Bible Commentaries
John 9

Verse 1

as . . . passed by . See John 8:59 .

He saw . Compare John 5:6 and see App-176 .

saw. See App-133 .

man. Greek anthropos. App-123 .

which was. Should be in italics.

from his birth . Greek. ek ( App-104 ) genetes. Occurs only here.

Verse 2

disciples . Not necessarily the Twelve. See note on "neighbours" (John 9:8 ) and Structure "M".

asked . Greek. erotao. App-135 .

Master . Greek. Rabbi. App-98 .

sin . App-128 . The only sign (with the third; " C", p. 194)* connected with sin. See John 5:14 . *[ Conversion Note: The original text is shown here. Page 194 references Numbers 10:10-36 . It's completely unclear which of his comments or Bible text the author is referring to. The author presented no Structure diagrams on page 194.]

this man . The Lord was appealed to as Rabbi to settle a much controverted point as to pre-natal sin; or another question that "there shall be neither merit nor demerit in the days of the Messiah "(Lightfoot, xii, p. 326), referring back to "My day "(John 8:56 ).

that = in order that. Greek. hina.

was = should be.

Verse 3

Jesus. See App-98 .

Neither . . . nor. Greek. oute . . . oute.

but that . Supply the Ellipsis: but [he was born blind] in order that. Here we have the real answer to the question in John 9:2 .

works . See note on John 4:34 .

God. App-98 .

in. Greek. en. App-104 .

Verse 4

I must work. T Tr WH R read "We"; but not the Syriac. See App-94 . note 3, p. 136.

work the works . Figure of speech Polyptoton ( App-6 ), for emphasis.

sent . Greek. pempo. App-174 . See note on John 1:22 . Not the same word as in John 9:7 .

can work = is able to work (two verbs).

Verse 5

world . App-129 . See note on John 1:9 .

I am. See note on John 6:35 .

light . Greek. phos. See App-130 and note on John 1:4 .

Verse 6

spat , &c. For the signification, see App-176 .

ground . Greek. chamai. Occurs only here and in John 18:6 .

clay . Greek. pelos. Occurs only here and in verses: John 9:11 , John 9:14 , John 9:15 , and Romans 9:21 .

anointed the eyes , &c = applied the clay to (Greek. epi. App-104 .) the eyes. Occurs only here and in John 9:11 .

Verse 7

wash . Greek. nipto. App-136 . See on John 13:10 .

in = into. Greek. eis. App-104 .

pool. Compare John 5:2 . Greek. kolumbethra, a pool for swimming or bathing. Occurs only here, John 9:11 , and John 5:2 , John 5:4 , John 5:7 .

Siloam . See App-68 . which, &c. See note on "and we "(John 1:14 ).

Sent . So called from the sending forth of the waters, which were intermittent. See App-174 . Not the same word as in John 9:4 .

seeing . Greek. blepo. App-133 .

Verse 8

neighbours . Note the different parties in the Structure on p. 1641.

seen. Greek. theoreo. App-133 . Not the same word as elsewhere in this chapter. not. App-106 .

sat and begged = was sitting and begging.

Verse 9

Some . Greek. allos. App-124 , as in next clause. others. See note above.

Verse 11

answered and said . See App-122 and note or Deuteronomy 1:41 .

to = unto. Greek. eis. App-104 .

received sight = looked up [and saw]. App-133 .

Verse 12

Then = = Therefore.

know = have (intuitive) knowledge. Greek. oida. App-132 . See note on John 1:26 .

not. Greek. ou. App-105 . Not the same as in John 9:39 .

Verse 13

brought = bring.

to. Greek pros. App-104 .

Pharisees . See App-120 .

Verse 14

And = Now.

the sabbath day = a sabbath. Compare John 5:10 .

made the clay . Held then to be a breach of the law

Verse 15

upon . Greek. epi. App-104 .

