhothe (one) ΕΙΠΩΝeipōnwho said ΣΟΙsoito you ΑΡΟΝarontake up ΚΑΙkaiand ΠΕΡΙΠΑΤΕΙperipateiwalk Οhothe (one) ΔΕdebut ΙΑΘΕΙΣiatheiswho was healed ΟΥΚouknot ΗΔΕΙēdeiknew ΤΙΣtiswho ΕΣΤΙΝestinit is Οho— ΔΕdefor ΙΣIēsousJesus ΕΞΕΝΕΥΣΕΝexeneusenhad withdrawn ΟΧΛΟΥochloua crowd ΟΝΤΟΣontosbeing ΕΝenin ΤΩtōthe ΤΟΠΩtopōplace

11 He answered them, “He who made me well, the same said to me, ‘Take up your mat and walk.’” 12 Then they asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your mat and walk’?” 13 But he who was healed didn’t know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a crowd being in the place.

“Sin no more”; the persecution begins — John 5:14–16

ΜΕΤΑmetaafter ΤΑΥΤΑtautathese things ΕΥΡΙΣΚΕΙheuriskeifinds ΑΥΤΟΝautonhim Οho— ΙΣIēsousJesus ΕΝenin ΤΩtōthe ΙΕΡΩhierōtemple ΚΑΙkaiand ΕΙΠΕΝeipensaid ΑΥΤΩautōto him ΙΔΕidebehold ΥΓΙΗΣhygiēswell ΓΕΓΟΝΑΣgegonasyou have become ΜΗΚΕΤΙmēketino longer ΑΜΑΡΤΑΝΕhamartanesin ΙΝΑhinaso that ΜΗmēnot ΧΕΙΡΟΝcheironworse ΣΟΙsoito you ΤΙtisomething ΓΕΝΗΤΑΙgenētaimay happen ΑΠΗΛΘΕΝapēlthenwent away Οhothe ΑΝΘΡΩΠΟΣanthrōposman ΚΑΙkaiand ΑΝΗΓΓΕΙΛΕΝanēngeilentold ΤΟΙΣtoisthe ΙΟΥΔΑΙΟΥΣIoudaiousJews ΟΤΙhotithat ΙΣIēsousJesus ΕΣΤΙΝestinit is Οhothe (one) ΠΟΙΗΣΑΣpoiēsaswho made ΑΥΤΟΝautonhim ΥΓΙΗhygiēwell ΚΑΙkaiand ΔΙΑdiabecause of ΤΟΥΤΟtoutothis ΕΔΙΩΚΟΝediōkonpersecuted ΟΙhoithe ΙΟΥΔΑΙΟΙIoudaioiJews ΤΟΝton— ΙΝIēsounJesus ΟΤΙhotibecause ΤΑΥΤΑtautathese things ΕΠΟΙΗΣΕΝepoiēsenhe did ΕΝenon ΣΑΒΒΑΤΩsabbatōa Sabbath

14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “Behold, you are made well. Sin no more, so that nothing worse happens to you.” 15 The man went away, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. 16 For this cause the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill him, because he did these things on the Sabbath.

“My Father is working, and I am working” — John 5:17–18

Οhothe (one) ΔΕdebut ΑΠΕΚΡΙΝΑΤΟapekrinatoanswered ΑΥΤΟΙΣautoisthem Οhothe ΠΑΤΗΡpatērFather ΜΟΥmoumy ΕΩΣheōsuntil ΑΡΤΙartinow ΕΡΓΑΖΕΤΑΙergazetaiis working ΚΑΓΩkagōand I ΕΡΓΑΖΟΜΑΙergazomaiam working ΔΙΑdiabecause of ΤΟΥΤΟtoutothis ΟΥΝountherefore ΜΑΛΛΟΝmallonall the more ΕΖΗΤΟΥΝezētounsought ΑΥΤΟΝautonhim ΟΙhoithe ΙΟΥΔΑΙΟΙIoudaioiJews ΑΠΟΚΤΕΙΝΑΙapokteinaito kill ΟΤΙhotibecause ΟΥounot ΜΟΝΟΝmonononly ΕΛΥΕelyehe was breaking ΤΟtothe ΣΑΒΒΑΤΟΝsabbatonSabbath ΑΛΛΑallabut ΚΑΙkaialso ΠΑΤΕΡΑpateraFather ΙΔΙΟΝidionhis own ΕΛΕΓΕΝelegenhe called ΤΟΝton— ΘΝtheonGod ΙΣΟΝisonequal ΕΑΥΤΟΝheautonhimself ΠΟΙΩΝpoiōnmaking ΤΩtōto ΘΩtheōGod

