John 9 19

John 9:19 kjv

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

John 9:19 nkjv

And they asked them, saying, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?"

John 9:19 niv

"Is this your son?" they asked. "Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?"

John 9:19 esv

and asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?"

John 9:19 nlt

They asked them, "Is this your son? Was he born blind? If so, how can he now see?"

John 9 verses

John 9 19 Meaning

John 9:19 records the incredulous questioning of the parents of the man who was born blind and then healed by Jesus. The Jewish authorities, seeking to discredit the miracle and Jesus, pressed the parents to verify their son's identity and the congenital nature of his blindness. They challenged the parents' assertion that their son had been born blind, implying disbelief that such a significant miracle could have occurred. This exchange underscores their skepticism, their legalistic objections to Jesus, and their desperate attempt to find a reason to dismiss the divine work performed.

John 9 19 Context

This verse is situated within John chapter 9, a pivotal narrative illustrating Jesus as the Light of the World (Jn 9:5). The preceding verses describe Jesus miraculously healing a man born blind on the Sabbath (Jn 9:6-7), using mud and instructing him to wash in the pool of Siloam. This healing stirred controversy among the Jewish authorities, particularly the Pharisees, who were legalistic regarding Sabbath observance. The miracle directly challenged their power and traditions. Faced with undeniable evidence—a man they all knew had been blind from birth now seeing—they resorted to an "investigation." They first interrogated the healed man (Jn 9:13-17), then, unsatisfied with his direct testimony and perhaps suspecting fraud or collusion, summoned his parents. Verse 19 directly captures the start of their interrogation of the parents, signaling their deep skepticism and desperate attempts to find fault with Jesus or the miracle itself, rather than acknowledging His divine authority. Historically, questioning the parents aimed to confirm the identity and congenital nature of the condition, crucial for validating or discrediting such a significant claim of healing.

John 9 19 Word analysis

• They asked them: The "they" refers to the Jewish authorities, likely a group of Pharisees or members of the Sanhedrin, who had convened to investigate the miraculous healing. "Them" refers to the parents of the formerly blind man. This phrasing highlights a formal interrogation. The Greek ērōtēsan autous (ἠρώτησαν αὐτούς) suggests a direct, often challenging, inquiry.
• saying: Introduces a direct quotation, emphasizing the precise nature of their inquiry and concerns.
• Is this your son,: A question verifying the man's identity. This implies they knew of a local man born blind and are trying to confirm he is indeed the person Jesus healed. It's the first step in establishing facts or, from their perspective, potential deception.
• who you say: The Greek hon humeis legete (ὅν ὑμεῖς λέγετε) includes an emphatic "you" (ὑμεῖς). This injects a subtle challenge to the parents' integrity, implying that the authorities suspect the parents' testimony might be biased, fabricated, or part of a deception. It indicates doubt in the parents' claim about their son's condition.
• was born blind?: The critical part of their initial question. The Greek ek genetes tuphlos (εκ γενετῆς τυφλός) precisely means "blind from birth." This specific detail is crucial throughout the chapter because a congenital, lifelong blindness would constitute a far greater and undeniably miraculous healing, previously unheard of and explicitly fulfilling Messianic prophecy (Isa 35:5). Discrediting this specific claim was paramount to their agenda.
• How then: The Greek Pōs oun (πῶς οὖν) functions as an expression of astonishment, confusion, and suspicion. It demands an explanation for the seemingly impossible contradiction: a congenital condition suddenly reversed. It signals their profound disbelief in Jesus' power.
• does he now see?: The undeniable present reality that creates the whole dilemma for the authorities. This is the central fact that they cannot deny, but also cannot attribute to human means, forcing them to either acknowledge Jesus or deny obvious truth. It challenges their entire framework.

John 9 19 Bonus section

The intense scrutiny and interrogation by the Jewish authorities are emblematic of how spiritual blindness prevents recognition of divine truth, even in the face of overwhelming evidence. This scenario serves as a powerful biblical illustration that knowledge of scripture (which the Pharisees possessed) does not inherently guarantee recognition of God's work, especially when that work challenges pre-established interpretations, power structures, or legalistic traditions. The parents' fear (as seen later in the chapter, Jn 9:22) highlights the oppressive atmosphere created by the religious establishment, where even speaking the truth about a miraculous healing could lead to excommunication, a severe social and religious punishment in that culture. The authorities' methodical questioning—first the man, then the parents, then the man again—shows their procedural attempts to dismantle the evidence, a legalistic exercise aimed at discrediting the witness rather than validating the miracle.

John 9 19 Commentary

John 9:19 acts as a crucial turning point in the chapter, intensifying the conflict between Jesus' undeniable divine works and the entrenched, spiritually blind leadership. The Pharisees' questions reveal not a genuine desire for truth, but a predetermined effort to undermine the miracle's validity. Their focus on "is this your son" and "who you say was born blind" indicates suspicion toward the parents, seeking to expose collusion or misidentification. The repeated emphasis on "born blind" underscores its significance as a unique Messianic sign; had it been a lesser ailment, the healing might have been dismissed more easily. However, this profound and undeniable reversal of congenital blindness, a condition beyond human medical intervention, forces the authorities into a corner. Their subsequent question, "How then does he now see?" isn't born of wonder but exasperation and a desperate need to explain away a miracle that points unequivocally to Jesus' divine power and identity. This inquiry is ultimately designed to find grounds to condemn Jesus rather than glorify God.