John 9 34

John 9:34 kjv

They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.

John 9:34 nkjv

They answered and said to him, "You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?" And they cast him out.

John 9:34 niv

To this they replied, "You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!" And they threw him out.

John 9:34 esv

They answered him, "You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?" And they cast him out.

John 9:34 nlt

"You were born a total sinner!" they answered. "Are you trying to teach us?" And they threw him out of the synagogue.

John 9 verses

John 9 34 Meaning

John 9:34 reveals the escalating animosity of the Jewish religious authorities toward the man born blind who was healed by Jesus. Unable to refute the miracle, they resort to a baseless, venomous personal attack, accusing him of being utterly steeped in sin from birth. Their accusation aligns with a prevailing but flawed cultural belief that severe afflictions, like congenital blindness, were direct consequences of either personal or ancestral sin. Following this verbal assault, they physically and socially "cast him out" of their presence, which symbolically represented excommunication from the synagogue and community. This act underscores their rejection of both the man and, by extension, Jesus and the truth of the miracle, preferring to maintain their own authority and theological prejudices over acknowledging divine intervention.

John 9 34 Context

John 9:34 is a pivotal moment in the escalating conflict between Jesus and the religious establishment, following the miraculous healing of a man born blind. The chapter begins with Jesus' disciples asking about the cause of the man's blindness, reflecting the common Jewish belief that disability was a consequence of sin (Jn 9:2). Jesus corrects this, stating the man was blind "so that the works of God might be displayed in him" (Jn 9:3). After Jesus heals him, the religious authorities, particularly the Pharisees, initiate an "investigation." They repeatedly question the man, his parents, and the circumstances of the miracle. Despite overwhelming evidence and the man's clear, consistent testimony to Jesus' divine identity (Jn 9:30-33), the authorities refuse to acknowledge Jesus as from God. Their inability to refute the miracle without admitting Jesus' divine authority leads to frustration, anger, and this direct, prejudiced attack. Historically, exclusion from the synagogue, symbolized by "casting out," meant profound social and religious ostracization within Jewish society, severing communal ties and effectively declaring one an outcast.

John 9 34 Word analysis

• They: Refers to "the Pharisees" (Jn 9:13, 15, 16) and "the Jews" (Jn 9:18, 22). This group represents the religious and social establishment of the time, self-proclaimed custodians of the Law and tradition. Their collective voice embodies institutional opposition to Jesus.
• answered him: Not a civil reply, but a confrontational, accusatory rebuttal. It reveals their fixed prejudgment and refusal to genuinely consider the evidence.
• 'You: Refers to the formerly blind man. The use of 'you' here is pointedly demeaning, separating him as an "other" who is fundamentally inferior and tainted in their eyes.
• were born (Greek: egennēthēs - aorist passive indicative): This highlights a completed action in the past, emphasizing his state from birth. It's presented as an immutable condition, sealing his fate as an unholy, inherent sinner.
• entirely in sins: The Greek phrase is en hamartiais (dative plural). The use of the preposition en ("in") and the plural "sins" suggests a comprehensive and pervasive state of sinfulness, as if his very being and existence were encompassed by sin. It implies an overwhelming guilt that infected him from his initial moment of life. This accusation assumes an inherent moral fault tied to his physical defect, drawing on a prevalent misconception of the era.
• and are you trying: The conjunction "and" (Greek: kai) connects the accusation to the question, making it a rhetorical device expressing utter contempt. "Are you trying" (Greek: sy didaskeis - present active indicative) conveys incredulity, highlighting their disdain that someone they consider utterly contaminated would dare to instruct them, the respected teachers. The emphasis on "you" is sarcastic and derogatory.
• to teach us?': The "us" refers to the religious leaders themselves, the perceived experts and arbiters of religious truth. Their self-righteousness makes the idea of being taught by a "sinner" born blind an unacceptable affront to their authority and status.
• And they cast him out.: The Greek kai exebalon auton exō ("and they cast him out outside") is forceful. Exebalon (aorist active indicative of ekballō) means "to throw out," "expel," or "drive out." This wasn't merely walking away but a decisive, official act of expulsion. It represents excommunication from the synagogue, which meant profound social, religious, and economic ostracization. This physical act concretely signifies their complete rejection of his testimony and ultimately, Jesus himself.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "They answered him, 'You were born entirely in sins...": This entire opening salvo immediately sets the tone of judgment and contempt. The religious leaders avoid directly addressing the miracle's validity, opting instead for character assassination and a theological condemnation based on a faulty premise about congenital conditions and sin. This accusation also serves to dismiss any credibility the man might have.
• "...and are you trying to teach us?': This rhetorical question combines profound sarcasm with an assertion of their own unchallengeable authority. They portray the man as unqualified due to his perceived spiritual impurity, reinforcing their own elevated status as interpreters of God's will. It’s an intellectual and social put-down, designed to humiliate and silence.
• "And they cast him out.": This is the culmination of their spiritual blindness and institutional power. Rather than engaging with the evidence or the divine, they exercise their earthly authority to physically expel him. This action has deep symbolic significance: they are not just casting out the man, but effectively casting out the truth, and by doing so, paradoxically casting themselves out from the true light of God. This act also sets up Jesus' subsequent act of finding the man, demonstrating Jesus' acceptance of the outcasts.

John 9 34 Bonus section

The charge that the man was "born entirely in sins" (ἐν ἁμαρτίαις ἐγεννήθης ὅλος) might also carry an implication of an unlawful birth or even that he was a product of a less reputable lineage, making the 'sins' inherited, extending beyond individual transgressions to a general state of perceived impurity from conception or birth. This amplifies their contempt for him. Furthermore, the ekballō ("cast out") terminology in this context is loaded; it's a parallel to Jesus casting out demons. Here, the religious authorities, in their spiritual blindness, perform an act of expulsion akin to the rejection of the holy, mistakenly viewing the healed man as an unclean, demonic influence simply because he bore witness to Jesus. This ironic reversal underscores their spiritual confusion. This verse not only highlights a personal story of healing and rejection but serves as a microcosmic representation of the larger conflict between the self-righteous religious establishment and the new covenant breaking forth in Christ.

John 9 34 Commentary

John 9:34 serves as a stark commentary on spiritual blindness and institutional resistance to divine truth. The religious authorities, entrenched in their own legalistic interpretations and self-proclaimed wisdom, confront irrefutable evidence of God's power. Instead of marveling at the miracle or inquiring into Jesus' divine origin, they cling to their preconceived notions about sin, suffering, and authority. Their accusation, "You were born entirely in sins," is a cruel and unwarranted attack, revealing a rigid theology that judges outward appearance rather than discerning spiritual reality. This false premise becomes the justification for their ultimate act of "casting him out"—an excommunication that mirrors their own self-exclusion from God's unfolding work in Jesus. This verse powerfully illustrates that those who claim to see most clearly can often be the most spiritually blind, preferring to guard their human traditions and power structures over embracing the truth revealed by God. The rejection of the healed man prefigures the larger rejection of Christ and highlights the cost of confessing Jesus' name.