Sheep Market

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

 John 5:2 . The original might with at least equal propriety be rendered sheep gate; and a gate so called is mentioned in  Nehemiah 3:1 -  32;  12:39 . It was adjacent to the temple, and was so named from the number of sheep introduced through it for the temple service. Dr. Barclay thinks the "sheep market" was an enclosure for sheep and other animals designed for sacrifice, outside the temple area on the east.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

This occurs only in  John 5:2 , and the word 'market' has been added. It was probably at the sheep gate (as in the margin ) mentioned in the O.T, but which cannot now be identified.

Holman Bible Dictionary

 John 5:2Sheep Gate

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

 John 5:2; rather "sheep gate."

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

( John 5:2). The word "market" is an interpolation of our translators, possibly after Luther who has Schafhaus. The words of the original are Ἐπὶ Τῇ Προβατικῇ , to which should probably be supplied not Market, but Gate ( Πυλῇ ) , as in the Sept. version of the passages in Nehemiah quoted in the foregoing article (q.v.). The Vulgate connects the Προβατική with the Κολυμβήθρα and reads Probatica Piscina ; while the Syriac omits all mention of the sheep and names only a place of baptism.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

( John 5:2 , the Revised Version (British and American) "sheep gate"): The Greek (ἡ προβατική , hē probatikḗ ) means simply something that pertains to sheep. See Bethesda; Sheep Gate .