John 9

1 Now as Jesus [walking along with his followers] was passing by [to pass, to go along], He saw [to perceive, to attend to] a man [a human being] blind [physically or spiritually, without sight] from [out of, originating in] birth [the act of being born, lineage], word study 2 and His disciples [followers, learners] asked Him, “Rabbi [my Master, Teacher], who sinned [missed the mark, fallen short], this man [the blind individual] or his parents [father and mother], that he was born [from birth, from the womb] blind [physically and spiritually unable to see]?” word study 3 Jesus [the Greek name for Joshua, meaning God is salvation] answered, “Neither [not one or the other] this man [the blind individual] nor his parents [father or mother] sinned [missed the mark, fallen short], but this happened [occurred, took place] so that the works [acts, deeds] of God [the one true deity] would be displayed [revealed, made manifest] in him [as a result of what will now happen to him]. word study 4 While it is daytime [during the period of light, while I have opportunity], we must do [carry out, fulfill] the works [tasks, labors] of Him who sent [commissioned, appointed] Me. Night [the time of darkness, spiritual blindness] is coming [approaching, drawing near], when no one [none, nobody] can work [labor, accomplish anything]. word study 5 While [as long as, during the time that] I am [exist, present] in [among, within] the world [orderly arrangement], I am [exist, present] the light [luminousness, spiritual illumination] of the world [creation].” word study 6 When Jesus had said this [these words, this message], He spit [spat, expectorated] on the ground [the earth, the dirt], made some mud [clay, earthy material], and applied [rubbed, anointed] it to the man’s eyes [the blind man’s vision, his sight]. word study 7 Then He told him, “Go [depart, go away], wash [cleanse, purify] in the Pool [a body of water, a bathing place] of Siloam” (which means [is interpreted as] “Sent [one who is dispatched]”). So the man went [walked, traveled] and washed [bathed, cleansed himself], and came back [returned, came again] seeing [perceiving, having sight, with understanding]. word study 8 At this, his neighbors [and those who had known him as a beggar] and those who had formerly [previously, before this time] seen him begging [asking for money, importuning for help] began to ask, “Isn’t [is not, surely not] this the man [this person, he] who used to sit [be seated, rest] and beg [ask for alms, solicit help]?” word study 9 Some claimed that he was [the same person, truly himself], but others said, “No, he just looks like him [similar in appearance, but not the same].” But the man kept saying, “I am [truly, the one you know] the one [that was blind, now healed].” word study 10 “How [in what manner, by what means] then [at that time, therefore] were [came to be, opened up] your [belonging to you, personal] eyes [sight, vision] opened [made accessible, revealed]?” they [the people, others] asked [said, inquired]. word study 11 He answered, “The man [a human being] they call Jesus [Joshua, God is salvation] made some mud [clay] and anointed [rubbed on] my eyes [the organs of sight], and He told me to go [to depart] to Siloam [a pool in Jerusalem] and wash [to cleanse]. So I went [away] and washed [my eyes] and received my sight [regained my vision].” word study 12 “Where [in what location, at what point] is He [that man, Jesus]?” they asked [said unto him, inquired]. “I do [not have knowledge, am unaware] not [by no means, absolutely not] know [perceive, understand],” he answered [replied, said]. word study 13 They brought [took, led] to the Pharisees [a Jewish sect, strict religious leaders] the man [him, this individual] who had been [once, aforetime] blind [physically and spiritually, without sight]. word study 14 Now the day [a specific point in time, when] on which Jesus [Joshua, God is salvation] had made [created, formed] the mud [clay, earthy material] and opened [made accessible, restored] his eyes [sight, vision] was a Sabbath [a day of rest, the seventh day of the week]. word study 15 So the Pharisees [a Jewish sect that followed strict religious rules] also asked him how [in what manner, by what means] he had received [obtained, gained] his sight [ability to see, physical and spiritual perception]. The man answered, “He put [laid, placed] mud [clay, earthy material] on