Worthy.Bible » STRONG » John » Chapter 9 » Verse 7-33

John 9:7-33 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

7 And G2532 said G2036 unto him, G846 Go, G5217 wash G3538 in G1519 the pool G2861 of Siloam, G4611 (which G3739 is by interpretation, G2059 Sent.) G649 He went his way G565 therefore, G3767 and G2532 washed, G3538 and G2532 came G2064 seeing. G991

8 The neighbours G1069 therefore, G3767 and G2532 they which before G4386 had seen G2334 him G846 that G3754 he was G2258 blind, G5185 said, G3004 Is G2076 not G3756 this G3778 he that sat G2521 and G2532 begged? G4319

9 Some G243 said, G3004 G3754 This G3778 is he: G2076 G1161 others G243 said, G3754 He is G2076 like G3664 him: G846 but he G1565 said, G3004 G3754 I G1473 am G1510 he.

10 Therefore G3767 said they G3004 unto him, G846 How G4459 were G455 thine G4675 eyes G3788 opened? G455

11 He G1565 answered G611 and G2532 said, G2036 A man G444 that is called G3004 Jesus G2424 made G4160 clay, G4081 and G2532 anointed G2025 mine G3450 eyes, G3788 and G2532 said G2036 unto me, G3427 Go G5217 to G1519 the pool G2861 of Siloam, G4611 and G2532 wash: G3538 and G1161 I went G565 and G2532 washed, G3538 and I received sight. G308

12 Then G3767 said they G2036 unto him, G846 Where G4226 is G2076 he? G1565 He said, G3004 I know G1492 not. G3756

13 They brought G71 to G4314 the Pharisees G5330 him G846 that aforetime G4218 was blind. G5185

14 And G1161 it was G2258 the sabbath day G4521 when G3753 Jesus G2424 made G4160 the clay, G4081 and G2532 opened G455 his G846 eyes. G3788

15 Then G3767 again G3825 the Pharisees G5330 also G2532 asked G2065 him G846 how G4459 he had received his sight. G308 G1161 He said G2036 unto them, G846 He put G2007 clay G4081 upon G1909 mine G3450 eyes, G3788 and G2532 I washed, G3538 and G2532 do see. G991

16 Therefore G3767 said G3004 some G5100 of G1537 the Pharisees, G5330 This G3778 man G444 is G2076 not G3756 of G3844 God, G2316 because G3754 he keepeth G5083 not G3756 the sabbath day. G4521 Others G243 said, G3004 How G4459 can G1410 a man G444 that is a sinner G268 do G4160 such G5108 miracles? G4592 And G2532 there was G2258 a division G4978 among G1722 them. G846

17 They say G3004 unto the blind man G5185 again, G3825 What G5101 sayest G3004 thou G4771 of G4012 him, G846 that G3754 he hath opened G455 thine G4675 eyes? G3788 He said, G2036 G3754 G1161 He is G2076 a prophet. G4396

18 But G3767 the Jews G2453 did G4100 not G3756 believe G4100 concerning G4012 him, G846 that G3754 he had been G2258 blind, G5185 and G2532 received his sight, G308 until G2193 G3755 they called G5455 the parents G1118 of him G846 that had received his sight. G308

19 And G2532 they asked G2065 them, G846 saying, G3004 Is G2076 this G3778 your G5216 son, G5207 who G3739 ye G5210 say G3004 G3754 was born G1080 blind? G5185 how G4459 then G3767 doth he G991 now G737 see? G991

20 His G846 parents G1118 answered G611 them G846 and G2532 said, G2036 We know G1492 that G3754 this G3778 is G2076 our G2257 son, G5207 and G2532 that G3754 he was born G1080 blind: G5185

21 But G1161 by what means G4459 he G991 now G3568 seeth, G991 we know G1492 not; G3756 or G2228 who G5101 hath opened G455 his G846 eyes, G3788 we G2249 know G1492 not: G3756 he G846 is G2192 of age; G2244 ask G2065 him: G846 he G846 shall speak G2980 for G4012 himself. G848

22 These G5023 words spake G2036 his G846 parents, G1118 because G3754 they feared G5399 the Jews: G2453 for G1063 the Jews G2453 had agreed G4934 already, G2235 that G2443 if G1437 any man G5100 did confess G3670 that he G846 was Christ, G5547 he should be G1096 put out of the synagogue. G656

23 Therefore G1223 G5124 said G2036 his G846 parents, G1118 G3754 He is G2192 of age; G2244 ask G2065 him. G846

24 Then G3767 again G1208 G1537 called they G5455 the man G444 that G3739 was G2258 blind, G5185 and G2532 said G2036 unto him, G846 Give G1325 God G2316 the praise: G1391 we G2249 know G1492 that G3754 this G3778 man G444 is G2076 a sinner. G268

