John 5:6

“When Jesus saw him lie, etc.] In such a helpless condition: and knew that he had been now a long time, [in that case], or “in his disease”, as the Ethiopic version supplies; even seven years before Christ was born; which is a proof of his omniscience: the words may be literally rendered, as they are in the Vulgate Latin and Syriac versions, “that he had had much time”; or as the Arabic version, “that he had had many years”; that is had lived many years, and was now an old man; he had his disorder eight and thirty years, and which seems from (<430514>John 5:14) to have arisen from some sin of his, from a vicious course of living, perhaps intemperance; so that he might be a middle aged man,…”

“saw him lie, and knew, &c.--As He doubtless visited the spot just to perform this cure, so He knows where to find His patient, and the whole previous history of his case (Joh 2:25). Wilt thou be made whole?--Could anyone doubt that a sick man would like to be made whole, or that the patients came thither, and this man had returned again and again, just in hope of a cure? But our Lord asked the question. (1) To fasten attention upon Himself; (2) By making him detail his case to deepen in him the feeling of entire helplessness; (3) By so singular a question to beget in his desponding heart the hope of a cure. (Compare Mar 10:51).”

“and knew: Joh 21:17; Psa 142:3; Heb 4:13, Heb 4:15 Wilt: Isa 65:1; Jer 13:27; Luk 18:41 John 5:7”