my eyes [organs of sight, windows to the soul], and I washed [cleaned, purified], and now [at this present time] I can see [perceive, discern, have vision].” word study 16 Because of this, some of the Pharisees [a Jewish sect that followed strict religious rules] said, “This man [Jesus, the Messiah] is not from God [the one true deity], for He does not keep [observe, obey] the Sabbath [a day of rest and worship].” But others said, “How can a sinful [fallen, morally corrupt] man perform such signs [miracles, supernatural works]?” And there was division [a split, disagreement] among them. word study 17 So once again [for a second time, to repeat the question] they asked the man who had been [formerly, previously] blind [physically and spiritually, without sight], “What do you say [think, believe, testify] about Him [the One who healed you], since [because, for the reason that] it was your eyes [sight, vision, ability to see] He opened [restored, gave sight to, made to see]?” “He is [exists as, is known to be] a prophet [one who speaks for God, a messenger of the Lord],” the man replied [answered, gave his testimony]. word study 18 The Jews [from the tribe of Judah, Jewish leaders] still did not believe [have faith, trust] that the man had been [previously, from birth] blind [physically and spiritually unable to see] and had received [obtained, been given] his sight [ability to see, physical and spiritual perception] until [at the point when, up to the time] they summoned [called, brought forth] his parents [father and mother, those who gave him life] word study 19 and asked [inquired, put the question], “Is this [this particular one] your son [child, offspring], the one [whom] you say [claim, affirm] was born [from birth, by nature] blind [physically or spiritually unable to see]? So how [in what way, by what means] is it that he can now [at this present moment] see [perceive, have sight]?” word study 20 His parents [the father and mother] answered [responded to the question], “We know [are certain, have perceived] he is our son [child, offspring], and we know [have understood, are aware] he was born [from the time of birth, from his origin] blind [physically and spiritually unable to see]. word study 21 But how [in what manner, by what means] he can now [at this present time] see [perceive, have vision] or who [which person, what individual] opened [made accessible, restored] his eyes [sight, vision], we do not know [are not aware, have no understanding]. Ask [inquire of, request information from] him [the one who was healed]. He is old enough [of age, mature] to speak [utter words, testify] for himself [on his own behalf, in his own defense].” word study 22 His parents said this because [because of their fear, in awe] they were afraid [reverenced, stood in awe] of the Jews [the Jewish leaders, those from Judah]. For the Jews [the Jewish community, people of Jewish descent] had already [even now, previously] determined [agreed, come to a decision] that anyone who confessed [professed, acknowledged openly] Jesus as the Christ [the Messiah, anointed one] would be put out [excommunicated, removed from fellowship] of the synagogue [the Jewish place of worship, assembly]. word study 23 That was why [because of this] his parents [father and mother] said, “He is [has reached] old enough [of age]. Ask [question] him [himself].” word study 24 So a second time [once more, again] they called for the man who had been blind [physically and spiritually] and said, “Give glory [honor, praise] to God [the one true deity]! We know [perceive, are convinced] that this man [Jesus, the healer] is a sinner [one who does wrong, a sinful person].” word study 25 He answered [in response to their question], “Whether He is a sinner [a wrongdoer, one who misses the mark] I do not know [am unaware, have no knowledge]. There is one thing I do know [am certain, have perceived]: I was blind [physically and spiritually unable to see], but now [at this present moment] I see [have been given sight, perceive spiritually]!” word study 26 “What [which thing, what action] did He [Jesus, the Messiah] do [perform, accomplish] to you [as an individual, personally]?” they asked [inquired, questioned]. “How [in what manner, by what means] did He [the Healer, the Savior] open [restore, give sight to] your [physical and spiritual] eyes [organs of sight, understanding]?” word study 27 He replied [answered