John 9 33

John 9:33 kjv

If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.

John 9:33 nkjv

If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing."

John 9:33 niv

If this man were not from God, he could do nothing."

John 9:33 esv

If this man were not from God, he could do nothing."

John 9:33 nlt

If this man were not from God, he couldn't have done it."

John 9 verses

John 9 33 Meaning

John 9:33, spoken by the man born blind who was healed by Jesus, asserts that if Jesus were not from God, He would be unable to perform such a profound miracle. This statement reflects a logical deduction by the man: only one sent by God, or operating by divine power, could open the eyes of a person born blind. It declares Jesus's divine origin and authority as evidenced by His supernatural works.

John 9 33 Context

John chapter 9 recounts the powerful miracle of Jesus healing a man born blind. This event sparks a major controversy. The Pharisees, instead of marveling at the miracle, launch an inquisition into its legitimacy and Jesus's authority. They question the man, his parents, and Jesus Himself. They refuse to accept Jesus's divine origin and condemn Him for healing on the Sabbath. Throughout the interrogations, the formerly blind man's understanding and boldness grow, contrasting sharply with the spiritual blindness of the religious leaders. Verse 33 is the climactic conclusion of the man's defense of Jesus, stating plainly his deduction that only someone "from God" could do what Jesus did, sealing his expulsion from the synagogue.

John 9 33 Word analysis

• If (Εἰ, Ei): This conditional particle introduces a logical premise. It sets up a strong cause-and-effect argument based on observation.
• this man (οὗτος, houtos): Refers to Jesus, highlighting His humanity but implicitly linking His actions to something beyond ordinary human capacity.
• were not (μὴ ἦν, mē ēn): A past tense imperfect indicating a contrary-to-fact condition, meaning "if He were not." It emphasizes the absolute necessity of Jesus's divine origin for His actions.
• from (ἐκ, ek): Literally "out of" or "from." This preposition denotes source or origin. Here, it signifies divine authorization and enablement, not merely geographical provenance. It points to God as the ultimate source of Jesus's power and mission.
• God (τοῦ Θεοῦ, tou Theou): Refers to the Almighty God, the Father. This identifies Jesus's origin as divine, attributing the power for the miracle directly to Him. The man understands the God of Israel as the true and sole source of such miraculous power.
• he could do (ἠδύνατο, ēdynato): From dynamai (δύναμαι), meaning "to be able," "to have power." The imperfect tense suggests a continued inability if the condition were true. It directly speaks to the absence of capacity or power.
• nothing (οὐδέν, ouden): An absolute negation. It emphatically states that without divine empowerment, Jesus would be utterly incapable of performing this, or any other, miracle of similar supernatural magnitude.

Words-group analysis:

• If this man were not from God: This phrase sets up the counterfactual argument. It implies that since the miracle did occur, Jesus must be from God. The man presents a binary choice to his interrogators, forcing them to acknowledge either the miracle's divine source or deny reality. It challenges the Pharisees' refusal to see Jesus's authority through His works.
• he could do nothing: This emphasizes the absolute powerlessness of anyone attempting such a divine work without God's explicit authorization and enabling. It refutes any suggestion that Jesus might be a mere sorcerer or act by any other power, as true divine power can only flow "from God." It points to God's exclusive ability to grant such capabilities.

John 9 33 Bonus section

The man's bold and direct logic in John 9:33 ultimately leads to his excommunication from the synagogue (Jn 9:34). This demonstrates the high cost of confessing Jesus during this period. The verse is also a polemic against the Jewish religious leaders who acknowledged God's power but refused to recognize its manifestation through Jesus. Their "spiritual blindness" was far greater than the physical blindness of the man. Furthermore, this incident prefigures how genuine faith, often found among the marginalized, can perceive spiritual truths that elude those hardened by religious pride or rigid traditions. It reinforces the idea that true miracles serve as irrefutable signs of God's presence and activity.

John 9 33 Commentary

The statement in John 9:33 by the man born blind is a profound theological declaration by a simple individual who had just experienced a miraculous intervention. It serves as a stark contrast to the spiritual blindness and hardened hearts of the religious elite who questioned Jesus's authority. The man, applying straightforward biblical reasoning (e.g., God empowers only His chosen), concluded that the unique and unprecedented healing could only have come from a divine source. This was not a power a charlatan or sinner could possess, a point he articulates in John 9:31. His statement functions as a logical and theological syllogism: Major Premise (understood): God alone does works of this magnitude through His chosen; Minor Premise: Jesus did this work; Conclusion: Jesus is from God. It highlights that true divine works validate divine sending. The verse underscores that all true spiritual ability and miraculous power ultimately derive from God. Without being sent by God, operating through His power, even Jesus's human nature "could do nothing" of a supernatural nature. This emphasizes Jesus's dependency on and unity with the Father, even as He exercises divine power.