John 9:3 kjv
Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
John 9:3 nkjv
Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.
John 9:3 niv
"Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.
John 9:3 esv
Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.
John 9:3 nlt
"It was not because of his sins or his parents' sins," Jesus answered. "This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.
John 9 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Job 1:8-12 | The LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one...blameless..." | Suffering not directly caused by specific sin; God's sovereignty in allowing it. |
| Ez 18:20 | "The one who sins is the one who will die. The child will not share the guilt..." | Individuals are responsible for their own sin, not necessarily their parents'. |
| Lam 3:33 | "For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone." | God does not take pleasure in afflicting, but uses all things for His purpose. |
| Lk 13:1-5 | "...do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans...?" | Jesus challenges the direct link between calamity and greater sin. |
| Rom 8:28 | "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him..." | God uses all circumstances, even suffering, for ultimate good. |
| Rom 9:17 | For Scripture says to Pharaoh: "I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show my power in you..." | God uses even rebellious figures and difficult situations for His glory. |
| Gen 50:20 | "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good..." | God's ability to repurpose evil intentions for a greater divine plan. |
| Ex 9:16 | "But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show my power in you..." | God reveals His power through circumstances that showcase His might. |
| Ps 73:1-28 | A Psalm of Asaph. "Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart..." | Grappling with the apparent injustice of righteous suffering versus wicked prosperity. |
| Ps 50:15 | "and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me." | God is glorified through deliverance from distress. |
| Isa 45:7 | "I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster..." | God's absolute sovereignty over all aspects of creation and history. |
| Isa 60:21 | "...so that I might be glorified." | God's ultimate objective for His people and all creation. |
| 2 Cor 4:6-7 | "...but to give the light of the knowledge of God's glory in the face of Christ..." | God's glory is manifested through individuals who carry Christ's light. |
| Eph 2:10 | "For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works..." | We are created for works that reflect God's purpose and glory. |
| Phil 2:12-13 | "...continue to work out your salvation...for it is God who works in you..." | God works within believers, enabling them for His purposes and glory. |
| 1 Pet 4:14 | "If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed..." | Suffering for Christ's name leads to divine blessing and glorifies God. |
| 2 Thes 1:10-12 | "...when he comes on that day to be glorified in his holy people..." | God's future glorification will be seen through His sanctified people. |
| Jas 1:2-4 | "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials..." | Trials, while difficult, serve to mature faith and reveal spiritual growth. |
| John 1:4-5 | In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines... | Jesus as the life-giving light that overcomes spiritual and physical darkness. |
| John 3:19-21 | "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness..." | Light (Jesus) exposes truth, and deeds are revealed in its presence. |
| John 8:12 | When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world..." | Jesus' self-identification as the source of light, guiding and illuminating. |
| John 11:4 | When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory..." | Another explicit declaration that sickness can serve the purpose of God's glory. |
| Mt 11:5 | "The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed..." | The works of Jesus, including healing, are clear signs of the Messiah's coming. |
| Lk 7:21 | "...At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits..." | Jesus' healing ministry demonstrates God's active power among people. |
John 9 verses
John 9 3 Meaning
Jesus definitively refutes the prevalent Jewish assumption that the man's congenital blindness was a direct consequence of either his own sin or his parents' sin. Instead, Jesus declares that this particular physical ailment served a higher divine purpose: to provide an occasion for the glorious works of God, particularly through Jesus' power, to be manifested and displayed for all to see.
John 9 3 Context
This verse is part of Jesus's ministry where He continually challenges conventional wisdom and reveals His divine nature. Chapter 9 opens with Jesus encountering a man born blind. The disciples, reflecting a common Jewish theological understanding (influenced by beliefs like parental sin, or debates among Rabbis concerning pre-natal sin, or a direct link between all suffering and specific sin), immediately ask Jesus: "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" (John 9:2). Their question highlights the pervasive belief that physical affliction was a direct divine punishment for sin. Jesus's answer in John 9:3 radically shifts this paradigm, moving the focus from sin as the presumed cause to God's glory as the ultimate purpose. This miracle also occurs in the broader context of Jesus presenting Himself as "the Light of the World" (John 8:12; 9:5), providing physical and spiritual sight.