17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father is still working, so I am working, too.” 18 For this cause therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath, but also called God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

Smooth translation: World English Bible (public domain).

The Son does only what he sees the Father do — John 5:19–20

ΑΠΕΚΡΙΝΑΤΟapekrinatoanswered ΟΥΝountherefore ΚΑΙkaiand ΕΛΕΓΕΝelegensaid ΑΥΤΟΙΣautoisto them ΑΜΗΝamēntruly ΑΜΗΝamēntruly ΛΕΓΩlegōI say ΥΜΙΝhyminto you ΟΥounot ΔΥΝΑΤΑΙdynataiis able Οhothe ΥΙΟΣhuiosSon ΠΟΙΕΙΝpoieinto do ΑΦaphof ΑΥΤΟΥautouhimself ΟΥΔΕΝoudennothing ΕΑΝeanunless ΜΗmē— ΤΙtianything ΒΛΕΠΗblepēhe sees ΤΟΝtonthe ΠΑΤΕΡΑpateraFather ΠΟΙΟΥΝΤΑpoiountadoing Αhawhat ΓΑΡgarfor ΑΝanever ΕΚΕΙΝΟΣekeinosthat one ΠΟΙΗpoiēdoes ΤΑΥΤΑtautathese things ΚΑΙkaialso Οhothe ΥΣhuiosSon ΟΜΟΙΩΣhomoiōslikewise ΠΟΙΕΙpoieidoes Οhothe ΓΑΡgarfor ΠΑΤΗΡpatērFather ΦΙΛΕΙphileiloves ΤΟΝtonthe ΥΙΟΝhuionSon ΚΑΙkaiand ΠΑΝΤΑpantaall things ΔΙΚΝΥΣΙΝdeiknysinshows ΑΥΤΩautōhim Αhawhich ΑΥΤΟΣautoshe himself ΠΟΙΕΙpoieidoes ΚΑΙkaiand ΜΕΙΖΟΝΑmeizonagreater ΤΟΥΤΩΝtoutōnthan these ΔΕΙΞΕΙdeixeihe will show ΑΥΤΩautōhim ΕΡΓΑergaworks ΙΝΑhinaso that ΥΜΕΙΣhymeisyou ΘΑΥΜΑΣΗΤΕthaumasētemay marvel

19 Jesus therefore answered them, “Most certainly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father doing. For whatever things he does, these the Son also does likewise. 20 For the Father has affection for the Son, and shows him all things that he himself does. He will show him greater works than these, that you may marvel.

Life and judgment given to the Son — John 5:21–23

ΩΣΠΕΡhōsperjust as ΓΑΡgarfor Οhothe ΠΑΤΗΡpatērFather ΕΓΕΙΡΕΙegeireiraises ΤΟΥΣtousthe ΝΕΚΡΟΥΣnekrousdead ΚΑΙkaiand ΖΩΟΠΟΙΕΙzōopoieigives life ΟΥΤΩΣhoutōsso ΚΑΙkaialso Οhothe ΥΙΟΣhuiosSon ΟΥΣhousto whom ΘΕΛΕΙtheleihe wills ΖΩΟΠΟΙΕΙzōopoieigives life ΟΥΔΕoudenot even ΓΑΡgarfor Οhothe ΠΑΤΗΡpatērFather ΚΡΕΙΝΕΙkrineijudges ΟΥΔΕΝΑoudenano one ΑΛΛΑallabut ΤΗΝtēnthe ΚΡΙΣΙΝkrisinjudgment ΠΑΣΑΝpasanall ΤΕΔΩΚΕΝdedōkenhas given ΤΩtōto the ΥΙΩhuiōSon ΙΝΑhinathat ΠΑΝΤΕΣpantesall ΤΙΜΩΣΙΝtimōsinmay honor ΤΟΝtonthe ΥΙΟΝhuionSon ΚΑΘΩΣkathōsjust as ΤΙΜΩtimō(sin)they honor…

