Devine Scripture

John 9:1

What does John 9:1 mean?

A plain-English look at John 9:1 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What John 9:1 means

Jesus notices a man who had never seen a day in his life. His blindness is congenital, not the result of an accident or illness. The verse highlights Jesus’ initiative and compassion—He “saw” the man. Many others likely passed by, but Jesus’ attention turns suffering into a meeting point for God’s grace. The detail of being “blind from his birth” also raises the stakes: this is not an easily dismissed case of temporary ailment. The condition is humanly impossible to reverse, preparing the reader to expect something only God can do. The scene invites us to consider how Jesus sees need before anyone asks.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And as he passed by, he saw a man blind from his birth.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And as he passed by, he saw a man blind from his birth.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And when he went on his way, he saw a man blind from birth.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And passing by, he saw a man blind from birth,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And Jesus passing by, saw a man who was blind from his birth.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And as he passed on, he saw a man blind from birth.

Context

This verse opens the narrative and sets the stage for a sign that will expose both human need and religious controversy. The man’s lifelong blindness becomes the focal point for the disciples’ question, the miracle, and the debates that follow. From here, the disciples will probe for a cause, and Jesus will reframe suffering in terms of God’s purposes. The healing that follows will trigger a chain of interrogations and a growing conflict with the Pharisees, culminating in the man’s confession of faith and Jesus’ teaching on spiritual sight and blindness.

v.1This passage

v.2And his disciples asked him, saying, Rabbi, who sinned, this man, or his parents, that he should be born blind?

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