John 9 29

John 9:29 kjv

We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.

John 9:29 nkjv

We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from."

John 9:29 niv

We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don't even know where he comes from."

John 9:29 esv

We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from."

John 9:29 nlt

We know God spoke to Moses, but we don't even know where this man comes from."

John 9 verses

John 9 29 Meaning

John 9:29 expresses the deeply ingrained prejudice and spiritual blindness of the Pharisees against Jesus. They assert their unwavering belief in Moses as God's divinely appointed prophet, through whom the Law was given, a fact they consider universally known and accepted. In stark contrast, they express dismissive ignorance regarding Jesus' origin and authority, framing their lack of knowledge as a basis to reject His claims and miraculous works. This verse highlights the tension between established tradition and fresh revelation, revealing their deliberate choice to remain ignorant of God's present work in Christ.

John 9 29 Context

John chapter 9 recounts Jesus' healing of a man born blind on the Sabbath, sparking intense controversy among the Jewish authorities. The miracle challenges their understanding of suffering, sin, the Sabbath law, and Jesus' identity. Following an initial inquiry into the man and his parents, the Pharisees re-summon the formerly blind man. This verse (9:29) comes during their second interrogation, as they continue to discredit Jesus and the miracle. They juxtapose the unquestioned, historical authority of Moses—the very foundation of their religious identity and law—with their self-professed ignorance of Jesus' origin, intending to dismiss Him as illegitimate or even demonic. Their words reveal not a genuine search for truth, but a prejudiced determination to preserve their established order against a perceived threat.

John 9 29 Word analysis

• We: Refers to the collective Pharisees, who speak with an air of assumed authority and theological certainty. This "we" serves to consolidate their position and imply a unified, righteous front against Jesus.
• know: (Greek: oidamen, οἴδαμεν) Implies an intuitive, settled, and certain knowledge derived from prolonged acquaintance and deep understanding. This claim underscores their conviction and establishes a perceived benchmark of undeniable truth for their audience, which ironically stands in sharp contrast to their spiritual ignorance concerning Jesus.
• that God spoke: This phrase underscores divine revelation. For the Jewish leaders, the Law given through Moses was the supreme and immutable word of God, establishing all religious authority and practice. It signifies an established and authoritative past.
• to Moses: Moses (Hebrew: Mosheh, מֹשֶׁה; Greek: Mōusēs, Μωυσῆς) is the paramount figure in Israelite history, the mediator of the Old Covenant, and the giver of the Torah. Citing Moses immediately evokes an unquestionable divine authority and historical foundation within Judaism. He represents the entirety of the established legal and spiritual tradition.
• but as for this fellow: (Greek: toutou, τούτου) A highly dismissive and derogatory expression for Jesus. It depersonalizes Him, reducing Him to "this person" or "this one," signaling contempt and a refusal to acknowledge His unique claims or personhood. It highlights their disdain and utter rejection of His status.
• we do not know: (Greek: ouk oidamen, οὐκ οἴδαμεν) The repetition of "know" (oidamen) here, negated by ouk, is crucial. It is not an admission of genuine ignorance, but a deliberate, hostile declaration of unwillingness to accept any divine origin or authority for Jesus. It functions as a legalistic dismissal rather than a plea for information. Their "not knowing" is willful spiritual blindness.
• where he comes from: (Greek: pothen estin, πόθεν ἐστίν) This query about origin extends beyond physical birthplace; it probes the source of Jesus' authority, power, and identity. In Johannine theology, "coming from God" (Jn 8:42, 16:28) signifies divine mission and identity. The Pharisees demand to know the earthly, acceptable credentials (or lack thereof) while dismissing the heavenly, true ones, implying that if He isn't from a source they approve, He cannot be from God.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "We know that God spoke to Moses": This clause firmly establishes their reliance on past divine revelation and traditional authority. It's an affirmation of the foundational principles of Judaism, used here to frame and justify their subsequent dismissal of Jesus. They believe they stand on solid, God-given ground.
• "but as for this fellow, we do not know where he comes from": This sharply contrasting clause directly sets up Jesus as an outsider with no recognized legitimate origin or authority according to their standards. The "but" marks an unbridgeable chasm in their minds, demonstrating a profound spiritual prejudice that blinds them to the living manifestation of God's work. Their claim of "not knowing" functions as a verdict of illegitimacy, effectively placing Jesus outside the bounds of divine endorsement and hence outside their acceptance.

John 9 29 Bonus section

• Polemics Against Contemporary Beliefs: This verse acts as a direct challenge to the authority and interpretive supremacy the Pharisees ascribed to themselves. They were the arbiters of divine law and tradition, yet here they find themselves confronting God's direct action through a new agent, Jesus. Their assertion of knowing Moses' authority, and simultaneously dismissing Jesus, reveals their theological system was designed to control revelation rather than genuinely receive it. It challenged the notion that God's active work was confined solely to their historical framework.
• Irony of "Knowing": The irony is profound throughout John 9. The physically blind man gains spiritual sight and "knows" (believes in) Jesus (Jn 9:35-38), while those who claim to have knowledge (oidamen) and spiritual insight (the Pharisees) remain spiritually blind (Jn 9:39-41). They assert their knowing, yet demonstrate fundamental ignorance of God's unfolding plan.
• "Where He Comes From" - A Johannine Theme: The question of Jesus' origin is a recurring and highly significant theme in John's Gospel (e.g., Jn 7:27-28; 8:14, 42; 16:28). For John, Jesus' ultimate origin is "from above," "from God," "from the Father"—a divine sending. The Pharisees' refusal to acknowledge this demonstrates their rejection of His divine sonship and heavenly mission, and by extension, a rejection of God the Father. They were looking for an earthly prophet's credentials while ignoring the signs of heavenly authentication.

John 9 29 Commentary

John 9:29 stands as a pivotal statement illustrating the spiritual blindness and hardened hearts of the religious leaders. Their claim to "know" God's historical revelation through Moses is sincere, yet their refusal to "know" God's present revelation in Jesus exposes a fundamental disconnect. They held a selective "knowing"—one that was rooted in rigid tradition and excluded any new work of God that challenged their interpretive authority. The derogatory "this fellow" coupled with the defiant "we do not know where he comes from" reveals their disdain, not a quest for truth. This deliberate ignorance of Jesus' divine origin, which is extensively explored in John's Gospel, means they implicitly reject the Father who sent Him. Their confidence in past revelation becomes a barrier to present truth, exemplifying how outward religious observance can become a cloak for an inward rebellion against God's active presence. This verse highlights a core theme in John: the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness.