John 9:3

Contemporary English Version

"No, it wasn't!" Jesus answered. "But because of his blindness, you will see God work a miracle for him.

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
Jesus answered, "It was not any sin of this man or his parents that caused him to be blind. He was born blind so that he could be used to show what great things God can do.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Iesus answered: Nether hath this man synned nor yet his father and mother: but that the workes of God shuld be shewed on him.

Hebrew Names Version
Yeshua answered, "Neither did this man sin, nor his parents. But, that the works of God might be revealed in him,

International Standard Version
Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned. This happened so thatBut so that">[fn] the works of God might be revealed in him.John 11:4;">[xr]

New American Standard Bible
Jesus answered, "It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.

New Century Version
Jesus answered, "It is not this man's sin or his parents' sin that made him blind. This man was born blind so that God's power could be shown in him.

Update Bible Version
Jesus answered, Neither did this man sin, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

Webster's Bible Translation
Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

English Standard Version
Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.

World English Bible
Jesus answered, "Neither did this man sin, nor his parents. But, that the works of God might be revealed in him,

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents, but that the works of God might be made manifest thro' him.

Weymouth's New Testament
"Neither he nor his parents sinned," answered Jesus, "but he was born blind in order that God's mercy might be openly shown in him.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Jhesus answeride, Nether this man synnede, nether hise eldris; but that the werkis of God be schewid in hym.

English Revised Version
Jesus answered, Neither did this man sin, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

Berean Standard Bible
Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God would be displayed in him.

Amplified Bible
Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but it was so that the works of God might be displayed and illustrated in him.

American Standard Version
Jesus answered, Neither did this man sin, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

Bible in Basic English
Jesus said in answer, It was not because of his sin, or because of his father's or mother's; it was so that the works of God might be seen openly in him.

Complete Jewish Bible
Yeshua answered, "His blindness is due neither to his sin nor to that of his parents; it happened so that God's power might be seen at work in him.

Darby Translation
Jesus answered, Neither has this [man] sinned nor his parents, but that the works of God should be manifested in him.

Etheridge Translation
Jeshu saith to them, Neither he sinned, nor his parents; but that there might be seen in him the works of Aloha.

Murdock Translation
Jesus said to them: Neither did he sin, nor his parents; but that the works of God might be seen in him.

King James Version (1611)
Iesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the workes of God should be made manifest in him.

New Living Translation
"It was not because of his sins or his parents' sins," Jesus answered. "This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.

New Life Bible
Jesus answered, "The sin of this man or the sin of his parents did not make him to be born blind. He was born blind so the work of God would be seen in him.

New Revised Standard
Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God's works might be revealed in him.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Iesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents, but that the workes of God should be shewed on him.

George Lamsa Translation
Jesus said to them, Neither did he sin nor his parents. But that the works of God might be seen in him,

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Jesus answered - Neither, this man, sinned nor his parents; but…that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Jesus answered: Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents; but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

Revised Standard Version
Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be made manifest in him.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Iesus aunswered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor yet his father & mother: but that the workes of God shoulde be shewed in hym.

Good News Translation
Jesus answered, "His blindness has nothing to do with his sins or his parents' sins. He is blind so that God's power might be seen at work in him.

Christian Standard Bible®
“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,”

King James Version
Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

Lexham English Bible
Jesus replied, "Neither this man sinned nor his parents, but it happened so that the works of God could be revealed in him.

Literal Translation
Jesus answered, Neither this one nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God might be revealed in him.

Young's Literal Translation
Jesus answered, `Neither did this one sin nor his parents, but that the works of God may be manifested in him;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Iesus answered: Nether hath this synned, ner his elders, but that ye workes of God shulde be shewed on him.

Mace New Testament (1729)
it was not for any sin of his, said Jesus, or of his parents: but that the works of God might be displayed thro' him.

THE MESSAGE
Jesus said, "You're asking the wrong question. You're looking for someone to blame. There is no such cause-effect here. Look instead for what God can do. We need to be energetically at work for the One who sent me here, working while the sun shines. When night falls, the workday is over. For as long as I am in the world, there is plenty of light. I am the world's Light."

New English Translation
Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but he was born blind so that the acts of God may be revealed through what happens to him.

New King James Version
Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.

Simplified Cowboy Version
"Neither of his parents did anything to make this happen," Jesus said as he dismounted. "This happened so God could show y'all what he can do.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Jesus answered, "It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.

Legacy Standard Bible
Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this was so that the works of God might be manifested in him.

Contextual Overview

¹ As Jesus walked along, he saw a man who had been blind since birth. ² Jesus' disciples asked, "Teacher, why was this man born blind? Was it because he or his parents sinned?" ³ "No, it wasn't!" Jesus answered. "But because of his blindness, you will see God work a miracle for him. ⁴ As long as it is day, we must do what the one who sent me wants me to do. When night comes, no one can work. ⁵ While I am in the world, I am the light for the world." ⁶ After Jesus said this, he spit on the ground. He made some mud and smeared it on the man's eyes. ⁷ Then he said, "Go and wash off the mud in Siloam Pool." The man went and washed in Siloam, which means "One Who Is Sent." When he had washed off the mud, he could see.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Neither: Job 1:8-12, Job 2:3-6, Job 21:27, Job 22:5-30, Job 32:3, Job 42:7, Ecclesiastes 9:1, Ecclesiastes 9:2, Luke 13:2-5, Acts 28:4

but: John 11:4, John 11:40, John 14:11-13, Matthew 11:5, Acts 4:21

Reciprocal: Genesis 27:1 - dim Job 9:17 - without cause John 12:28 - I have John 17:4 - finished Acts 3:10 - they knew

Cross-References

Genesis 9:1
God said to Noah and his sons: I am giving you my blessing. Have a lot of children and grandchildren, so people will live everywhere on this earth.

Genesis 9:3
and I have given them to you for food. From now on, you may eat them, as well as the green plants that you have always eaten.

Genesis 9:5
I created humans to be like me, and I will punish any animal or person that takes a human life. If an animal kills someone, that animal must die. And if a person takes the life of another, that person must be put to death.

Genesis 9:12
The rainbow that I have put in the sky will be my sign to you and to every living creature on earth. It will remind you that I will keep this promise forever.

Genesis 9:14
When I send clouds over the earth, and a rainbow appears in the sky,

Genesis 9:15
I will remember my promise to you and to all other living creatures. Never again will I let floodwaters destroy all life.

Genesis 9:21
One day he got drunk and was lying naked in his tent.

Genesis 9:22
Ham entered the tent and saw him naked, then went back outside and told his brothers.

Genesis 9:25
he said, "I now put a curse on Canaan! He will be the lowest slave of his brothers.

Genesis 9:26
I ask the Lord my God to bless Shem and make Canaan his slave.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Jesus answered, neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents,.... Not but that both were guilty of original sin, and had committed actual transgressions; but Christ's answer is to be considered agreeable to the design of the question; and the sense is, that it was not any sin that either of them had committed, whilst he was in the womb, or previous to his birth, that was the cause of this blindness; otherwise, all such irregularities and afflictions arise from sin, and the fall of man, as does that spiritual blindness with which all mankind are attended:

but that the works of God should be manifest in him; that is, that Christ might have an opportunity of working a miracle in the cure of him, whereby it might appear that he is truly and properly God, the Son of God, and the Messiah; and so spiritual blindness, which has followed the fall of man, takes place in the elect of God in common with others, that the power of divine grace might be displayed in bringing them out of darkness into marvellous light.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Neither hath this man sinned ... - That is, his blindness is not the effect of his sin, or that of his parents. Jesus did not, evidently, mean to affirm that he or his parents were without any sin, but that this blindness was not the effect of sin. This answer is to be interpreted by the nature of the question submitted to him. The sense is, “his blindness is not to be traced to any fault of his or of his parents.”

But that the works of God - This thing has happened that it might appear how great and wonderful are the works of God. By the works of God, here, is evidently intended the miraculous power which God would put forth to heal the man, or rather, perhaps, the whole that happened to him in the course of divine providence first his blindness, as an act of his providence, and then his healing him, as an act of mercy and power. It has all happened, not by the fault of his parents or of himself, but by the wise arrangement of God, that it might be seen in what way calamities come, and in what way God meets and relieves them. And from this we may learn:

1. To pity and not to despise and blame those who are afflicted with any natural deformity or calamity. While the Jews regarded it as the effect of sin, they looked upon it without compassion. Jesus tells us that it is not the fault of man, but proceeds from the wise arrangement of God.
2. All suffering in the world is not the effect of sin. In this case it is expressly so declared; and there may be many modes of suffering that cannot be traced to any particular transgression. We should be cautious, therefore, in affirming that there can be no calamity in the universe but by transgression.
3. We see the wise and wonderful arrangement of Divine Providence. It is a part of his great plan to adapt his mercies to the woes of men: and often calamity, want, poverty, and sickness are permitted, that he may show the provisions of his mercy, that he may teach us to prize his blessings, and that deep-felt gratitude for deliverance may bind us to him.
4. Those who are afflicted with blindness, deafness, or any deformity, should be submissive to God. It is his appointment, and is right and best. God does no wrong, and the universe will, when all his works are seen, feel and know that he is just.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse John 9:3. Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents — That is, the blindness of this person is not occasioned by any sin of his own, nor of his parents, but has happened in the ordinary course of Divine providence, and shall now become the instrument of salvation to his soul, edification to others, and glory to GOD. Many of the Jews thought that marks on the body were proofs of sin in the soul. From a like persuasion, probably arose that proverb among our northern neighbours - Mark him whom God marks.