John 9:2 kjv
And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
John 9:2 nkjv
And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"
John 9:2 niv
His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"
John 9:2 esv
And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"
John 9:2 nlt
"Rabbi," his disciples asked him, "why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents' sins?"
John 9 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 9:1 | As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. | Immediate context of the miracle |
| Isaiah 42:7 | "to open the eyes that are blind..." | Prophetic fulfillment of Messiah's work |
| Luke 1:79 | "...to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death..." | Messiah's mission |
| Luke 4:18 | "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and to restore sight to the blind..." | Jesus declares his mission |
| John 1:9 | "The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world." | Jesus as the Light of the world |
| John 12:46 | "I have come as light into the world, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness." | Jesus' self-identification |
| Acts 3:21 | "...whom heaven must receive until the time for all things to be restored, about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old." | Restitution and restoration |
| John 1:5 | "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." | Light overcoming darkness |
| Matthew 20:30 | "Two blind men sat by the roadside, and they cried out, 'Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!'" | Healing blind individuals |
| Mark 10:46 | "And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho, with his disciples and a crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside." | Similar healing account |
| John 9:39 | Jesus said, "For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind." | Theme of sight and blindness |
| Psalm 146:8 | "The Lord opens the eyes of the blind..." | God's character and actions |
| Proverbs 16:4 | "The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble." | God's sovereignty in creation |
| John 11:4 | "Jesus heard this, he said, 'This illness does not result in death, but is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.'" | Suffering for God's glory |
| John 11:15 | "...and I am glad for your sake that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him." | Faith through suffering |
| 1 Corinthians 1:27 | "But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;" | God's wisdom in weakness |
| Romans 5:8 | "but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." | God's love demonstrated in sin |
| John 9:3 | Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him." | Purpose of suffering |
| 1 Peter 4:10 | "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's variegated grace:" | God's grace in service |
| John 1:14 | "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, in the fulness of his grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father." | The Word becoming flesh |
| 2 Corinthians 4:6 | "For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." | Divine illumination |
| Genesis 1:3 | "And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light." | God's creative power |
John 9 verses
John 9 2 Meaning
Jesus, passing by, saw a man who had been blind from birth. This observation by Jesus immediately highlights the subject of the miraculous healing that is about to take place, focusing on the man's lifelong condition and Jesus' awareness of it.
John 9 2 Context
This verse is the opening statement of John chapter 9, which narrates a significant miracle of Jesus healing a man born blind. The immediate context is Jesus' journey through the city and his disciples' questioning about the man's blindness, which prompts Jesus' powerful declaration and subsequent healing. Historically, blindness was a significant affliction, often leading to poverty and social marginalization. The cultural understanding often linked severe illness or disability to sin, either of the individual or their parents. This miracle occurs during Jesus' ministry in Jerusalem, often around a feast time, and directly challenges the religious authorities' understanding of God and the law. The entire chapter highlights themes of spiritual sight versus physical sight, the nature of sin and suffering, and the glory of God revealed through Jesus' works.
John 9 2 Word analysis
- As (ὡς - hōs): Signifies manner or time.
- He (αὐτός - autos): Refers to Jesus.
- Passed by (παρεπορεύετο - pareporeueto): Imperfect tense, indicating a continuous or repeated action; a journey or transit.
- He saw (ἐθεώρει - etheōrei): Imperfect tense of θεωρέω (theōreō), meaning to behold, gaze upon, observe with attention. It suggests a deliberate and significant noticing.
- A certain (ἄνθρωπον - anthropon): Accusative case of ἄνθρωπος (anthropos), meaning man, human being. "A certain man."
- Man (τινα - tina): Indefinite pronoun, signifying "a certain one" or "someone."
- Blind (τυφλὸν - typhlon): Accusative case of τυφλός (typhlos), meaning blind, unable to see.
- From birth (ἐκ γενετῆς - ek genets): A prepositional phrase. ἐκ (ek) means from, out of. γενετῆς (genets) is the genitive of γένεσις (genesis), meaning birth, origin, lineage. So, "from (his) birth." This specifies the lifelong nature of his condition.
Word group analysis
- "As he passed by, he saw": This phrasing emphasizes that the encounter was not accidental for Jesus. The imperfect tense suggests Jesus was in the act of moving through the scene, and his perception of the blind man was an integral part of that passage. It was not merely a passing glance but a focused observation (ἐθεώρει).
- "a certain man blind from birth": The description "certain man" individualizes the subject, and "blind from birth" underlines the severity and lifelong nature of the affliction, setting the stage for a profound display of divine power.
John 9 2 Bonus Section
The emphasis on being "blind from birth" likely serves multiple purposes in the narrative. It establishes the severity of the ailment, ensuring there is no doubt about the miraculous nature of the healing. It also immediately raises the question that disciples will pose in the next verse about the cause of such a condition, directly engaging with contemporary theological debates on suffering and sin. Jesus' immediate awareness and action underscore His identity as the One sent by God to bring light and restoration to a darkened world. The narrative technique of "seeing" the blind man and understanding the divine purpose behind his condition reflects Jesus' unique insight and divine mission.
John 9 2 Commentary
This verse serves as the direct setup for the miracle of healing the man born blind. Jesus, actively moving through the world, intentionally observes this individual with a profound, lifelong disability. The phrase "blind from birth" is crucial, signifying a condition present since inception, making it appear an insurmountable human problem and, in some cultural understandings, a possible mark of sin. Jesus' perception of the man highlights His compassion and His purpose to reveal the glory of God through His actions. The sight here is both physical (the blind man) and spiritual (Jesus seeing the man and the purpose of his condition).