Devine Scripture

John 9:19

What does John 9:19 mean?

A plain-English look at John 9:19 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What John 9:19 means

The authorities ask the parents two questions: Is this your son whom you say was born blind? And how does he now see? They challenge both identity and cause. Their phrasing carries suspicion, as if the parents have exaggerated or misrepresented the situation. By putting these questions to the closest family, the Pharisees seek incontrovertible verification or a contradiction they can exploit. The interrogation highlights how a joyful miracle becomes a trial scene. The parents are pulled between truth and fear, knowing that any acknowledgment of Jesus’ role could have severe consequences within their community.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see?

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And put the question to them, saying, Is this your son, of whom you say that he was blind at birth? how is it then that he is now able to see?

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and they asked them, saying, `Is your son, of whom ye say that he was born blind? how then now doth he see?'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And asked them, saying: Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then doth he now see?

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And they asked them saying, This is your son, of whom ye say that he was born blind: how then does he now see?

Context

This verse begins the parents’ examination, a strategic move to validate or dismantle the case. It follows the Pharisees’ refusal to accept the man’s testimony at face value. The interrogation aims first at establishing facts and then at controlling the interpretation. The coming answers will confirm the son’s identity and lifelong blindness, while avoiding any claim about how the healing occurred. This cautious response will reflect the pressure exerted by the threat of being put out of the synagogue for confessing Jesus as Christ.

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,

v.19This passage

v.20His parents answered and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind:

Cross references

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

  • Acts 4:14

    And seeing the man that was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

  • John 9:8

    The neighbors therefore, and they that saw him aforetime, that he was a beggar, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?

  • Acts 3:10

    and they took knowledge of him, that it was he that sat for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.

Related questions readers ask

Keep reading

Want to dig deeper? Explore John 9

Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on John 9.

Keep exploring

Follow this verse across Scripture

Topics, devotionals, original-language word studies, and figures connected to John 9:19.

Browse every hub

BibleTopicsBible answersDevotionalsFamous passagesWord studiesPeoplePlacesVerses for…Reading plansCommentary