John 9:17
What does John 9:17 mean?
A plain-English look at John 9:17 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 9:17 means
They turn to the healed man: what does he say about Jesus, given that his eyes were opened by Him? The man replies, “He is a prophet.” This is a significant step forward from calling Jesus merely “the man.” By calling Him a prophet, he recognizes divine authority at work through Jesus. He speaks from experience rather than formal training, and his conclusion is sound within Israel’s categories for God’s agents. Though not yet confessing Jesus as the Son of God, he moves closer to the truth. The healing has begun not only in his eyes but in his understanding, which will continue to unfold.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000They say therefore unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, in that he opened thine eyes? And he said, He is a prophet.
KJV
King James Version · 1611They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901They say therefore unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, in that he opened thine eyes? And he said, He is a prophet.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Again they said to the blind man, What have you to say about him for opening your eyes? And he said, He is a prophet.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862They said to the blind man again, `Thou--what dost thou say of him--that he opened thine eyes?'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752They say therefore to the blind man again: What sayest thou of him that hath opened thy eyes? And he said: He is a prophet.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890They say therefore again to the blind [man], What dost thou say of him, that he has opened thine eyes? And he said, He is a prophet.
Context
Amid the Pharisees’ division, they seek the healed man’s opinion, perhaps to test his loyalty or find grounds to discredit him. His confession that Jesus is a prophet escalates the controversy because it attributes divine agency to Jesus. This answer pushes the authorities to verify the facts more rigorously. As a result, they summon the man’s parents to establish whether he was truly born blind. Thus, this verse propels the investigation into a new phase aimed at undermining the miracle’s credibility.
v.16Some therefore of the Pharisees said, This man is not from God, because he keepeth not the sabbath. But others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such signs? And there was a division among them.
v.17This passage
v.18The Jews therefore did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and had received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight,
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- John 6:14
When therefore the people saw the sign which he did, they said, This is of a truth the prophet that cometh into the world.
- John 4:19
The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.
- Matthew 21:11
And the multitudes said, This is the prophet, Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.
- Luke 24:19
And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, The things concerning Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:
- Acts 2:22
Ye men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God unto you by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him in the midst of you, even as ye yourselves know;
- Acts 3:22
Moses indeed said, A prophet shall the Lord God raise up unto you from among your brethren, like unto me; to him shall ye hearken in all things whatsoever he shall speak unto you.
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