John 9:39 kjv
And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.
John 9:39 nkjv
And Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind."
John 9:39 niv
Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind."
John 9:39 esv
Jesus said, "For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind."
John 9:39 nlt
Then Jesus told him, "I entered this world to render judgment ? to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind."
John 9 39 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jn 3:19 | This is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. | Judgment by self-choice, response to light. |
| Jn 5:22 | For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son... | Father's authority granted to Son for judgment. |
| Jn 12:47-48 | If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world... | The word spoken by Jesus brings the judgment. |
| Lk 2:34-35 | Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel..." | Jesus causes division and revelation. |
| Mt 10:34 | Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. | Jesus' mission brings division, not mere calm. |
| Mal 3:1-3 | ...the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple... He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver... | Messiah's coming brings refinement and judgment. |
| Isa 6:9-10 | "Go and tell this people: Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive." | Prophecy of judicial hardening due to unbelief. |
| Mt 13:13 | This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear... | Fulfills Isaiah's prophecy; spiritual insensitivity. |
| Jn 1:4-5 | In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. | Jesus is the light that reveals darkness. |
| Jn 8:12 | Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness..." | Jesus' identity as Light of the world. |
| Jn 12:46 | I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. | His purpose is to banish spiritual darkness. |
| 2 Cor 4:4 | ...the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel... | Satan's role in spiritual blindness. |
| Rom 11:7-8 | ...the elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened, as it is written, "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see..." | Judicial hardening of unbelieving Israel. |
| Eph 5:8 | For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. | Believers' transition from spiritual darkness to light. |
| Ps 146:8 | The LORD opens the eyes of the blind; the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous. | God's compassionate action of granting sight. |
| Jer 5:21 | Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not; who have ears, but hear not. | Warning to those who possess physical senses but lack spiritual understanding. |
| Mt 11:25 | "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding..." | God reveals truth to the humble, hides from the proud. |
| Lk 18:10-14 | "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector..." | Parable highlighting the spiritual blindness of the self-righteous vs. the humble. |
| 1 Cor 1:26-27 | For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards... but God chose what is foolish... | God chooses the seemingly unwise to confound the wise. |
| Prov 26:12 | Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. | Dangers of self-perceived wisdom. |
| Jas 4:6 | ...God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. | Principle of God's interaction with pride and humility. |
| Isa 5:21 | Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight! | Condemnation for self-reliance and prideful wisdom. |
John 9 verses
John 9 39 Meaning
John 9:39 encapsulates Jesus' declared purpose in coming into the world: to bring about a discerning separation among people. His arrival acts as a catalyst for a revelatory judgment, distinguishing those who recognize their spiritual need and seek sight from those who perceive themselves as spiritually enlightened but are, in truth, blind. This "judgment" is not primarily a punitive act, but the inherent consequence of responding to the light He brings—it illuminates existing spiritual states, leading to clarity for some and exposing the self-imposed darkness of others.
John 9 39 Context
John chapter 9 recounts the healing of a man born blind. This miracle serves as a profound sign of Jesus' divine identity as the "Light of the World" (Jn 9:5). Following the healing, the Pharisees relentlessly question the healed man and his parents, unable to accept the miracle because it occurred on the Sabbath and Jesus did not conform to their understanding of a "sinner" (Jn 9:16). Their escalating interrogations reveal their profound spiritual blindness and hardened hearts, leading them to excommunicate the man who now clearly sees both physically and spiritually.Jesus then seeks out the healed man, who readily believes in the Son of Man and worships Him (Jn 9:35-38). Verse 39 immediately follows this encounter, articulating the deeper spiritual purpose and outcome of Jesus' ministry. It speaks directly to the contrasting responses to Jesus—the humble belief of the formerly blind man versus the hardened unbelief of the religious leaders. The Pharisees, who overhear Jesus, immediately question if they are blind too (Jn 9:40), which then leads to Jesus' direct challenge in John 9:41 and into the parable of the Good Shepherd in John 10, further contrasting true spiritual leadership with the spiritually blind "shepherds" who oppose Him.