25 G3767 He G1565 answered G611 and G2532 said, G2036 Whether G1487 he be G2076 a sinner G268 or no, I know G1492 not: G3756 one thing G1520 I know, G1492 that, G3754 whereas I was G5607 blind, G5185 now G737 I see. G991

26 Then G1161 said they G2036 to him G846 again, G3825 What G5101 did he G4160 to thee? G4671 how G4459 opened he G455 thine G4675 eyes? G3788

27 He answered G611 them, G846 I have told G2036 you G5213 already, G2235 and G2532 ye did G191 not G3756 hear: G191 wherefore G5101 would G2309 ye hear G191 it again? G3825 will G3361 G2309 ye G5210 also G2532 be G1096 his G846 disciples? G3101

28 Then G3767 they reviled G3058 him, G846 and G2532 said, G2036 Thou G4771 art G1488 his G1565 disciple; G3101 but G1161 we G2249 are G2070 Moses' G3475 disciples. G3101

29 We G2249 know G1492 that G3754 God G2316 spake G2980 unto Moses: G3475 as for this G1161 G5126 fellow, we know G1492 not G3756 from whence G4159 he is. G2076

30 The man G444 answered G611 and G2532 said G2036 unto them, G846 Why G1063 herein G1722 G5129 is G2076 a marvellous thing, G2298 that G3754 ye G5210 know G1492 not G3756 from whence G4159 he is, G2076 and G2532 yet he hath opened G455 mine G3450 eyes. G3788

31 Now G1161 we know G1492 that G3754 God G2316 heareth G191 not G3756 sinners: G268 but G235 if G1437 any man G5100 be G5600 a worshipper of God, G2318 and G2532 doeth G4160 his G846 will, G2307 him G5127 he heareth. G191

32 Since G1537 the world began G165 was it G191 not G3756 heard G191 that G3754 any man G5100 opened G455 the eyes G3788 of one that was born G1080 blind. G5185

33 If G1508 this man G3778 were G2258 not G1508 of G3844 God, G2316 he could G1410 G3756 do G4160 nothing. G3762

Commentary on John 9 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible


CHAPTER 9

Joh 9:1-41. The Opening of the Eyes of One Born Blind, and What Followed on It.

1-5. as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from birth—and who "sat begging" (Joh 9:8).

2. who did sin, this man or his parents, that he was born blind—not in a former state of existence, in which, as respects the wicked, the Jews did not believe; but, perhaps, expressing loosely that sin somewhere had surely been the cause of this calamity.

3. Neither … this man, &c.—The cause was neither in himself nor his parents, but, in order to the manifestation of "the works of God," in his cure.

4. I must work the works of him that sent me, &c.—a most interesting statement from the mouth of Christ; intimating, (1) that He had a precise work to do upon earth, with every particular of it arranged and laid out to Him; (2) that all He did upon earth was just "the works of God"—particularly "going about doing good," though not exclusively by miracles; (3) that each work had its precise time and place in His programme of instructions, so to speak; hence, (4) that as His period for work had definite termination, so by letting any one service pass by its allotted time, the whole would be disarranged, marred, and driven beyond its destined period for completion; (5) that He acted ever under the impulse of these considerations, as man—"the night cometh when no man (or no one) can work." What lessons are here for others, and what encouragement from such Example!

5. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world—not as if He would cease, after that, to be so; but that He must make full proof of His fidelity while His earthly career lasted by displaying His glory. "As before the raising of Lazarus (Joh 11:25), He announces Himself as the Resurrection and the Life, so now He sets Himself forth as the source of the archetypal spiritual light, of which the natural, now about to be conferred, is only a derivation and symbol" [Alford].

6, 7. he spat on the ground, and made clay … and he anointed the eyes of the blind man—These operations were not so incongruous in their nature as might appear, though it were absurd to imagine that they contributed in the least degree to the effect which followed. (See Mr 6:13 and see on Joh 7:33.)

7. Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, … Sent, &c.—(See 2Ki 5:10, 14). As the prescribed action was purely symbolical in its design, so in connection with it the Evangelist notices the symbolical name of the pool as in this case bearing testimony to him who was sent to do what it only symbolized. (See Isa 8:6, where this same pool is used figuratively to denote "the streams that make glad the city of God," and which, humble though they be, betoken a present God of Israel.)

8-15. The neighbours therefore … said, Is not this he that sat and begged—Here are a number of details to identify the newly seeing with the long-known blind beggar.

13. They brought to the Pharisees—sitting probably in council, and chiefly of that sect (Joh 7:47, 48).

16, 17. This man is not of God, &c.—(See on Joh 5:9; Joh 5:16).

Others said, &c.—such as Nicodemus and Joseph.

17. the blind man … said, He is a prophet—rightly viewing the miracle as but a "sign" of His prophetic commission.