21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom he desires. 22 For the Father judges no one, but he has given all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father…” (the leaf breaks off here; the sentence finishes on the next page of the codex).

Smooth translation: World English Bible (public domain).

Reading the detailsTextual notes

“My Father is working” (John 5:17). The turning point of the leaf comes in a single sentence: Ο ΠΑΤΗΡ ΜΟΥ ΕΩΣ ΑΡΤΙ ΕΡΓΑΖΕΤΑΙ ΚΑΓΩ ΕΡΓΑΖΟΜΑΙ — “my Father is working until now, and I am working.” John 5:18 then explains why this drew such opposition: Jesus was “calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.” You can read both lines on the back of the leaf.

The verse that isn’t there (John 5:3–4). Between the list of the sick and “a certain man was there,” P75 has no mention of an angel troubling the water. The omission — shared with Codex Vaticanus and Sinaiticus — is visible on the front of the leaf, and is the reason John 5:4 is bracketed or footnoted in modern Bibles.

Nomina sacra — and one that isn’t. The scribe contracts and overlines the sacred names throughout: ΙΗΣ/ΙΣ/ΙΝ (Jesus), ΘΝ/ΘΩ (God), ΚΕ (Lord), and ΥΣ (Son). At the pool the sick man is even written ΑΝΟΣ/ΑΝΟΝ (man), a common scribal contraction — yet when the healed man walks off in 5:9 and 5:15 the ordinary word ΑΝΘΡΩΠΟΣ is spelled out in full.

The pool’s name, and everyday spellings. In John 5:2 P75 gives the pool’s name as ΒΗΘΣΑΙΔΑ, one of several spellings the manuscripts preserve (others read “Bethesda” or “Bethzatha”). Elsewhere the scribe’s letters reflect how Greek was pronounced in Egypt around AD 200 — for example ΚΡΕΙΝΕΙ for ΚΡΙΝΕΙ (“judges,” 5:22) — the ordinary phonetic spellings (itacism) of the period.

The manuscriptAt a glance

This leaf	Folio 49: John 4:46–54 (the second sign at Cana) and John 5:1–23 (the healing at Bethesda)
Whole codex	Luke 3:18–24:53 and John 1:1–15:8 (102 of ~144 pages survive)
Date	c. AD 175–225 (Martin & Kasser); a later date is argued — see below
Discovered	Egypt, 1950s (the Bodmer Papyri); pre-discovery history unknown
Held at	Vatican Library, Rome (“Hanna Papyrus 1 / Mater Verbi”); formerly P. Bodmer XIV–XV
Gregory–Aland no.	𝔓75 (INTF doc. ID 10075)
Format	Single-quire papyrus codex, ~27 × 13 cm, 38–45 lines per page
Text type	Alexandrian · Aland Category I

Why it mattersThe manuscript that changed textual scholarship

Before P75, many scholars believed the polished “Alexandrian” text found in the great 4th-century Codex Vaticanus was the product of a careful editorial recension made around that time. Then P75 turned up — a century or more older — and its text agrees with Vaticanus about 94% of the time in Luke and 92% in John. That near-identity showed the Vaticanus text was not a late invention but faithfully preserved a text already in circulation by the early third century. Kurt Aland called P75 “the key for understanding the primitive textual history of the New Testament.”

The hand is a clear, careful majuscule — the work of a trained scribe producing a quality book. Written on smooth papyrus said to “feel like hand-woven linen,” it is one of the finest early Christian codices to survive.