John 9 39 Word analysis
- And Jesus said,: Introduces a declarative statement from Jesus, not a question or response to one yet, but a summary of His mission in light of the preceding events.
- For judgment (κρίμα - krima): This word signifies a "verdict" or "sentence" that results from a judging process, distinct from krisis which is the act or process of judging. Jesus' coming results in an inherent separation; His light exposes and brings to light the true spiritual condition of individuals, thereby rendering a verdict. It’s a judgment that naturally unfolds as people respond to His presence.
- I am come (ἦλθον - ēlthon): A strong declaration of His divine mission and deliberate incarnation. "I have come" indicates a purposeful, divinely ordained arrival. It is His inherent nature and mission that effects this separation.
- into this world (κόσμος - kosmos): Refers to the sphere of human existence, humanity. Jesus entered the human realm, and His presence inherently exposes the spiritual state of all people within it.
- that they which see not (μὴ βλέποντες - mē blepontes): Literally "the ones not seeing." This refers to those who are physically or spiritually blind but are aware of their blindness and receptive to light and truth, like the man born blind. The "not" (μὴ) suggests a moral or intellectual inability, or even an acknowledged state.
- might see (βλέπωσιν - blepōsin): That they might gain spiritual sight and understanding. This is the positive outcome for the humble and receptive. It implies seeing the truth about Jesus and embracing Him as Lord and Messiah.
- and that they which see (βλέποντες - blepontes): Refers to those who think they see, particularly the self-proclaimed spiritually enlightened and wise, such as the Pharisees. They outwardly appear to possess insight and knowledge of God's law.
- might be made blind (τυφλοὶ γένωνται - typhloi genōntai): That they might become spiritually blind. This is a consequential blindness. It is not that Jesus actively causes their blindness, but His presence and truth expose their pre-existing or willful spiritual darkness and harden those who reject the light. They confirm their own blindness through rejection.
Words-group analysis:
- For judgment I am come into this world: This phrase emphasizes the primary and direct outcome of Jesus' incarnation. His very presence serves as a point of distinction, revealing hearts and sorting humanity based on their response to Him. This is a foundational aspect of His mission, not merely a byproduct.
- that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind: This constitutes the paradoxical and ironical purpose of His coming. It highlights a divine reversal where the physically or self-confessed blind gain spiritual sight, while those confident in their spiritual acuity become blind to the truth of God found in Christ. It demonstrates how humility leads to spiritual revelation, and pride leads to increased spiritual darkness.
John 9 39 Bonus section
The "judgment" here is often described as eschatological judgment breaking into the present. It's a real-time sorting and discernment, not merely a future event. Jesus' very being and teachings necessitate a choice, and that choice is the judgment. The effect described is often referred to as "judicial hardening," where individuals, through their persistent refusal to accept truth and light, become further entrenched in their unbelief. This is not arbitrary divine action but the logical consequence of a hardened heart continually resisting grace and truth. The irony is poignant: the One who restores physical sight to the blind also becomes the catalyst for spiritual blindness in the seeing, revealing the depth of their spiritual pathology.
John 9 39 Commentary
John 9:39 powerfully distills the ultimate effect of Jesus' incarnation and ministry: the bringing forth of a spiritual crisis that clarifies and judges. His arrival is not initially for a punitive condemnation, but for a revelatory judgment that separates humanity based on their internal disposition towards Him. Those who recognize their spiritual deficiency ("they which see not"), characterized by humility and a yearning for truth, find spiritual enlightenment and the revelation of God in Jesus. Conversely, those who pridefully assert their spiritual wisdom and self-righteousness ("they which see") are shown to be profoundly blind to divine truth, and their rejection of Jesus only confirms and deepens their spiritual darkness. This verse showcases the principle that God's light either guides the receptive or blinds the resistant, an outcome entirely determined by the heart's response. The judgment is primarily one of discernment, where the truth of who Jesus is serves as the touchstone, unveiling true sight and deepening pre-existing blindness.For practical usage, this verse encourages introspection: do we acknowledge our need for spiritual illumination, or do we confidently believe we "see" all there is to see, risking genuine blindness to Christ? It's a call to humility and openness to divine truth.