John 9 17

John 9:17 kjv

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

John 9:17 nkjv

They said to the blind man again, "What do you say about Him because He opened your eyes?" He said, "He is a prophet."

John 9:17 niv

Then they turned again to the blind man, "What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened." The man replied, "He is a prophet."

John 9:17 esv

So they said again to the blind man, "What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?" He said, "He is a prophet."

John 9:17 nlt

Then the Pharisees again questioned the man who had been blind and demanded, "What's your opinion about this man who healed you?" The man replied, "I think he must be a prophet."

John 9 verses

John 9 17 Meaning

John 9:17 marks a pivotal moment where the Jewish religious authorities, unable to deny the physical healing, shift their focus to discrediting Jesus by pressing the formerly blind man for his judgment of the healer. Despite their hostile intentions, the man courageously declares Jesus to be "a prophet," a significant advancement in his understanding and a testament to his burgeoning faith. This statement underscores the undeniable power of Jesus and contrasts the man's spiritual insight with the spiritual blindness of his interrogators.

John 9 17 Context

John chapter 9 presents a powerful narrative of Jesus healing a man born blind, sparking significant controversy with the Jewish religious leaders. The miracle, performed on the Sabbath, directly challenges their strict interpretation of the law and their preconceived notions about sin and suffering. Before verse 17, Jesus states that the man's blindness was not a result of sin but "that the works of God might be displayed in him." After the healing (vv. 1-7), the man's neighbors and others confirm his identity (vv. 8-12), leading to the man being brought before the Pharisees (vv. 13-16). The authorities are divided: some condemn Jesus for healing on the Sabbath, while others acknowledge that a "sinner" could not perform such signs. They then question the healed man, and in this verse, they press him for his personal opinion about Jesus, setting the stage for his courageous testimony and the Pharisees' escalating disbelief.

John 9 17 Word analysis

• So (οὖν - oun): This connective particle signifies a logical continuation or consequence, indicating that this renewed questioning directly follows their prior inquiries and dissatisfaction. It links their persistence to their ongoing struggle with Jesus' actions.
• they asked him again (ἐπηρώτησαν οὖν αὐτὸν πάλιν - epērōtēsan oun auton palin): "They" refers to the "Pharisees" or "the Jews" from verse 13. "Asked him again" reveals their sustained pressure and their deep-seated doubt, reflecting a relentless effort to find a narrative that undermines Jesus rather than accepting the truth of the miracle.
• "What do you say (σὺ τί λέγεις - sy ti legeis)": This is a direct, confrontational question. The emphatic "you" (sy) stresses the man's individual opinion, implying a desire for him to provide testimony suitable for their judgment against Jesus, potentially putting him in a difficult position.
• about him (περὶ αὐτοῦ - peri autou): "Him" explicitly points to Jesus. This shifts the focus from the event of the miracle to the identity of its performer, highlighting their central concern: the person and authority of Jesus.
• since he opened your eyes (ὅτι ἤνοιξέν σου τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς - hoti ēnoixen sou tous ophthalmounts): This clause is a factual acknowledgment of the miracle, the undeniable truth that grounds their inquiry. Even in their attempts to condemn Jesus, they cannot deny the reality of the healing. This phrase underscores the dramatic, personal, and incontrovertible experience the man had with Jesus.
• He said (ἐκεῖνος δὲ εἶπεν - ekeinos de eipen): A simple and direct response from the man, contrasting with the complex and manipulative line of questioning from his interrogators.
• "He is a prophet (Προφήτης ἐστίν - Prophētēs estin).":
  • Προφήτης (Prophētēs): This Greek term denotes "one who speaks for God" or a divine messenger. It implies that Jesus, through his actions and words, carries God's authority and insight, akin to the great prophets of the Old Testament.
  • Significance: This declaration elevates Jesus' status beyond that of a mere man or healer. It marks a significant progression in the man's understanding of Jesus, recognizing divine endorsement for his actions, and directly challenges the Pharisees' judgment of Jesus as a "sinner" (v.16). This statement demonstrates spiritual discernment emerging from personal experience, standing firm against religious authority.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "So they asked him again, 'What do you say about him'": This grouping reveals the interrogators' desperate strategy: acknowledging the miracle is inevitable, so they redirect their attack to the identity and character of Jesus. They hope to coerce a negative opinion from the beneficiary himself, placing immense pressure on the man.
• "'since he opened your eyes?' He said, 'He is a prophet.'": This contrast highlights the power of undeniable experience versus legalistic prejudice. The undisputed fact of the man's healing ("opened your eyes") compels a confession of Jesus' divine connection ("He is a prophet"), demonstrating how spiritual sight flows from encountering the works of God.

John 9 17 Bonus section

The man's journey of faith, from "a man called Jesus" (v.11) to "a prophet" (v.17), and later "Son of Man/Lord" (v.35, 38), serves as a model for how individuals progressively understand and confess Jesus' identity through personal encounter and revelation. His courage in defying the religious authorities' implicit demand for condemnation, choosing instead to articulate a truth born of experience, anticipates the kind of bold confession expected of believers in later persecution (e.g., Acts 4:19-20). This entire chapter underscores the theme that true spiritual insight is not dependent on religious status or intellectual superiority, but on an open heart responding to God's works revealed in Jesus. The narrative serves as a stark warning about how rigid adherence to human tradition and self-righteousness can lead to spiritual blindness even in the face of divine miracles.

John 9 17 Commentary

John 9:17 is a stark portrayal of the conflict between revelation and hardened unbelief. The religious authorities, blinded by their theological prejudice and threatened by Jesus' growing influence, conduct a rigorous interrogation. Their repeated questioning, highlighted by "asked him again," betrays their desperation to undermine the miracle and, by extension, Jesus Himself. They confront the healed man with a demand for his personal assessment of Jesus. While they anticipate a response that aligns with their negative judgment, the man, speaking from his profound personal experience, confidently declares Jesus to be a "prophet." This is a monumental step in his developing faith, transcending his earlier, simpler description of Jesus as "a man." His statement recognizes Jesus as one acting with divine authority, interpreting the overwhelming evidence of the miracle through the lens of God's direct intervention. It is a moment of profound spiritual discernment and courage, standing against the prevailing legalism and ultimately challenging the very authority of his inquisitors, showcasing the true 'seeing' of the heart against those who claim to see yet remain spiritually blind.