Devine Scripture

John 9:18

What does John 9:18 mean?

A plain-English look at John 9:18 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What John 9:18 means

Unwilling to accept the testimony, the authorities doubt the basic claim: was he truly blind from birth? Their skepticism reveals a determination to dismiss the sign by attacking its foundations. They call the man’s parents, hoping either to find inconsistency or to force a retraction. The verse illustrates how unbelief can retreat into denial when facts are uncomfortable. Instead of weighing the clear outcome—sight granted—they try to erase the premise. This pattern shows that resistance to Jesus is not mainly intellectual but moral and volitional, choosing to disbelieve what would require submission to Him.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

The 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,

KJV

King James Version · 1611

But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

The 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,

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Now the Jews had no belief in the statement that he had been blind and was now able to see, till they sent for the father and mother of the man whose eyes had been made open,

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and he said--`He is a prophet.' The Jews, therefore, did not believe concerning him that he was blind and did receive sight, till that they called the parents of him who received sight,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

The Jews then 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,

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

The Jews therefore did not believe concerning him that he was blind and had received sight, until they had called the parents of him that had received sight.

Context

After hearing the healed man call Jesus a prophet, the Pharisees seek to discredit the miracle by questioning whether the man was ever truly blind. Calling the parents introduces new, ideally impartial witnesses. This step marks an escalation: from interviewing the subject to summoning family testimony under pressure. The next verses will show the parents confirming the key facts but distancing themselves from any judgment about Jesus because of fear. That fear underscores the social and religious stakes attached to confessing Christ.

v.17They 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.

v.18This passage

v.19and asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see?

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Isaiah 53:1

    Who hath believed our message? and to whom hath the arm of Jehovah been revealed?

  • Hebrews 3:15

    while it is said, To-day if ye shall hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

  • Genesis 19:14

    And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons-in-law, who married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for Jehovah will destroy the city. But he seemed unto his sons-in-law as one that mocked.

  • Luke 16:31

    And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, if one rise from the dead.

  • Isaiah 26:11

    Jehovah, thy hand is lifted up, yet they see not: but they shall seethyzeal for the people, and be put to shame; yea, fire shall devour thine adversaries.

  • John 12:37

    But though he had done so many signs before them, yet they believed not on him:

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