JHN 9:35-41

Spiritual Blindness

35Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and finding him, he said: "Do you yourself believe in the Son of Man?"

36That one answered and said: "And who is he, Lord, that I should believe in him?"

37Jesus said to him: "Both you have seen him, and the one speaking with you, that one is he."

38And he said: "Lord, I believe." And he worshiped him.

39And Jesus said: "For judgment I came into this world, that those not seeing might see, and those seeing might become blind."

40Those of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things, and said to him: "Surely we are not also blind?"

41Jesus said to them: "If you were blind, you would not have sin; but now you say that 'We see' — your sin remains."

In the world it was spoken into

In this passage, Jesus interacts with a man who had been forcefully expelled from the synagogue, a significant act of public shaming and exclusion in Second-Temple Judaism. The man’s expulsion likely stemmed from his association with Jesus, who was viewed as a controversial figure by Jewish authorities. When Jesus addresses him as 'Son of Man,' a term with messianic and eschatological connotations, the man responds with 'Lord' , a term of respect akin to 'Sir,' indicating his recognition of Jesus’ authority but not yet full understanding of His identity. The man’s act of prostration reflects a deep gesture of reverence, common in Greco-Roman and Jewish contexts to honor a superior or divine figure. Jesus’ statement about judgment underscores His role as the decisive arbiter of spiritual sight and blindness, challenging the assumptions of religious leaders who claimed spiritual insight but were blind to His identity.

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How other translations render this

JHN 9:35

KJV: Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?
BSB: When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, He found the man and said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”
Koinōnos: Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and finding him, he said: "Do you yourself believe in the Son of Man?

JHN 9:36

KJV: He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?
BSB: “Who is He, Sir?” he replied. “Tell me so that I may believe in Him.”
Koinōnos: That one answered and said: "And who is he, Lord, that I should believe in him?

JHN 9:37

KJV: And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.
BSB: “You have already seen Him,” Jesus answered. “He is the One speaking with you.”
Koinōnos: Jesus said to him: "Both you have seen him, and the one speaking with you, that one is he.

JHN 9:38

KJV: And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.
BSB: “Lord, I believe,” he said. And he worshiped Jesus.
Koinōnos: And he said: "Lord, I believe." And he worshiped him.

JHN 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.
BSB: Then Jesus declared, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind may see and those who see may become blind.”
Koinōnos: And Jesus said: "For judgment I came into this world, that those not seeing might see, and those seeing might become blind.

JHN 9:40

KJV: And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?
BSB: Some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard this, and they asked Him, “Are we blind too?”
Koinōnos: Those of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things, and said to him: "Surely we are not also blind?

JHN 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.
BSB: “If you were blind,” Jesus replied, “you would not be guilty of sin. But since you claim you can see, your guilt remains.”
Koinōnos: Jesus said to them: "If you were blind, you would not have sin; but now you say that 'We see' — your sin remains.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

JHN 9:35

that:The word translated 'that' here is more literally 'cast out' or 'expelled.' It implies a forceful removal, suggesting the man was not merely asked to leave but was actively driven out.

JHN 9:36

lord,:The term translated 'Lord' here is a title of respect and authority, often used for a master or owner, but also for God. The man's use of it indicates a recognition of Jesus's elevated status.

JHN 9:38

he worshiped:The action described as 'he worshiped' involved prostrating oneself before another, a gesture of profound reverence and submission, often reserved for deities or highly esteemed figures.

JHN 9:39

judgment:The word translated 'judgment' refers to a decision or verdict, often with the implication of a legal or authoritative pronouncement that determines one's fate or status.