them], “I already [even now] told you, and you did not [refused to] listen [hear and obey]. Why do you want to hear [understand and obey] it again [once more]? Do you also [in addition] want to become [be, come into being as] His [of Him, belonging to Him] disciples [learners, followers, pupils]?” word study 28 Then they heaped insults [reviled, spoke abusively] on him and said, “You [as an individual, personally] are His [that one’s, Jesus’] disciple [learner, follower]; we [ourselves, as a group] are disciples [pupils, adherents] of Moses [the Hebrew lawgiver]. word study 29 We know [are certain, have spiritual awareness] that God [the one true deity, Elohim] spoke [communicated, uttered words] to Moses [the Hebrew lawgiver], but we do not know [have no insight, are unaware] where this man [person, individual] is from [whence he comes, his origin].” word study 30 “That is [truly] remarkable [a marvellous thing, worthy of great wonder] indeed!” the man [a human, a person] said. “You do not know [are unaware, have no knowledge] where He is from [whence He comes, His origin], and yet [nevertheless, despite this] He [the One who healed me] opened [enabled me to see, gave me sight] my eyes [my vision, my understanding]. word study 31 We know [are aware, have spiritual insight] that God [the one true deity] does not listen [hear or respond] to sinners [those who miss the mark, are unrighteous], but He does listen [hear and respond] to the one who worships [reveres, honors] Him and does [obeys, fulfills] His will [desire, purpose]. word study 32 Never [at no time in history] before has anyone [no person] heard [been informed, understood] of opening [making accessible, restoring] the eyes [sight, vision] of a man [a person, an individual] born [from birth, by nature] blind [physically or spiritually unable to see, lacking insight]. word study 33 If this man [from heaven, sent by God] were not from [beside, with] God [the one true deity], He could [be able, have the power] do [accomplish, bring about] no [none, nothing] such thing [miracle, sign].” word study 34 They replied, “You were born [altogether] in utter sin [missing the mark, falling short of God’s standards], and you are instructing [teaching, guiding] us [as your students, your disciples]?” And they threw [expelled, cast out] him out [outside, away from their presence]. word study 35 When Jesus [the Messiah, God’s salvation] heard that they had thrown him out, He found the man and said, “Do you believe [trust, have faith] in the Son [the divine, eternal offspring] of Man [the Messiah, God’s representative] ?” word study 36 “Who [which one, what person] is He [that one, the Messiah], Sir [Lord, Master]?” he replied. “Tell [say] me so that [in order that, to the end that] I may [be able to, have the power to] believe [trust, have faith] in [toward, into] Him [the Christ, the Anointed One].” word study 37 “You have already [previously, at some point] seen Him,” Jesus [Joshua, God is salvation] answered. “He [that one, the specific person] is the One [the unique, divine speaker] speaking [talking, communicating] with you [in your presence, directly to you].” word study 38 “Lord [a title of respect and authority], I believe [trust and have faith in],” he said [asserted and declared]. And he worshiped [to show respect and honor] Jesus [the Messiah, the Son of God]. word study 39 Then Jesus declared, “For [divine evaluation, righteous judgment] judgment I have come into this world, so that the [physically or spiritually] blind may see [perceive, understand] and those who see [think they understand, are perceptive] may become [remain, spiritually] blind [ignorant of God’s truth].” word study 40 Some of the Pharisees [members of a Jewish sect] who were with Him [in His presence, accompanying Him] heard this [these words, this statement], and they asked Him, “Are we [also, like the blind man] blind [spiritually, lacking spiritual insight] too [as well, in the same way]?” word study 41 “If [on the condition that] you were [spiritually] blind [without spiritual insight],” Jesus [the Messiah, God’s salvation] replied, “you would not be [held accountable for] guilty of sin [missing the mark, falling short of God’s standards]. But since [because, as a result of] you claim [assert, profess] you can see [perceive, understand spiritual truth], your guilt [responsibility, accountability] remains [persists, stays].” word study