John 9 26

John 9:26 kjv

Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes?

John 9:26 nkjv

Then they said to him again, "What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?"

John 9:26 niv

Then they asked him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?"

John 9:26 esv

They said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?"

John 9:26 nlt

"But what did he do?" they asked. "How did he heal you?"

John 9 verses

John 9 26 Meaning

John 9:26 describes the persistent, skeptical interrogation by the Jewish authorities. Despite having already heard the account of the blind man's healing, they question him "again," demanding specific details about Jesus' actions and methods. Their inquiry stems not from a desire for truth or belief in a miracle, but from an intent to find fault, discredit Jesus, and uphold their legalistic interpretation of the Sabbath. This repetition underscores their deep-seated unbelief and refusal to accept the divine power demonstrated before them.

John 9 26 Context

John Chapter 9 opens with Jesus seeing a man blind from birth. His disciples, reflecting common cultural belief, ask if the blindness was due to his own sin or his parents' sin. Jesus corrects them, stating the man was born blind so that God's works might be displayed through him. He then applies clay mixed with saliva to the man's eyes and sends him to wash in the Pool of Siloam. This act, taking place on the Sabbath, results in the man's miraculous healing. John 9:26 occurs after the neighbors and some Pharisees have already questioned the healed man and even his cautious parents. Despite overwhelming evidence of a miracle, the authorities bring the man back, still probing and demanding specific details. Their goal is not to acknowledge divine power but to find a reason to dismiss the miracle and condemn Jesus for perceived Sabbath-breaking.

John 9 26 Word analysis

• Then (Οὖν - Oun): A transitional word, signaling a logical progression or a resumption of previous activity. It indicates that the authorities' questioning continues or intensifies following earlier inquiries.

• they (αὐτοὶ - autoi): Refers to the Jewish authorities, specifically the Pharisees mentioned earlier in the chapter. They represent the official religious establishment and its rigid interpretation of the law.

• said (εἶπαν - eipan): Simple past tense of "to say." It conveys the direct act of speaking, but in conjunction with "again," it highlights the repeated nature of their interrogation.

• to him (αὐτῷ - autō): Designates the man who was born blind and healed by Jesus, who is the persistent focus of their skeptical questioning.

• again (πάλιν - palin): This critical word denotes repetition, emphasizing that this is not their initial questioning. It reveals their frustration, deep-seated unbelief, and dogged determination to find an inconsistency or flaw to discredit Jesus. They are actively searching for further information or contradictions.

• What did he do to you? (Τί σοι ἐποίησεν; - Ti soi epoiēsen?):

  • What (Τί - Ti): A question seeking the nature or type of action. They desire to know the specific details or method employed by Jesus, potentially hoping to identify an action forbidden on the Sabbath.
  • did he do (ἐποίησεν - epoiēsen): Simple past tense of "he performed." This query focuses on Jesus' actions, aiming to pinpoint a perceived violation of their Sabbath laws or a trick rather than a divine work.
  • to you (σοι - soi): Directs the question specifically to the healed man's personal experience of the event.

• How did he open your eyes? (Πῶς σοι ἠνέῳξεν τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς σου; - Pōs soi ēneōxen tous ophthalmos sou?):

  • How (Πῶς - Pōs): A question seeking the method or manner of the healing. This probes the precise procedure used, looking for evidence of illicit magical practices or unauthorized actions that could invalidate the miracle from their legalistic viewpoint.
  • did he open (ἠνέῳξεν - ēneōxen): Simple past tense of "to open." This acknowledges the undeniable outcome—sight restored—but frames it in a way that suggests skepticism about the means.
  • your eyes (τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς σου - tous ophthalmos sou): Identifies the specific object of the miracle, confirming it happened to this man, while simultaneously focusing on the extraordinary nature of the event itself.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "Then they said to him again": This phrase paints a picture of unrelenting pressure from the authorities. Their repeated questioning, despite already receiving a clear testimony from the man and his parents, highlights their refusal to accept a supernatural event. It underscores their spiritual blindness and their fixed determination to find fault with Jesus, implying a predetermined rejection of divine truth.
  • "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?": These two probing questions, though related, serve distinct inquisitorial purposes. "What did he do" attempts to isolate specific actions (e.g., mixing mud, applying saliva) to categorize them as illegal "work" on the Sabbath. "How did he open your eyes" delves into the mechanics or process, searching for evidence of trickery or a procedure inconsistent with divine operation, thereby providing a basis for denying Jesus' authority or condemning him. Together, they demonstrate the Pharisees' inability to comprehend direct divine intervention and their commitment to finding a legalistic basis for their opposition.

John 9 26 Bonus section

• The phrasing of the questions ("What did he do..." and "How did he open...") clearly shows the authorities' attempt to isolate and incriminate Jesus, directing all responsibility to Him rather than recognizing Him as an agent of divine power.
• This verse provides an example of "investigative unbelief," where rather than approaching a powerful work with openness, individuals seek only to confirm their preconceived biases.
• The persistence of the interrogators contrasts sharply with the developing clarity and increasing courage of the formerly blind man throughout John 9.
• The entire exchange in John 9 illustrates that sometimes, those who claim to be "seers" are spiritually blind, while those physically sightless come to see the deepest truths about God.

John 9 26 Commentary

John 9:26 succinctly captures the spiritual antagonism faced by Jesus. The persistent, almost desperate, interrogation by the Jewish authorities is not an innocent search for facts, but an attempt to find fault in an undeniable miracle. Having heard the account multiple times, their repeated "what" and "how" questions signify their hardened hearts and spiritual inability to accept God's work. Their focus is strictly on Jesus' method and its conformity to their narrow interpretation of the Sabbath law, not on the compassionate divine power displayed. This verse exposes the tragic reality of unbelief: even when confronted with a manifest display of God's power, those steeped in tradition and prejudice can refuse to see, seeking instead to invalidate the truth and silence its witnesses.