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 29 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 5:45 | "Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. Moses is your accuser..." | Jesus points to Moses' writings against them |
| Ex. 16:29 | "See, the LORD has given you the Sabbath..." | Moses establishes Sabbath laws |
| Lev. 23:3 | "Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest..." | Prohibition of work on Sabbath |
| Deut. 18:15 | "The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you..." | Prophecy of a future prophet |
| Deut. 18:18-19 | "I will raise up for them a prophet from among their brothers..." | God will speak through him |
| John 5:46 | "For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me." | Moses testified about Jesus |
| John 1:17 | "For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." | Contrast of Law and Grace |
| Acts 3:22 | "Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet from your brothers as he raised me.'" | Peter quotes Deut. 18 |
| Acts 7:37 | "This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet from your brothers, like me.'" | Stephen quotes Deut. 18 |
| John 12:49 | "For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak." | Jesus' authority is divine |
| John 3:34 | "For he whom God has sent utters the words of God..." | Jesus speaks God's words |
| John 8:28 | "So Jesus said, 'When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he...'" | His identity revealed through suffering |
| John 9:16 | "...‘This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.'" | Their initial accusation |
| John 9:15 | "...and took him to the Pharisees." | Where the accusation is brought |
| Deut. 30:19 | "I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse..." | Choosing obedience |
| Isa. 42:1-4 | "He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice..." | Suffering Servant's characteristics |
| Ps. 89:20 | "I have found David, my servant..." | David, a prophetic figure |
| John 6:27 | "Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life..." | Different work emphasis |
| Matt. 11:29 | "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart..." | Jesus' teaching authority |
| Heb. 3:3 | "Yet Jesus has been counted worthy of so much more glory than Moses, as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself." | Jesus' superiority to Moses |
| 1 Cor. 10:4 | "...and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ." | Christ's presence in OT |
John 9 verses
John 9 29 Meaning
The Pharisees are asserting that Moses is their authority. They claim Jesus blasphemes because he violates Mosaic Law, specifically regarding the Sabbath. Their argument implies Jesus' claims are invalid because they conflict with the Law given by Moses, which they believe God directly sanctioned.
John 9 29 Context
This verse occurs in John chapter 9, which details Jesus healing a man born blind on the Sabbath. The miracle provokes a debate with the Pharisees, who are bound by their strict interpretation of Mosaic Law and their traditions. They question how the man was healed, arguing that since Jesus performed the healing on the Sabbath, he must be "not from God" because he violates the Sabbath commandment (John 9:16). The healed man, however, confidently testifies that Jesus is a prophet, and later, as his faith grows, declares Jesus to be the Son of God (John 9:17, 33, 38). This verse is the Pharisees' response to the healed man's defense of Jesus, accusing Jesus of being a sinner because he did not keep the Sabbath. Their argument relies heavily on their authority derived from Moses and their interpretation of the Law.
John 9 29 Word Analysis
- "We know": (οἴδαμεν - oidamen) First-person plural present active indicative of οἶδα (oida), meaning "to know," "to be acquainted with," or "to understand." It signifies a firm conviction and accepted fact within their group.
- "that": (ὅτι - hoti) A conjunction introducing a subordinate clause.
- "this man": (οὗτος ὁ ἄνθρωπος - houtos ho anthropos) Refers to Jesus, a demonstrative pronoun coupled with "man." It carries a tone of familiarity and potentially dismissiveness.
- "is a sinner": (ἁμαρτωλός ἐστιν - hamartōlos estin) From ἁμαρτωλός (hamartōlos), meaning "sinner," and ἐστιν (estin), "he is." It is a direct accusation, branding Jesus as one who transgresses divine law.
- "because": (ὅτι - hoti) Introduces the reason for their assertion.
- "he": (αὐτός - autos) Refers back to Jesus.
- "knows not": (οὐκ οἶδεν - ouk oiden) The negation of knowing. Here, it signifies willful ignorance or defiance of a known law.
- "Mosaic": (Μωϋσέως - Mōüseōs) Genitive case of Μωϋσῆς (Mōusēs), meaning Moses. This word directly invokes Moses as the source of authority.
- "law": (νόμον - nomon) Accusative case of νόμος (nomos), meaning law, statute, or custom.
- "God": (θεοῦ - theou) Genitive case of θεός (theos), meaning God.
- "we know": (ἡμεῖς οἴδαμεν - hēmeis oidamen) Reiteration for emphasis, contrasting their claimed certainty with their lack of understanding regarding Jesus.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "We know that this man is a sinner, because he does not know the law of God": This is the core of their argument. It's a logical (though flawed) syllogism:
- Premise 1: To sin is to disregard God's law.
- Premise 2: Jesus disregarded the Sabbath law.
- Conclusion: Therefore, Jesus is a sinner and therefore not from God.Their certainty ("We know") is built on their rigid adherence to their interpretation of Mosaic Law, specifically regarding the Sabbath, failing to see the divine authority of Jesus himself.
John 9 29 Bonus Section
The Pharisees' insistence on their knowledge ("We know") reveals a significant spiritual blindness. True knowledge of God's law isn't just intellectual assent or adherence to rules; it's recognizing God's voice and work when it appears. Jesus consistently pointed to the scriptures that testified of Him (John 5:39-40). Their interpretation of the law was literal and legalistic, devoid of the mercy and love that the law was meant to uphold. Their appeal to "the law of God" as understood through Moses was ironically a rejection of God's ongoing revelation through Jesus. This conflict underscores the perpetual tension between human traditions/interpretations and divine intervention.
John 9 29 Commentary
The Pharisees' condemnation of Jesus is based on their strict adherence to the Sabbath law as they understood it. They believed any work, even a healing that restored a person to God's people, was a violation. Their assertion "we know that this man is a sinner, because he does not know the law of God" reveals their lack of true insight. They have the Law but do not comprehend its spirit or its ultimate purpose, which is to glorify God and bless humanity. Jesus' own words in John 5:45-47 reveal that their reliance on Moses would have led them to recognize Him, as Moses wrote about Him. The healed man's courageous faith and simple testimony stand in stark contrast to the religious leaders' hardened hearts and flawed logic.
- The argument demonstrates how outward observance can obscure inward understanding of God's will.
- It highlights the danger of appealing to tradition and religious authority without discerning divine presence.
- The healed man's persistence in testifying about Jesus contrasts with their predetermined conclusion.