John 9 30

John 9:30 kjv

The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.

John 9:30 nkjv

The man answered and said to them, "Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes!

John 9:30 niv

The man answered, "Now that is remarkable! You don't know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes.

John 9:30 esv

The man answered, "Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes.

John 9:30 nlt

"Why, that's very strange!" the man replied. "He healed my eyes, and yet you don't know where he comes from?

John 9 verses

John 9 30 Meaning

John 9:30 records the healed man's response to the questioning Jewish leaders, expressing astonishment at their wilful ignorance of Jesus' origin, despite the undeniable evidence of His power through the miraculous healing. It highlights the stark contrast between his humble faith, gained through direct experience, and their proud, hardened unbelief rooted in spiritual blindness and rigid traditions.

John 9 30 Context

John 9 details Jesus' encounter with a man born blind. Against the traditional belief that the man's condition was due to sin (Jn 9:2), Jesus declared that it was so God's works could be displayed through him (Jn 9:3). Jesus healed the man on the Sabbath (Jn 9:6-7), a controversial act according to the Jewish leaders' interpretations of the Law. This led to a series of interrogations of the man and his parents by the Pharisees, who were deeply offended and unwilling to acknowledge a miracle performed by someone they deemed a "sinner" or not from God. Their concern was not truth, but upholding their authority and theological interpretations. Verse 9:30 is the healed man's firm, exasperated response to their continued questioning about Jesus' identity and origin, after they had already questioned him extensively and then brought in his parents who deflected to their son. The man's words highlight the illogical and spiritually blind stance of the religious leaders.

John 9 30 Word analysis

• The man answered and said unto them: This indicates a confident and direct address. The "man," previously identified by his physical ailment, now speaks with a newfound boldness and spiritual insight. He is no longer passive but actively defending the truth of his healer.
• Why herein is a marvelous thing:
  • Why (τί): Not simply "why" in inquiry, but expressing indignation, surprise, or exclamation of "How!" or "What!" It introduces a rhetorical question implying astonishment.
  • herein (ἐν τούτῳ): "In this," referring to the specific situation or fact they are debating.
  • is a marvelous thing (τὸ θαυμαστόν ἐστιν): Thaumaston (θαυμαστόν) means astonishing, wonderful, marvelous. It's a genuine expression of awe mixed with incredulity that such an obvious truth could be ignored. He marvels not at the healing (though it is marvelous), but at the leaders' stubborn inability to recognize the source of such a profound miracle.
• that ye know not:
  • ye (ὑμεῖς): Emphatic plural, addressing the powerful, learned, religious leaders directly.
  • know not (οὐκ οἴδατε): From oida (οἶδα), meaning to know by insight or perception. It's not just a lack of information but a lack of understanding or spiritual recognition. The man implicitly charges them with culpable ignorance – they should know.
• from whence he is (πόθεν ἐστίν): Refers to origin, source, or authority. The Jewish leaders often questioned Jesus' legitimacy and divine backing (e.g., "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?" Jn 6:42). The man sees this as the very crux of the issue: His origin must be divine given the miracle.
• and yet he hath opened mine eyes: The undeniable fact. This is the simple, direct, irrefutable evidence. The man focuses on the undeniable transformation in his life as proof of Jesus' power and legitimate authority. He brings the abstract theological debate back to concrete, personal experience. This clause stands in stark contrast to their feigned ignorance, revealing their dishonesty or spiritual inability to acknowledge the divine power manifested.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvelous thing,": This opening signifies a pivotal moment of assertive testimony. The formerly marginalized individual, endowed with spiritual sight, now rebukes those in authority who are spiritually blind. The "marvelous thing" isn't the miracle itself, but the deliberate blindness of those who should have been the first to recognize God's work.
• "that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.": This forms a powerful rhetorical question based on an obvious logical premise. The contrast is stark: their professed ignorance of Jesus' divine origin versus the undeniable, tangible proof of His divine power in healing the man born blind. It exposes the irrationality of their position, essentially arguing: "If you don't know who He is, how do you explain the unexplainable miracle He just performed on me?"

John 9 30 Bonus section

This verse perfectly illustrates a key theme throughout the Gospel of John: the light coming into the world, and people’s varying responses to it. The healed man moves towards the light, embracing it, while the Pharisees cling to their darkness, effectively choosing spiritual blindness. His argument is an appeal to reason based on observation of God's activity, a common way the Lord confirms His messengers (Jn 10:25, Acts 2:22). It showcases the principle that if God performs extraordinary acts through someone, that person must be in special relationship with God. This simple logic of the common man stood in stark contrast to the twisted reasoning and prejudices of the religious elite, ultimately revealing their hearts and justifying their continued unbelief. The humility and honesty of the healed man here serve as a pattern for responding to God's revelation, by focusing on the undeniable facts of God's work rather than on human traditions or prejudices.

John 9 30 Commentary

John 9:30 is a powerful moment of turning the tables, where a man considered ignorant and sinful due to his former affliction provides profound spiritual insight that eludes the learned religious leaders. The healed man, with startling courage and simple logic, confronts the Pharisees' deliberate spiritual blindness. He highlights the glaring absurdity of their claim of ignorance regarding Jesus' divine origin when He has just performed an unprecedented miracle: opening the eyes of one born blind. This demonstrates that genuine spiritual perception often resides not in theological training or position, but in humility and openness to God's works, while a hardened heart can obscure even the clearest divine evidence. The man’s progression from physical blindness to spiritual insight starkly contrasts with the Pharisees' physical sight yet profound spiritual darkness, setting the stage for Jesus' pronouncement on spiritual judgment (Jn 9:39-41). This verse is a testament to the fact that God can use the "foolish things of the world to confound the wise" (1 Cor 1:27).