John 9 23

John 9:23 kjv

Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him.

John 9:23 nkjv

Therefore his parents said, "He is of age; ask him."

John 9:23 niv

That was why his parents said, "He is of age; ask him."

John 9:23 esv

Therefore his parents said, "He is of age; ask him."

John 9:23 nlt

That's why they said, "He is old enough. Ask him."

John 9 verses

John 9 23 Meaning

John 9:23 explains why the parents of the man healed of blindness answered evasively when questioned by the Jewish leaders. They did so out of fear of social and religious exclusion. The verse reveals a prior agreement among the Jewish authorities to excommunicate anyone who confessed Jesus as the Messiah, emphasizing the high stakes of allegiance to Christ.

John 9 23 Context

John chapter 9 recounts the powerful miracle of Jesus healing a man born blind. This event sparks immediate controversy because it occurred on the Sabbath and Jesus performed it by unconventional means. The healing prompts extensive interrogation by the Jewish religious authorities (the Pharisees), who are hostile to Jesus's claims and actions. They repeatedly question the formerly blind man, then summon his parents to corroborate his story, seeking to discredit the miracle and Jesus. The parents' response, specifically in verses 20-21, is evasive. John 9:23 directly explains this evasion, providing insight into the coercive power structure and the dangerous implications of openly acknowledging Jesus as the Messiah within Jewish society at that time. Historically, being "put out of the synagogue" (ἀποσυνάγωγος - aposynagōgos) was a severe penalty. It meant not just religious excommunication from worship and instruction but also social ostracism, potentially leading to economic hardship, public disgrace, and loss of community support in all aspects of life. It effectively cut a person off from the central institution of Jewish life. This context highlights the growing divide between the Jewish establishment and those who believed in Jesus, showcasing the severe pressure applied to individuals to reject Jesus.

John 9 23 Word analysis

• Therefore (Διὰ τοῦτο - Dia touto): Connects the parents' actions (their evasive answers in vv.20-21) directly to their motivation. It signifies a cause-and-effect relationship, establishing the reason for their preceding statements.

• his parents (οἱ γονεῖς αὐτοῦ - hoi goneis autou): Refers to the father and mother of the man who had been blind. Their identity adds to the personal impact of the Sanhedrin's decree, as family units faced direct pressure.

• said these things (ταῦτα εἶπαν - tauta eipan): Refers specifically to their answer to the Jewish leaders, where they deferred to their son's testimony: "He is of age; ask him. He will speak for himself." (John 9:21). Their statement avoids affirming Jesus while still confirming the son's birth blindness.

• because they feared (ἐφοβοῦντο γάρ - ephobounto gar): The Greek ephobounto indicates a deep, continuous state of fear, not just momentary apprehension. This fear motivated their guarded response, placing human apprehension over open confession. It underscores the intense societal and religious pressure.

• the Jews (τοὺς Ἰουδαίους - tous Ioudaious): In John's Gospel, this term often specifically refers to the Jewish religious authorities and leaders hostile to Jesus, such as the Sanhedrin or the Pharisees, rather than the entire Jewish people. They wielded judicial and social power.

• for the Jews had already agreed (ἤδη γὰρ συνετέθειντο οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι - ēdē gar synetetheinto hoi Ioudaioi): This phrase indicates a pre-existing, formal, and collective decision or resolution. The imperfect tense of synetetheinto (from syntithēmi – to put together, covenant) suggests this agreement was already in effect, perhaps established after Jesus's earlier controversial acts or claims. It was not a spontaneous decision in this particular incident but a standing policy.

• that if anyone confessed (ἵνα ἐάν τις ὁμολογήσῃ - hina ean tis homologēsē): The Greek homologēsē means to agree with, to confess openly, to acknowledge publicly, to declare allegiance to. This is a critical term in New Testament theology for professing faith in Christ. The consequence was specific to this public affirmation.

• that He was Christ (Χριστόν εἶναι - Christon einai): This identifies the object of the confession: Jesus as the Messiah, the Anointed One expected by Israel. Acknowledging this claim meant placing oneself in opposition to the religious establishment.