Verse 16

of = from (beside). Greek. para. App-104 .

sinner. Greek. hamartolos. Compare App-128 .

miracles = signs. See App-176 and note on John 2:11 .

there was, &c. The second of three. See note on John 7:43

among. Greek. en. App-104 .

Verse 17

of = concerning. Greek. peri. App-104 .

hath opened = opened.

prophet . Compare John 4:18 .

Verse 18

But = Therefore.

the Jews . See note on John 1:19 . See the Structure "P"

believe . See App-150 and p. 1511.

concerning. Greek. peri. App-104 .

him = the very one.

Verse 19

son. App-108 .

who = of whom.

was = that he was.

Verse 21

by what means = how.

for = concerning, as in John 9:18 .

Verse 22

agreed . . . that = agreed together, to this end that

if. For the condition see App-118 . Not the same as John 9:41 .

any man = any one. App-123 .

did confess = should confess. Compare Matthew 7:23 ; Matthew 10:32

Christ = Messiah. See App-98 . No art.

be = become.

put out , &c. Greek. aposunagogos. Occurs only here, John 12:42 and John 16:2 = our Eng. "excommunicated".

Verse 23

Therefore On account of (Greek. dia. App-104 JJohn 9:2 ) this.

Verse 24

again = of (Greek. ek. App-104 .) a second time.

Give God the praise = Give glory to God, as in Joshua 7:19 . 1 Samuel 6:5 . A form of adjuration.

praise = glory. Greek. doxa. See p. 1511.

Verse 25

he = Therefore he.

Whether = If. App-118 .

Verse 27

I have told = I told. hear. See note on John 8:43 .

would ye hear = do ye wish ( App-102 .) to hear (two verbs).

will ye also , &c. = surely ye also do not ( App-105 . wish to become.

Verse 28

reviled = railed at. Not merely rebuked, but abused. Elsewhere only in Acts 23:4 . 1 Corinthians 4:12 , 1 Peter 2:23 .

his = that Man's. Spoken with contempt.

Moses'. See note on John 1:17 .

Verse 29

spake = hath spoken.

from whence = whence. Compare John 7:27 ; John 8:14 .

Verse 30

herein = in (Greek. en. App-104 .) this.

marvellous = wonderful.

Verse 31

a worshipper of God = a pious man, or God-fearing [man]. Greek theosebes. Occurs only here in N.T. Compare the kindred noun in 1 Timothy 2:10 . In an inscription at Miletus the Jews are called theosebeioi. Deissmann, Light, &c., App-4 .

will. Greek. thelema. App-102 .

Verse 32

Since the world began . Greek. ek tou aionos. See App-151 . This phrase Occurs only here in N.T. See note on John 6:64 .

Verse 33

If . App-118 . not. Greek. me. App-105 .

could do nothing = would not ( App-105 ) be able to do anything.

Verse 34

altogether = wholly.

sins . App-128 .

thou. Note the emphasis.

cast him out . Nqt the same word as in John 9:22 .

out = outside.

Verse 35

when He had found him . Compare John 5:14 , and see App-176 .

Dost thou believe on , &c. Requiring an affirmative answer.

Almost = Surely thou believest, &c. See App-150 ., and note on John 1:7 .

the Son of God. See App-98 .

Verse 36

Lord . See App-98 .

Verse 37

seen. Greek. horao. App-133 .

with. Greek. meta. App-104 .

Verse 38

believe . App-150 .

worshipped . App-137 .

Verse 39

For judgment I am come . Referring to the effect of His coming: John 12:47 refers to the object of His coming.

For . Greek. eis. App-104 .

judgment. App-177 .

into. Greek. eis.

be made = become.

Verse 40

some = [those]. Are you blind also? = Surely we also are not (Greek. me. App-105 ) blind, are we?

Verse 41

If ye were blind . Assuming the condition as an actual fact. See App-118 .

should = would.

no . Greek. ou. App-105 .

remaineth = abideth. See note on John 1:32 .