John 9 41

John 9:41 kjv

Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

John 9:41 nkjv

Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, 'We see.' Therefore your sin remains.

John 9:41 niv

Jesus said, "If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.

John 9:41 esv

Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, 'We see,' your guilt remains.

John 9:41 nlt

"If you were blind, you wouldn't be guilty," Jesus replied. "But you remain guilty because you claim you can see.

John 9 verses

John 9 41 Meaning

John 9:41 serves as Jesus' climactic judgment upon the Pharisees' persistent spiritual blindness. Jesus explains that if they were truly ignorant of spiritual truths and humbly acknowledged their need for sight ("If you were blind"), their guilt for rejecting Him would be mitigated or non-existent in that specific regard. However, because they stubbornly claim perfect spiritual discernment ("now that you say, “We see,”"), despite overwhelming evidence of Jesus' divine power and identity, their willful rejection solidifies their spiritual darkness and causes their guilt to remain as an ongoing, damning condition. Their proud self-sufficiency became the very reason for their sustained condemnation.

John 9 41 Context

John chapter 9 details Jesus' encounter with a man born blind, whom He miraculously heals on the Sabbath day. This act triggers a profound controversy with the Jewish religious authorities, primarily the Pharisees. They interrogate the healed man, his parents, and relentlessly question Jesus' identity and authority. The Pharisees, steadfast in their opposition to Jesus, refuse to accept the undeniable evidence of the miracle and eventually excommunicate the formerly blind man for his confession of Jesus as from God. Jesus concludes this narrative by directly addressing the Pharisees' spiritual condition, drawing a sharp contrast between physical and spiritual blindness, which culminates in the definitive statement of John 9:41. This verse marks the climax of the conflict, revealing the Pharisees' deeper, more damning blindness stemming from their pride and willful rejection of God's manifest presence.

John 9 41 Word analysis

• Jesus said to them (Εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς): This opening highlights Jesus' direct address and authority in this critical moment. The encounter moves beyond observation to confrontation.
• "If you were blind" (Εἰ τυφλοὶ ἦτε - Ei typhloi ēte): "Typhloi" (τυφλοὶ) refers to blindness, here metaphorically signifying a complete lack of spiritual understanding. The grammatical structure indicates a condition contrary to fact – a hypothetical scenario where they would have admitted their spiritual ignorance. It implies a state of not knowing the spiritual truths revealed by God, which, if acknowledged, would reduce their culpability.
• "you would have no guilt" (οὐκ ἂν εἴχετε ἁμαρτίαν - ouk an eichete hamartian): "Hamartian" (ἁμαρτίαν) refers to sin, often carrying the connotation of guilt or culpability. If they truly possessed no knowledge and acknowledged it humbly, they would not be held accountable for actively rejecting the light they had not seen. Their culpability would not be for a conscious rejection.
• "but now that you say" (νῦν δὲ λέγετε - nyn de legete): "Nyn de" (νῦν δὲ) functions as a strong contrast, bringing the hypothetical into the present reality. It emphasizes their ongoing, active declaration. "Legete" (λέγετε) means "you say" or "you are saying," highlighting their persistent vocal assertion.
• "“We see,”" (ὅτι Βλέπομεν - hoti Blepomen): "Blepomen" (Βλέπομεν) means "we see." This is their confident, self-righteous claim of spiritual discernment and full understanding of God's Law and will. It represents their spiritual pride, which ironically prevents them from true sight and humility before God.
• "your guilt remains" (ἡ ἁμαρτία ὑμῶν μένει - hē hamartia hymōn menei): "Hamartia" here signifies the continuing state of sin, condemnation, or culpability. "Menei" (μένει) means "remains" or "abides," indicating a persistent and enduring condition. Their self-declared spiritual sight, coupled with their rejection of Jesus, confirms and intensifies their ongoing state of alienation from God.
• Words-group analysis:
  • "If you were blind, you would have no guilt": This phrase suggests that ignorance, when accompanied by humility and an openness to truth, is distinct from defiant rejection. Acknowledging spiritual need creates the potential for grace and understanding, as such ignorance is not willful opposition.
  • "but now that you say, “We see,” your guilt remains": This statement emphasizes the heightened spiritual danger and increased culpability of those who claim spiritual wisdom and clarity, yet stubbornly refuse to acknowledge Jesus as the source of light. Their proud refusal to admit their true condition results in a deepening and hardening of their spiritual blindness, securing their condemnation.

John 9 41 Bonus section

This verse encapsulates Jesus' ongoing teaching that His advent brings a crisis of decision, dividing humanity between those who receive Him and those who reject Him, with each choice having eternal consequences. It highlights the profound irony where the outwardly "spiritual" leaders were inwardly spiritually desolate. The Pharisees' sin was not simple ignorance, but a more grievous and willful rejection of God's clear revelation through Jesus, based on a prideful conviction of their own knowledge and righteousness. This "guilt" is not merely a consequence of violating a specific rule, but represents their persistent state of rebellion against the light, their deliberate refusal to come into God's presence as illuminated by Christ. Their stubborn "we see" meant they willingly chose spiritual darkness over light, sealing their fate.

John 9 41 Commentary

John 9:41 provides a profound spiritual principle concerning pride and humility in the face of divine truth. Jesus critiques the Pharisees not for a lack of knowledge in itself, but for their self-righteous denial of spiritual deficiency even while confronted with irrefutable divine power. Their claim to "see"—to perfectly understand the Law and discern God's will—was a facade of spiritual arrogance that ultimately blinded them to the very Messiah sent from God. Because they presumed to know all spiritual things, they closed themselves off to the true light and life Jesus offered. Their unwillingness to admit their need, combined with their active rejection of Jesus, meant their spiritual condemnation ("guilt") would persist and remain. This verse serves as a sober warning: humble awareness of one's spiritual blindness is the first step toward receiving true spiritual sight, while arrogant self-assurance is the pathway to deepened and lasting judgment.

• Example: A person with a severe illness who constantly asserts they are perfectly healthy and refuses all medical diagnosis and treatment will remain sick. Their claim of health prevents recovery.
• Example: A student who repeatedly claims "I know it all" in a difficult subject will never learn new material, ensuring their academic deficiencies remain unaddressed.