Dating, honestly. The original editors (Martin and Kasser) dated P75 to c. AD 175–225, and the INTF gives c. 200–225. Brent Nongbri (2016) has argued the comparanda and codicology allow a later date, even into the fourth century, and the Leuven Database lists c. 275–325. Palaeographic dating is a range, not a fixed point; what is not in doubt is that P75 is among the earliest substantial copies of Luke and John.

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ReferencesSources

Transcription (surviving text): INTF/IGNTP transcription of 𝔓75, New Testament Virtual Manuscript Room, doc. ID 10075, folios 49r and 49v.
Manuscript images: Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana (Hanna Papyrus 1, Mater Verbi); formerly Bibliotheca Bodmeriana.
Editio princeps: V. Martin & R. Kasser, Papyrus Bodmer XIV–XV (Cologny–Geneva, 1961).
Dating & significance: K. Aland & B. Aland, The Text of the New Testament; B. Nongbri, “Reconsidering the Place of Papyrus Bodmer XIV–XV (P75) in the Textual Criticism of the New Testament” (JBL, 2016); Vatican Library, S. Voicu, notes on P. Bodmer XIV–XV.
Word-for-word glosses follow standard tagged Greek New Testament data (STEP Bible, Tyndale House; Berean Interlinear).
Smooth translation: World English Bible (public domain), ebible.org.

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Papyrus 75 — The Second Sign and the Pool of Bethesda (John 4:46–5:23)

The Second Sign and the Pool of Bethesda

The short answerWhat is this leaf?

The featureThe verse that isn’t there

Line by lineThe Greek exactly as it sits on the leaf

Folio 49r — John 4:46–54 · 5:1–9

Folio 49v — John 5:9–23

Word by wordRead it, sound it out, and see the meaning

Back to Cana; a father’s plea — John 4:46–47

“Unless you see signs”; the word that heals — John 4:48–50

The fever left at the seventh hour — John 4:51–53

“The second sign that Jesus did” — John 4:54

The feast; the pool called Bethesda — John 5:1–3

Thirty-eight years; “I have no one” — John 5:5–7

“Rise, take up your mat, and walk” — John 5:8–9

“Take up your mat”—but it was the Sabbath — John 5:9–10

“Who told you to carry it?” — John 5:11–13

“Sin no more”; the persecution begins — John 5:14–16

“My Father is working, and I am working” — John 5:17–18

The Son does only what he sees the Father do — John 5:19–20

Life and judgment given to the Son — John 5:21–23

Reading the detailsTextual notes

The manuscriptAt a glance

Why it mattersThe manuscript that changed textual scholarship

Own this leaf

ReferencesSources

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Isaiah 55:11

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Papyrus 75 — The Second Sign and the Pool of Bethesda (John 4:46–5:23)

The Second Sign and the Pool of Bethesda

The short answerWhat is this leaf?

The featureThe verse that isn’t there

Line by lineThe Greek exactly as it sits on the leaf

Folio 49r — John 4:46–54 · 5:1–9

Folio 49v — John 5:9–23

Word by wordRead it, sound it out, and see the meaning

Back to Cana; a father’s plea — John 4:46–47

“Unless you see signs”; the word that heals — John 4:48–50

The fever left at the seventh hour — John 4:51–53

“The second sign that Jesus did” — John 4:54

The feast; the pool called Bethesda — John 5:1–3

Thirty-eight years; “I have no one” — John 5:5–7

“Rise, take up your mat, and walk” — John 5:8–9

“Take up your mat”—but it was the Sabbath — John 5:9–10

“Who told you to carry it?” — John 5:11–13

“Sin no more”; the persecution begins — John 5:14–16

“My Father is working, and I am working” — John 5:17–18

The Son does only what he sees the Father do — John 5:19–20

Life and judgment given to the Son — John 5:21–23

Reading the detailsTextual notes

The manuscriptAt a glance

Why it mattersThe manuscript that changed textual scholarship

Own this leaf

ReferencesSources

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