John 9

And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.

And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,

And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.

The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?

Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he.

Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?

He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.

Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not.

They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind.

And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.

Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see.

Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.

They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet.

But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight.

And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see?

His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind:

But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself.

These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.

Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him.

Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.

He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.

Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes?

He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples?

Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses' disciples.

We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.

The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.

Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.

Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.

If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.

They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.

Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?

He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?

And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.

And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.

And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?

Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

What does John 9:29 mean?

Explanation

John 9:29 is a statement made by the Pharisees during an interrogation of a man born blind whom Jesus had healed (John 9:1-34).

The verse captures a moment of tension where the Pharisees express their disdain for Jesus by contrasting their certain knowledge of Moses as a prophet who spoke with God with their skepticism regarding Jesus' origins and authority.

They firmly assert their allegiance to Moses and indirectly question Jesus' legitimacy, suggesting that while Moses is a known figure of divine revelation, this "fellow" (referring to Jesus) is of unknown and perhaps dubious origin.

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Historical Context

This verse is part of the Gospel of John, which was composed probably between 90-110 A.D.

It reflects the conflict between the early Christian community and the Jewish religious establishment.

At the time of Jesus, Jews had a deep reverence for Moses, the lawgiver, and considered him the greatest of the prophets.

Acknowledging someone as a prophet meant accepting their divine authority and message.

The Pharisees, a predominant religious group of the time, viewed Jesus' teachings and actions with skepticism and oftentimes hostility, leading to confrontations like the one described in this chapter.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse reflects the struggle between faith in Jesus and adherence to traditional Jewish beliefs.

While the Pharisees hold onto the authority of Moses, Jesus' miracles point to a new authority given by God.

This verse illustrates the broader Johannine theme of Jesus as the Light of the World that the Pharisees fail to recognize due to their spiritual blindness.

The tension between the known and the unknown also points to the challenge of recognizing divine activity that does not fit within established religious expectations.

Practical Applications

In contemporary terms, this verse may serve as a reminder of the caution needed when encountering new teachings or leaders claiming divine authority.

It calls for discernment when evaluating what is from God and what is not, just as the Pharisees tried to discern who Jesus was.

Practically, it can encourage believers to be grounded in their faith and scripture while remaining open to the move of God, which may come in unexpected ways.

Cross-References

Acts 3:22 - "For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you."
John 5:45-46 - "Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.

For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me."

John 10:25 - "Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me."

Language Study

"God" (Greek: Θεός, Theos): The divine being and ultimate authority, as commonly referred to in Christian scripture.
"Spake" (Greek: λαλέω, laleo): Means to talk or say.
"Moses": Refers to the prophet of the Hebrew Bible who led the Israelites out of Egypt and received the Law from God.
"Fellow" (Greek: οὗτος, houtos): This term here is somewhat dismissive, indicating an unfamiliar or contemptible person.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the broader context of ancient religious traditions, this verse exemplifies the reverence afforded to established prophets and the skepticism toward new religious figures.

Similar to how ancient Greek oracles or Egyptian priests were revered, Moses was viewed by the Jewish people as the quintessential prophet.

The situation in John 9:29 can be paralleled to instances in other cultures where emerging spiritual leaders were often initially met with suspicion or rejection.

Scientific Perspectives

While the verse itself does not directly engage with scientific concepts, the mention of knowledge ("we know") invites consideration of different forms of epistemology, the study of knowledge.

In contrast to the empiricism that underpins the scientific method, the Pharisees in this verse rely on tradition and scriptural authority to claim their knowledge. This reflects the tension between faith-based and empirical approaches to truth.

Commentaries

Many biblical scholars and commentaries interpret this verse as an illustration of the religious leaders' spiritual stubbornness and their refusal to recognize Jesus's divine mission.

Matthew Henry's Commentary notes that the Pharisees were confident in their traditions and resisted the clear evidence of Jesus's works.

The MacArthur Study Bible emphasizes the theme of spiritual blindness in John's Gospel, while The New Interpreter's Bible points out the irony that the religious experts fail to recognize the one Moses spoke of, despite their claims to follow Moses.

John 9

John 9

What does John 9:29 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does John 9:29 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?