• he would be put out of the synagogue (ἀποσυνάγωγος γένηται - aposynagōgos genētai): This phrase describes the act of excommunication. Aposynagōgos (literally "from the synagogue") signifies not only exclusion from the place of worship and study but also social ostracism from the community, loss of honor, economic standing, and full participation in Jewish life. It was a severe form of religious and social death for an individual.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "because they feared the Jews": This highlights the underlying motivation for the parents' reluctance. Their fear was directed at the ruling Jewish authorities who had the power to enforce significant social and religious consequences. This fear overrides direct honesty.
  • "for the Jews had already agreed": This emphasizes the predetermined nature of the penalty. The religious leaders had established a policy, not a reactionary measure to this specific miracle, indicating a systematic opposition to any recognition of Jesus as the Messiah. This pre-existing pact signifies calculated malice.
  • "if anyone confessed that He was Christ": This pinpointed the specific trigger for excommunication: public affirmation of Jesus's messianic identity. This shows the religious leadership saw Jesus's claim to messiahship as a direct threat to their authority and understanding of Jewish law and tradition.
  • "he would be put out of the synagogue": This phrase succinctly conveys the grave consequences awaiting those who dared to believe in and confess Jesus. It encapsulates total religious, social, and, to some extent, economic exclusion, effectively isolating an individual from their community and heritage.

John 9 23 Bonus section

• Levels of Excommunication: Rabbinic Judaism traditionally recognized different levels of exclusion from the community, ranging from Niddah (a temporary ban of 7 or 30 days) to Cherem (a total and permanent exclusion with public anathema). The phrase "put out of the synagogue" (ἀποσυνάγωγος) likely refers to the latter, Cherem, signifying a complete severance from the Jewish community and its privileges, particularly access to the Torah, communal prayers, and social interactions.
• The Johannine "Jews": In John's Gospel, "the Jews" (οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι) often functions as a technical term for the leaders and ruling classes in Jerusalem who consistently reject Jesus and oppose His ministry, rather than implying all Jewish people generally. This usage helps contextualize their "agreement" and their opposition to Jesus, indicating the Sanhedrin or leading Pharisees.
• Cost of Discipleship: This verse powerfully illustrates a theme recurrent throughout the New Testament: the cost of discipleship. Following Jesus often entails facing persecution, rejection, or losing comfort, status, or even family ties. It foreshadows the struggles early Christians would face as they broke from traditional Judaism and formed a new movement.
• Foreshadowing in Prophecy: This episode can be seen as an early fulfillment of Jesus's own warnings about His followers being cast out and persecuted (e.g., Matt 10:22, Luke 21:12). It validates His prophecies about the reception of His message and His disciples.
• Contrast in Belief: The narrative often highlights the spiritual blindness of the religious authorities in stark contrast to the physical and spiritual sight gained by the formerly blind man. The parents, caught in the middle, represent a dilemma where worldly security competes with spiritual conviction.

John 9 23 Commentary

John 9:23 concisely captures the growing tension between Jesus and the Jewish religious authorities. It explains the parents' fear-driven, indirect answers not as a lack of faith, but as a protective measure against severe consequences. The Jewish leaders' prior agreement to excommunicate anyone confessing Jesus as the Christ highlights their systemic opposition and fear of losing control. This pre-planned sanction was a deliberate tactic to suppress belief in Jesus's messianic claims and to maintain their religious and social authority. Being "put out of the synagogue" was a devastating penalty, amounting to total social and religious ostracization. This verse therefore underscores the profound cost of discipleship in Jesus's day, where confessing faith in Him required courage to face severe social and familial disruption. It sets a contrast between the fear of man exhibited by the parents and the growing boldness of their formerly blind son.

• Example: Imagine a believer today who risks losing their job, friends, or even family approval by publicly professing their faith in Christ in a hostile environment, much like the parents feared losing their place in society.
• Example: A Christian in a religiously restrictive country facing imprisonment or social boycott for converting or sharing their faith illustrates the modern parallel to being "put out of the synagogue."