John9
New American Standard
1As Jesus passed by, He saw a man who had been blind from birth.
2And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?”
3Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.
4We must carry out the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.
5While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.”
6When He had said this, He spit on the ground, and made mud from the saliva, and applied the mud to his eyes,
7and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he left and washed, and came back seeing.
8So the neighbors, and those who previously saw him as a beggar, were saying, “Is this not the one who used to sit and beg?”
9Others were saying, “This is he,” still others were saying, “No, but he is like him.” The man himself kept saying, “I am the one.”
10So they were saying to him, “How then were your eyes opened?”
11He answered, “The Man who is called Jesus made mud, and spread it on my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash’; so I went away and washed, and I received sight.”
12And they said to him, “Where is He?” He said, “I do not know.”
13They brought the man who was previously blind to the Pharisees.
14Now it was a Sabbath on the day that Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes.
15Then the Pharisees also were asking him again how he received his sight. And he said to them, “He applied mud to my eyes, and I washed, and I see.”
16Therefore some of the Pharisees were saying, “This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.” But others were saying, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And there was dissension among them.
17So they said again to the man who was blind, “What do you say about Him, since He opened your eyes?” And he said, “He is a prophet.”
18The Jews then did not believe it about him, that he had been blind and had received sight, until they called the parents of the very one who had received his sight,
19and they questioned them, saying, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? Then how does he now see?”
20His parents then answered and said, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind;
21but how he now sees, we do not know; or who opened his eyes, we do not know. Ask him; he is of age, he will speak for himself.”
22His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already reached the decision that if anyone confessed Him to be Christ, he was to be excommunicated from the synagogue.
23It was for this reason that his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”
24So for a second time they summoned the man who had been blind, and said to him, “Give glory to God; we know that this Man is a sinner.”
25He then answered, “Whether He is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”
26So they said to him, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?”
27He answered them, “I told you already and you did not listen; why do you want to hear it again? You do not want to become His disciples too, do you?”
28They spoke abusively to him and said, “You are His disciple, but we are disciples of Moses.
29We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this Man, we do not know where He is from.”
30The man answered and said to them, “Well, here is the amazing thing, that you do not know where He is from, and yet He opened my eyes!
31We know that God does not listen to sinners; but if someone is God-fearing and does His will, He listens to him.
32Since the beginning of time it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind.
33If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.”
34They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and yet you are teaching us?” So they put him out.
35Jesus heard that they had put him out, and upon finding him, He said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”
36He answered by saying, “And who is He, Sir, that I may believe in Him?”
37Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him, and He is the One who is talking with you.”
38And he said, “I believe, Lord.” And he worshiped Him.
39And Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.”
40Those who were with Him from the Pharisees heard these things and said to Him, “We are not blind too, are we?”
41Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now that you maintain, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for John 9.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Christ give sight to one born blind. (1–7). The account given by the blind man. (8–12). The Pharisees question the man that had been blind. (13–17). They ask concerning him. (18–23). They cast him out. (24–34). Christ's words to the man that had been blind. (35–38). He reproves the Pharisees. (39–41).
vv1-7
Christ cured many who were blind by disease or accident; here he cured one born blind. Thus he showed his power to help in the most desperate cases, and the work of his grace upon the souls of sinners, which gives sight to those blind by nature. This poor man could not see Christ, but Christ saw him. And if we know or apprehend anything of Christ, it is because we were first known of him. Christ says of uncommon calamities, that they are not always to be looked on as special punishments of sin; sometimes they are for the glory of God, and to manifest his works. Our life is our day, in which it concerns us to do the work of the day. We must be busy, and not waste day-time; it will be time to rest when our day is done, for it is but a day. The approach of death should quicken us to improve all our opportunities of doing and getting good. What good we have an opportunity to do, we should do quickly. And he that will never do a good work till there is nothing to be objected against, will leave many a good work for ever undone, Ec 11:4. Christ magnified his power, in making a blind man to see, doing that which one would think more likely to make a seeing man blind. Human reason cannot judge of the Lord's methods; he uses means and instruments that men despise. Those that would be healed by Christ must be ruled by him. He came back from the pool wondering and wondered at; he came seeing. This represents the benefits in attending on ordinances of Christ's appointment; souls go weak, and come away strengthened; go doubting, and come away satisfied; go mourning, and come away rejoicing; go blind, and come away seeing.
