John 9 24

John 9:24 kjv

Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.

John 9:24 nkjv

So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, "Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner."

John 9:24 niv

A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. "Give glory to God by telling the truth," they said. "We know this man is a sinner."

John 9:24 esv

So for the second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, "Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner."

John 9:24 nlt

So for the second time they called in the man who had been blind and told him, "God should get the glory for this, because we know this man Jesus is a sinner."

John 9 verses

John 9 24 Meaning

John 9:24 records the Jewish authorities, the Pharisees, recalling the formerly blind man for a second, more intense interrogation. Their command, "Give glory to God!", was a solemn adjuration, demanding he speak the truth as if under divine oath, implying they believed he or Jesus was deceptive. They then asserted their firm conviction: "We know that this man is a sinner," referring to Jesus. This declaration stemmed from their interpretation of Jesus' Sabbath healing as a violation of God's Law, thereby concluding He lacked divine approval or was even demonic, illustrating their profound spiritual blindness and prejudice against Him despite undeniable evidence of His miraculous power.

John 9 24 Context

John 9:24 occurs during Jesus' ministry in Jerusalem. The chapter details Jesus healing a man born blind on the Sabbath (v. 6-7). This act instantly sparks controversy among the Pharisees, who were deeply offended by what they considered a violation of Sabbath law (v. 14, 16). They interrogate the healed man (v. 13-17) and then his parents (v. 18-23), desperately trying to find an excuse to discredit the miracle and Jesus. This verse marks the second, more forceful summoning of the man after his parents, fearing excommunication (v. 22), refused to condemn Jesus. The Pharisees' actions reflect their entrenched hostility towards Jesus and their determination to preserve their authority and interpretation of the Law over divine revelation.

John 9 24 Word analysis

• So: (οὖν, oun) Connects to previous events; indicates a consequence or continuation. Their prior efforts to discredit the miracle failed, leading to this renewed pressure.
• for the second time: (ἐκ δευτέρου, ek deuterou) Highlights their persistence and increasing frustration. They did not give up easily on their agenda.
• they summoned: (Ἐφώνησαν, Ephōnesan) Implies an authoritative call, not a gentle request. The religious authorities were asserting their power and demanding the man's presence.
• the man: (τὸν ἄνθρωπον, ton anthrōpon) Specific individual being targeted, whose testimony they sought to manipulate.
• who had been blind: (ὃς ἦν τυφλός, hos ēn typhlos) Emphasizes the undeniable nature of the miracle. His former state is contrasted with his current sight.
• and said to him: (καὶ εἶπον αὐτῷ, kai eipon autō) Simple statement of their direct confrontation.
• “Give glory to God!”: (Δὸς δόξαν τῷ Θεῷ, Dos doxas tō Theō)
  • Give: (Δὸς, Dos) Imperative verb; a forceful command.
  • glory: (δόξαν, doxan) Here, not just praise, but a solemn adjuration to tell the absolute truth. It’s an oath-like demand, as seen in Josh 7:19.
  • to God: (τῷ Θεῷ, tō Theō) The Pharisees invoked God’s name to underscore the gravity of their demand and to pressure the man into a "confession" they wanted to hear, likely an admission that the miracle was either a trick or from an evil source.
• “We”: (ἡμεῖς, hēmeis) Emphatic "we," highlighting their collective authority, assumed wisdom, and unanimous decision as the established religious leadership.
• know: (οἴδαμεν, oidamen) A strong claim to certain, authoritative knowledge. They asserted this as an undeniable fact, contrasting with the man’s emerging understanding.
• that: (ὅτι, hoti) Introduces the substance of what they supposedly know.
• this man: (οὗτος ὁ ἄνθρωπος, houtos ho anthrōpos) A dismissive way of referring to Jesus, lacking any honorifics or titles, reinforcing their disdain.
• is a sinner.”: (ἁμαρτωλός ἐστιν, hamartōlos estin)
  • sinner: (ἁμαρτωλός, hamartōlos) This is the most crucial accusation. In their understanding, a "sinner" was not just someone who commits an individual sin, but someone who consistently transgresses God's Law, is outside His favor, and therefore could not be a messenger or agent of God. For the Pharisees, Jesus’ actions (like healing on the Sabbath, associating with "tax collectors and sinners") definitively branded Him as such.
  • is: (ἐστιν, estin) Present tense, presenting it as an absolute and current truth in their eyes.

John 9 24 Bonus section

• The Irony of Blindness: The Pharisees, who claimed to be "seers" (v. 40-41) and upheld religious law, were ironically the truly blind ones, unable to discern God's Spirit and work in their midst. The physically blind man gained both physical and spiritual sight.
• Progression of Faith: The healed man's perception of Jesus evolved throughout the chapter: from "a man called Jesus" (v. 11), to "a prophet" (v. 17), to "from God" (v. 33), eventually confessing Him as "Lord" and worshipping Him (v. 38). This contrasts sharply with the Pharisees' downward spiral of spiritual blindness and rejection.
• Misuse of Scripture: The Pharisees' use of "Give glory to God!" twisting its meaning from an encouragement for truth-telling (under God) to a demand for agreement with their biased verdict against Jesus, highlights how scriptural phrases can be misused to serve human agendas rather than divine will.
• Institutional Myopia: This passage serves as a cautionary tale about religious institutions and leaders who, by rigid adherence to tradition and authority, can become obstacles to God's new workings and revelations. Their emphasis on "we know" signifies a closed-mindedness that precluded any reconsideration of Jesus' identity and authority.

John 9 24 Commentary

John 9:24 captures a pivotal moment in the escalating conflict between Jesus and the religious establishment. The Pharisees, intellectually and spiritually cornered by the irrefutable miracle of sight given to a man born blind, resort to tactics of intimidation and baseless accusation. Their demand, "Give glory to God!", deceptively invoked a divine command to extract a confession of deceit. It wasn't an invitation to worship but a desperate legalistic maneuver, an echo of Old Testament adjurations (Josh 7:19) used to pressure someone to admit a hidden transgression. However, their true agenda immediately follows: "We know that this man is a sinner." This declaration is a stark display of spiritual arrogance. Their "knowledge" was rooted in theological prejudice – they had already decided Jesus couldn't be from God because He defied their interpretations of the Sabbath law. They were spiritually blind, unable to see God's work in Jesus' healing power, despite the clear evidence right before them. This refusal to accept direct divine testimony showcases the grave danger of allowing religious tradition to supersede truth and grace. This verse illustrates that holding preconceived notions can prevent individuals, even those with religious authority, from recognizing God's active work when it doesn't fit their pre-existing frameworks.