18-23. the Jews did not believe … he had been born blind … till they called the parents of him that had received his sight—Foiled by the testimony of the young man himself, they hope to throw doubt on the fact by close questioning his parents, who, perceiving the snare laid for them, ingeniously escape it by testifying simply to the identity of their son, and his birth-blindness, leaving it to himself, as a competent witness, to speak as to the cure. They prevaricated, however, in saying they "knew not who had opened his eyes," for "they feared the Jews," who had come to an understanding (probably after what is recorded, Joh 7:50, &c.; but by this time well known), that whoever owned Him as the Christ would be put out of the synagogue—that is, not simply excluded, but excommunicated.

24-34. Give God the praise; we know that this man is a sinner—not wishing him to own, even to the praise of God, that a miracle had been wrought upon him, but to show more regard to the honor of God than ascribe any such act to one who was a sinner.

25. He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, &c.—Not that the man meant to insinuate any doubt in his own mind on the point of His being "a sinner," but as his opinion on such a point would be of no consequence to others, he would speak only to what he knew as fact in his own case.

26. Then said they … again, What did he to thee? &c.—hoping by repeated questions to ensnare him, but the youth is more than a match for them.

27. I have told you already … will ye also be his disciples?—In a vein of keen irony he treats their questions as those of anxious inquirers, almost ready for discipleship! Stung by this, they retort upon him as the disciple (and here they plainly were not wrong); for themselves, they fall back upon Moses; about him there could be no doubt; but who knew about this upstart?

30. The man answered, Herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes—He had no need to say another word; but waxing bolder in defense of his Benefactor, and his views brightening by the very courage which it demanded, he puts it to them how they could pretend inability to tell whether one who opened the eyes of a man born blind was "of God" or "a sinner"—from above or from beneath—and proceeds to argue the case with remarkable power. So irresistible was his argument that their rage burst forth in a speech of intense Pharisaism, "Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us?"—thou, a base-born, uneducated, impudent youth, teach us, the trained, constituted, recognized guides of the people in the things of God! Out upon thee!

31. they cast him out—judicially, no doubt, as well in fact. The allusion to his being "born in sins" seems a tacit admission of his being blind from birth—the very thing they had been so unwilling to own. But rage and enmity to truth are seldom consistent in their outbreaks. The friends of this excommunicated youth, crowding around him with their sympathy, would probably express surprise that One who could work such a cure should be unable to protect his patient from the persecution it had raised against him, or should possess the power without using it. Nor would it be strange if such thoughts should arise in the youth's own mind. But if they did, it is certain, from what follows, that they made no lodgment there, conscious as he was that "whereas he was blind, now he saw," and satisfied that if his Benefactor "were not of God, He could do nothing" (Joh 9:33). There was a word for him too, which, if whispered in his ear from the oracles of God, would seem expressly designed to describe his case, and prepare him for the coming interview with his gracious Friend. "Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at His word. Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for My name's sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified; BUT He shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed" (Isa 66:5). But how was He engaged to whom such noble testimony had been given, and for whom such persecution had been borne? Uttering, perhaps, in secret, "with strong crying and tears," the words of the prophetic psalm, "Let not them that wait on Thee, O Lord God of hosts, be ashamed for my sake; let none that seek Thee be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel; because for Thy sake I have borne reproach … and the reproaches of them that reproached Thee are fallen upon me" (Ps 69:6, 7, 9).

35-38. Jesus heard—that is, by intelligence brought Him.

that they had cast him out; and when he had found him—by accident? Not very likely. Sympathy in that breast could not long keep aloof from its object.

he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?—A question stretching purposely beyond his present attainments, in order the more quickly to lead him—in his present teachable frame—into the highest truth.

36. He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I may believe on him?—"His reply is affirmative, and believing by anticipation, promising faith as soon as Jesus shall say who He is" [Stier].

37. Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him—the new sense of sight having at that moment its highest exercise, in gazing upon "the Light of the world."

38. he said, Lord, I believe: and he worshipped him—a faith and a worship, beyond doubt, meant to express far more than he would think proper to any human "prophet" (Joh 9:17)—the unstudied, resistless expression, probably of SUPREME faith and adoration, though without the full understanding of what that implied.

39-41. Jesus said—perhaps at the same time, but after a crowd, including some of the skeptical and scornful rulers, had, on seeing Jesus talking with the healed youth, hastened to the spot.

that they which see not might see, &c.—rising to that sight of which the natural vision communicated to the youth was but the symbol. (See on Joh 9:5, and compare Lu 4:18).

that they which see might be made blind—judicially incapable of apprehending and receiving the truth, to which they have wilfully shut their eyes.

40. Are we blind also?—We, the constituted, recognized guides of the people in spiritual things? pride and rage prompting the question.

41. If ye were blind—wanted light to discern My claims, and only waited to receive it.

ye should have no sin—none of the guilt of shutting out the light.

ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth—Your claim to possess light, while rejecting Me, is that which seals you up in the guilt of unbelief.