vv8-12
Those whose eyes are opened, and whose hearts are cleansed by grace, being known to be the same person, but widely different in character, live as monuments to the Redeemer's glory, and recommend his grace to all who desire the same precious salvation. It is good to observe the way and method of God's works, and they will appear the more wonderful. Apply this spiritually. In the work of grace wrought upon the soul we see the change, but we see not the hand that makes it: the way of the Spirit is like that of the wind, which thou hearest the sound of, but canst not tell whence it comes, nor whither it goes.
vv13-17
Christ not only worked miracles on the sabbath, but in such a manner as would give offence to the Jews, for he would not seem to yield to the scribes and Pharisees. Their zeal for mere rites consumed the substantial matters of religion; therefore Christ would not give place to them. Also, works of necessity and mercy are allowed, and the sabbath rest is to be kept, in order to the sabbath work. How many blind eyes have been opened by the preaching of the gospel on the Lord's day! how many impotent souls cured on that day! Much unrighteous and uncharitable judging comes from men's adding their own fancies to God's appointments. How perfect in wisdom and holiness was our Redeemer, when his enemies could find nothing against him, but the oft-refuted charge of breaking the sabbath! May we be enabled, by well-doing, to silence the ignorance of foolish men.
Key Words
καί (kaí): and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
παράγω (parágō): to lead near, i.e. (reflexively or intransitively) to go along or away
εἴδω (eídō): used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent G3700 (ὀπτάνομαι) and G3708 (ὁράω); properly, to see (literally or figuratively); by implication, (in the perfect tense only) to know
ἄνθρωπος (ánthrōpos): from G3700 (ὀπτάνομαι)); man-faced, i.e. a human being
τυφλός (typhlós): opaque (as if smoky), i.e. (by analogy) blind (physically or mentally)
ἐκ (ek): literal or figurative; direct or remote)
γενετή (genetḗ): birth
αὐτός (autós): the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438 (ἑαυτοῦ)) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
μαθητής (mathētḗs): a learner, i.e. pupil
ἐρωτάω (erōtáō): to interrogate; by implication, to request
Cross References
John 9Siloam's waters symbolize the quiet, sent stream of God's presence, contrasting with proud worldly powers.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Like Naaman's washing in Jordan, this command tests obedience using simple, symbolical water to effect healing.
Supported by JFB
Urgency of working during the designated 'day' of life before the 'night' of death arrives.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Jesus declares Himself the Light of the World, giving spiritual sight to those in darkness.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The parents' fear of excommunication exemplifies how the fear of man brings a dangerous snare.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Reflects the principle that judgment often begins with God's house, though not always as punitive.
Supported by John Calvin
Jesus is entirely consumed with finishing the work assigned to Him by the Father on earth.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Historical identification of the Pool of Siloam, proving the physical reality of the site.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Jesus deliberately heals on the Sabbath, directly challenging the Pharisees' traditional and ritualistic restrictions.
Supported by JFB
Verbal echo of many Jewish leaders fearing excommunication and loving the praise of men.
Supported by JFB
Messianic prophecy fulfilled through Jesus opening the eyes of the blind, showcasing God's manifest power.
Echoes the minority Pharisee objection (Nicodemus' view) that a sinner cannot do such divine miracles.
Supported by JFB
Contrasts the absolute spiritual transformation of once being in darkness but now walking in light.
Supported by Matthew Henry
If they were ignorant, they would have no sin; but willful sight brings remaining guilt.