John 9 10

John 9:10 kjv

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

John 9:10 nkjv

Therefore they said to him, "How were your eyes opened?"

John 9:10 niv

"How then were your eyes opened?" they asked.

John 9:10 esv

So they said to him, "Then how were your eyes opened?"

John 9:10 nlt

They asked, "Who healed you? What happened?"

John 9 verses

John 9 10 Meaning

John 9:10 records the immediate inquiry made by the formerly blind man's neighbors and others after he returned, now seeing. Their question, "How then were your eyes opened?" (πῶς οὖν ἀνεῴχθησάν σου οἱ ὀφθαλμοί;), signifies a shift in their perspective. Initially uncertain of his identity (Jn 9:8-9), they now acknowledge he is indeed the same man and that he possesses sight. Their query expresses profound wonder, perplexity, and a desire for an explanation concerning the miraculous nature and method of his healing. This marks the beginning of a prolonged investigation into an event that defies their understanding and challenges their preconceived notions.

John 9 10 Context

John chapter 9 opens with Jesus encountering a man born blind. In contrast to the disciples' question about the cause of his blindness (sin of parents or man himself), Jesus declares the blindness serves "that the works of God might be displayed in him" (Jn 9:3). Jesus then applied a mixture of mud made with His saliva to the man's eyes and commanded him to wash it off in the Pool of Siloam. The man's obedience led to immediate restoration of his sight (Jn 9:6-7). Verse 10 captures the scene directly after this miraculous healing, when the man returns, now seeing.

The historical and cultural background is crucial: in ancient Judaism, congenital blindness was frequently linked to a severe sin (Jn 9:2). This perception made the man's healing profoundly astonishing. Moreover, Jesus performed this miracle on the Sabbath, using spittle and making clay—actions interpreted by religious leaders as violating Sabbath law (Ex 20:10; Jn 5:9-10). The neighbors' question in John 9:10 serves as a pivotal point; it moves beyond initial identification, accepting the fact of his sight, but introduces the immediate bewilderment over how such an extraordinary, never-before-seen miracle (for someone born blind, cf. Jn 9:32) could have happened. This inquiry sets the stage for the escalating interrogations and conflicts with the Jewish religious authorities that dominate the rest of the chapter.

John 9 10 Word analysis

• They asked (οὖν ἐπηρώτων αὐτόν – oun epērōtōn auton): The imperfect tense epērōtōn (from eperōtaō, "to question") indicates a continuous, repeated, or persistent line of inquiry. This suggests not just a single question, but perhaps a probing, reflecting their genuine bewilderment and possibly underlying skepticism or need for verification. The particle oun here acts as an inferential connector, meaning "therefore," "so," or "then," linking their question directly to the acknowledged fact of his newfound sight (Jn 9:8-9).
• "How" (Πῶς – Pōs): This Greek interrogative adverb directly seeks the manner, means, or method by which the miracle occurred. It explicitly moves the inquiry beyond merely confirming the fact of healing to demanding an explanation of the process. This shift reveals they accept that the event happened but struggle to understand the mechanics, pointing to its supernatural nature and their desire to rationalize it.
• "then" (οὖν – oun): Appearing within the direct question, oun once again acts as an inferential particle. It means, "Since it is true that you can see, then how did this happen?" It implies a logical follow-up to an acknowledged reality, signaling their acceptance of the visible evidence before them.
• "were your eyes opened?" (ἀνεῴχθησάν σου οἱ ὀφθαλμοί – aneōichthēsan sou hoi ophthalmoi):
  • ἀνεῴχθησάν (aneōichthēsan): This verb is the aorist passive indicative of ἀνοίγω (anoigō), meaning "to open." The aorist tense denotes a completed action in the past—a definite event—while the passive voice emphasizes that the man was the recipient of the action; he did not open his own eyes. This grammatical construction naturally points to an external agent responsible for his healing.
  • σου οἱ ὀφθαλμοί (sou hoi ophthalmoi): "your eyes." This specific phrasing underscores the personal and concrete nature of the miracle; it directly pertains to his long-standing, well-known condition.
• Words-group analysis: "How then were your eyes opened?": This question marks a critical turning point in the narrative. It demonstrates a progression from identifying the man to acknowledging his miraculous transformation, then demanding an explanation for it. It reveals the natural human inclination to seek a rational, explainable cause, even for something divine. This specific formulation sets the stage for the extended cross-examination the man will endure, where the facts are repeatedly confirmed but the method and the Agent behind it become grounds for severe contention and disbelief, particularly from those threatened by Jesus' power.

John 9 10 Bonus section

The seemingly simple question in John 9:10 also implicitly frames the healing as a past event. They do not ask "How are you seeing?" but "How were your eyes opened?" emphasizing the completed, historical nature of the miraculous action. This firm temporal rooting makes the event something undeniable, shifting the focus to its origins rather than its present state. This detail further compels the man to recount the story, laying the factual groundwork that his questioners will repeatedly attempt to dismantle or re-interpret throughout the chapter. It highlights the difference between those who initially struggle to grasp a new reality, and those, like the Pharisees, who actively refuse it due to their established religious convictions and vested interests.

John 9 10 Commentary

John 9:10 introduces the fundamental tension of the entire chapter: the undeniable evidence of a miracle confronts human resistance and the desire for rational explanation. The neighbors' question, "How then were your eyes opened?", serves as the narrative catalyst. It demonstrates their grappling with an extraordinary event. They no longer question if the man sees but how such an impossible feat occurred. This direct, simple question will receive a direct, simple answer from the man, which ironically will lead to far more complex and politically charged interrogations from the religious authorities. The focus on "how" foreshadows the later theological disputes, as opponents seek to understand the means (e.g., healing on the Sabbath) to invalidate the agent (Jesus). It highlights humanity's default to intellectual explanation over a direct embrace of divine mystery, even in the face of irrefutable proof.