John 9 3 Word analysis
- Jesus answered,: A declarative response, signifying an authoritative correction of a deep-seated cultural and theological misconception held by the disciples.
- "Neither this man nor his parents sinned,":
- οὐδὲ οὗτος ἡμάρτησεν οὔτε οἱ γονεῖς αὐτοῦ (oude houtos hēmartēsen oute hoi goneis autou): "Neither this one sinned, nor the parents of him." This emphatically rejects both options posed by the disciples.
- sinned (ἡμάρτησεν - hēmartēsen): The Greek aorist tense denotes a specific, completed act of sin in the past. Jesus is denying that such a sin, from the man or his parents, caused this specific condition, rather than denying general human sinfulness (Rom 3:23). This directly confronts the prevailing belief that physical defects were always direct punitive consequences of specific transgressions.
- "but this happened":
- ἀλλ’ ἵνα (all' hina): "but in order that," introduces the purpose (telos) of the blindness. This construction highlights God's ultimate plan over human understanding.
- happened (γέγονεν - gegonen): Perfect tense, meaning "it has happened" or "has come into being," indicating the state of being born blind was part of a divine intention leading to this present situation.
- "so that the works of God might be displayed in him.":
- τὰ ἔργα τοῦ θεοῦ φανερωθῇ ἐν αὐτῷ (ta erga tou theou phanerōthē en autō): "the works of God might be displayed/manifested in him."
- works of God (τὰ ἔργα τοῦ θεοῦ - ta erga tou theou): Refers to God's mighty, miraculous acts of power, specifically the forthcoming healing. These "works" are intended to reveal God's divine character and glory through Jesus, making the invisible God visible through His actions.
- displayed (φανερωθῇ - phanerōthē): Aorist passive subjunctive, conveying God's active intention for His works to be made evident or conspicuous. The man becomes the living canvas for this divine revelation.
- This phrase clarifies that the man's congenital blindness, while a tragedy in human terms, was sovereignly allowed and purposed by God as an occasion for His divine power and glory to be demonstrated, ultimately through the ministry of Jesus.
John 9 3 Bonus section
This verse offers a crucial theological insight, especially in addressing human suffering. It clarifies that while sin is indeed the ultimate root of suffering in a fallen world, not every individual instance of hardship is a direct result of personal sin. Jesus redirects the disciples' (and our) focus from the 'why' of a punitive cause to the 'for what' of God's glorious purpose. This counter-cultural message emphasizes God's sovereign hand in all circumstances, using them not just for judgment, but more profoundly for revelation. The blindness was not a "mistake" but an integral part of God's redemptive plan, foreshadowing Jesus's own suffering for a greater divine display. It serves as a powerful argument against any form of works-based theology that presumes righteousness guarantees perfect health, or that affliction indicates spiritual failure. Instead, it invites a deeper trust in God's hidden wisdom and the ultimate revelation of His glory, especially through His Son.
John 9 3 Commentary
John 9:3 is a watershed moment, directly confronting and overturning a fundamental misconception of suffering prevalent in Jesus's day, and even in some corners today. Jesus adamantly states that the man's congenital blindness was not a punitive consequence of sin. Instead, He reveals a higher, redemptive purpose: the man's lifelong condition provided the perfect stage for the "works of God" – divine acts of power and glory – to be unveiled through Jesus. This declaration reframes suffering from being solely about human fault to being about divine sovereignty and a means for God's redemptive power and grace to be conspicuously displayed. The miracle of healing that follows serves to powerfully manifest God's love and the identity of Jesus as the Light of the World, offering both physical and spiritual sight.
- Example: When someone faces a long-term illness, instead of immediately asking "What did I do wrong?", the verse prompts the question "How can God's power or character be revealed through this situation?"
- Example: Difficult circumstances in life might be viewed not as solely obstacles, but as potential opportunities for God to demonstrate His faithfulness, provision, or comfort to both the individual and onlookers.