John 9 20

John 9:20 kjv

His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind:

John 9:20 nkjv

His parents answered them and said, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind;

John 9:20 niv

"We know he is our son," the parents answered, "and we know he was born blind.

John 9:20 esv

His parents answered, "We know that this is our son and that he was born blind.

John 9:20 nlt

His parents replied, "We know this is our son and that he was born blind,

John 9 verses

John 9 20 Meaning

This verse captures the parents of the formerly blind man responding to the interrogation by the religious authorities. They unequivocally confirm two facts: firstly, that the healed man is indeed their biological son, and secondly, that he was undeniably born blind. Their statement is a direct and factual answer, avoiding details they did not personally witness, strategically navigating the hostile inquiry.

John 9 20 Context

John chapter 9 centers on the miraculous healing of a man born blind by Jesus. This extraordinary act, performed on the Sabbath, immediately ignited a fierce controversy among the Jewish religious leaders, particularly the Pharisees. They questioned the legitimacy of the miracle, the authority of the man who performed it, and even the identity and previous condition of the man who received the healing. After multiple interrogations of the healed man himself, who testified strongly about Jesus, the leaders summoned his parents, hoping to discredit the miracle by proving the man was not truly born blind. The parents entered this scene under immense societal and religious pressure, fully aware of the Sanhedrin's decree that anyone confessing Jesus as the Christ would be excommunicated from the synagogue (John 9:22). This verse records their carefully phrased, factual response, aiming to confirm the undeniable while prudently protecting themselves from the severe ecclesiastical consequences of directly associating with Jesus' actions.

John 9 20 Word analysis

• His parents (Οἱ γονεῖς αὐτοῦ - Hoi goneis autou)
  • This phrase unequivocally identifies the speakers. Their identity as the biological parents is foundational for their testimony regarding their son's condition from birth, lending immediate credibility to their factual statement in the Jewish legal context.
• answered (ἀπεκρίθησαν - apekrithēsan)
  • This Aorist passive verb indicates they "replied" or "responded." It suggests a direct and deliberate statement made in reply to specific questions, reinforcing the interrogative context of the encounter.
• them (αὐτοῖς - autois)
  • This refers specifically to the "Jews," meaning the hostile religious authorities, likely the Pharisees, who were conducting the intense examination. It underscores the adversarial setting.
• and said (καὶ εἶπαν - kai eipan)
  • A simple conjunction and verb, introducing the direct speech of the parents, indicating their explicit and immediate response to the inquiry.
• We know (οἴδαμεν - oidamen)
  • The Greek verb "oida" in the perfect tense signifies a fixed, personal, and settled knowledge—a profound certainty based on direct, undeniable experience, rather than mere intellectual apprehension or hearsay. It functions as a strong assertion of incontrovertible fact.
• that this is our son (ὅτι οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ υἱὸς ἡμῶν - hoti houtos estin ho huios hēmōn)
  • This phrase definitively affirms the identity of the man. It counters any suggestion by the religious leaders that this might be a different person, a doppelgänger, or a fraud. Their testimony removes any doubt about his personhood.
• and that he was born blind (καὶ ὅτι τυφλὸς ἐγεννήθη - kai hoti typhlos egennēthē)
  • The second definitive factual statement. "Born blind" (τυφλὸς ἐγεννήθη, meaning "blind he was born") establishes the crucial premise for the miracle. It eliminates the possibility of the man simply having an acquired, treatable, or feigned blindness, thereby authenticating the extraordinary nature of his healing.

John 9 20 Bonus section

• Verifiable Evidence: The parents' testimony provides irrefutable human verification for two crucial aspects of the miracle: the identity of the person healed and the lifelong nature of his affliction. This data serves as foundational evidence against the manipulative attempts of the Pharisees to undermine the miracle's authenticity.
• Contrasting Wisdom: The parents, while fearful, displayed a form of practical wisdom by adhering strictly to verifiable facts and avoiding speculation or endorsement of Jesus' messianic claims. Their caution stands in contrast to the rigid, self-serving "wisdom" of the religious leaders, who preferred their doctrine and power over an evident truth.
• Laying the Groundwork: Although limited, the parents' affirmation sets the stage for their son's more courageous and theologically insightful witness later in the chapter. By confirming the essential details, they leave no room for the authorities to deny the subject of the miracle, forcing the focus onto the Person who performed it.

John 9 20 Commentary

John 9:20 presents a pivotal moment in the Pharisees' inquisition, where the parents of the healed man confirm two non-negotiable facts: his identity as their son and his birth-blindness. Their unequivocal declaration "We know" serves as an anchor of truth against the swirling accusations and cynical disbelief of the religious leaders. While their testimony is undeniably factual and courageous in its clarity, it is also strategically cautious. Aware of the looming threat of excommunication for acknowledging Jesus as the Messiah, they limit their statements strictly to what they personally observed and could verify, sidestepping questions about the healing itself. This prudence, born of fear, highlights the severe societal pressure exerted by the authorities, yet paradoxically, their guarded witness still objectively validates the miraculous nature of Jesus' work. They become reluctant instruments in affirming the undeniable reality that the One born blind indeed received sight, even if they dare not speak the name of the One who healed him. Their constrained honesty strengthens the case for Jesus, revealing the spiritual blindness of those who chose to deny an obvious work of God.