John 9 11

John 9:11 kjv

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.

John 9:11 nkjv

He answered and said, "A Man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, 'Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.' So I went and washed, and I received sight."

John 9:11 niv

He replied, "The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see."

John 9:11 esv

He answered, "The man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, 'Go to Siloam and wash.' So I went and washed and received my sight."

John 9:11 nlt

He told them, "The man they call Jesus made mud and spread it over my eyes and told me, 'Go to the pool of Siloam and wash yourself.' So I went and washed, and now I can see!"

John 9 verses

John 9 11 Meaning

John 9:11 is the immediate, factual testimony of the man who was born blind after he was questioned by the crowd about his newfound sight. It concisely details Jesus' direct actions: the making and application of mud to his eyes, the command to wash in the Pool of Siloam, and the man's simple, obedient response which resulted in his sight being restored. This verse initiates a central theme of the chapter: the confrontation between the undeniable truth of Jesus' miracle and the escalating disbelief of the religious authorities.

John 9 11 Context

John chapter 9 recounts the miraculous healing of a man born blind, orchestrated by Jesus Christ. The narrative begins with the disciples asking Jesus if the man's blindness was due to his or his parents' sin (v. 2). Jesus dismisses this notion, stating it was for the display of God's glory (v. 3). Jesus then performs the unique act of making mud with His saliva and applying it to the man's eyes, commanding him to wash in the Pool of Siloam (v. 6-7). Verse 11 is the man's initial, unadorned account of what happened, given to bewildered neighbors and Pharisees. This testimony sets in motion a series of interrogations by the Pharisees, highlighting their skepticism and legalistic interpretation of the Sabbath law, as Jesus had performed the healing on the Sabbath (v. 14). Historically, rabbinic traditions defined many activities as unlawful work on the Sabbath, including making mud or salves for healing unless life-threatening. The Pool of Siloam, a prominent Jerusalem landmark whose name (meaning "Sent") John specifically points out (v. 7), held symbolic significance, subtly foreshadowing Jesus' identity as the One "sent" by God.

John 9 11 Word analysis

• He answered: (ἀπεκρίθη – apekristhē). This verb, typically "replied," signifies a direct response to a question posed in Jn 9:10, indicating the man's ready testimony.
• The man called Jesus: (ἄνθρωπος ὀνομαζόμενος Ἰησοῦς – anthrōpos onomazomenos Iēsous).
  • ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos): Emphasizes Jesus' humanity from the man's limited understanding at this initial stage. He recognizes Jesus as a human agent.
  • ὀνομαζόμενος (onomazomenos): "being named" or "called," suggesting Jesus' identity was known to him by name, though not yet by divine status.
  • Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous): The Greek form of "Joshua," meaning "The Lord is salvation" or "Yahweh saves." This name is central to His identity and mission.
• made mud: (ἐποίησεν πηλόν – epoiēsen pēlon).
  • ἐποίησεν (epoiēsen): "He made," referring to an active, creative act.
  • πηλόν (pēlon): "mud" or "clay." This specific material directly recalls creation narratives (Gen 2:7, Job 33:6), suggesting a divine, re-creative power at play, transforming matter. This action also violated some rabbinic Sabbath prohibitions concerning kneading.
• anointed my eyes: (ἐπέχρισέν μου τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς – epekrisen mou tous ophthalmotus).
  • ἐπέχρισέν (epekrisen): "He spread/smeared on" or "anointed." It signifies the application of the mud. While "anoint" can have ceremonial connotations, here it is a physical, practical act, emphasizing the direct engagement.
  • ὀφθαλμούς (ophthalmous): "eyes," the very organs that lacked sight.
• and told me: (καὶ εἶπέν μοι – kai eipen moi). A straightforward declaration, indicating a clear, verbal instruction.
• "Go to Siloam and wash.": (Ὕπαγε εἰς τὴν κολυμβήθραν τοῦ Σιλωάμ καὶ νίψαι – Hypage eis tēn kolumbēthran tou Silōam kai nipsai).
  • Ὕπαγε (Hypage): "Go!" An imperative, demanding immediate movement and obedience.
  • Σιλωάμ (Silōam): The Pool of Siloam, a natural pool fed by a spring in Jerusalem, well-known to the original audience. John’s parenthetical explanation in Jn 9:7, that "Siloam means Sent," is profoundly significant, linking the location to Jesus' own identity as the One "Sent" by God (Jn 3:17, 5:36). The blind man is sent to the "Sent" to receive sight from the "Sent One."
  • νίψαι (nipsai): "wash," an imperative verb commanding the action. This was not a passive healing; it required an act of obedience.
• So I went and washed: (ἀπῆλθον οὖν καὶ ἐνιψάμην – apēlthon oun kai enipsamēn).
  • οὖν (oun): "therefore," "so," or "then." It emphasizes the direct causal link between Jesus' command and the man's subsequent obedient action.
  • ἀπῆλθον (apēlthon): "I went away."
  • ἐνιψάμην (enipsamēn): "I washed myself." The man's personal, active obedience.
• and received my sight: (καὶ ἀνέβλεψα – kai anablepsa).
  • ἀνέβλεψα (anablepsa): "I looked up," "I regained sight." This strong verb indicates a complete and immediate restoration of vision, marking the miraculous outcome. It means literally "to look up again" or "to gain sight again."

John 9 11 Bonus section

The account of the blind man’s healing is unique among Jesus' miracles because it specifically highlights a process involving the man's participation (going and washing), rather than an instantaneous touch or word. This required obedience acts as a visible marker of faith. Additionally, Jewish tradition held that a person born blind was an incurable condition, often linking it to generational sin. Jesus' miracle directly challenges these cultural beliefs and misconceptions about suffering and sin, while affirming His authority over even the most ingrained physical ailments, positioning Him as the expected Messiah who would bring sight to the blind (Isa 35:5; 61:1). The mud also carries connotations of the Messiah creating eyes in the time of healing as mentioned by some Jewish interpretive traditions, making Jesus' act a powerful messianic claim.

John 9 11 Commentary

John 9:11 is the concise and unequivocal testimony of a man experiencing a life-altering miracle. It functions as the man’s first step in identifying Jesus, referring to Him simply as "The man called Jesus," revealing his initial limited yet accurate understanding. The account meticulously details the unusual method – Jesus’ use of mud (a material echoing divine creation) and His explicit command to wash in the Pool of Siloam. The name of Siloam, "Sent," infused by John’s inspired commentary in verse 7, subtly draws a profound connection between the place of the healing and Jesus' divine mission as the One "Sent" from God. The man’s response, "So I went and washed, and received my sight," underscores a crucial principle: active, unquestioning obedience to Jesus' command results in God's miraculous work. This testimony, while straightforward, immediately sets the stage for theological conflict within the chapter, highlighting the collision between the undeniable proof of God's power and the stubborn spiritual blindness of the religious authorities. It teaches that faith often involves an obedient act, even when the means seem unconventional.