Devine Scripture

John 9:2

What does John 9:2 mean?

A plain-English look at John 9:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What John 9:2 means

The disciples interpret the man’s suffering through a cause-and-effect lens: someone must have sinned—either the man or his parents—for him to be born blind. Their question reflects a common assumption that specific suffering always springs from specific sin. It also shows how inadequate human reasoning can be when it tries to assign blame for every affliction. By bringing the question to Jesus, they seek a theological verdict, but their options are too narrow. This moment exposes our instinct to judge rather than to seek God’s purposes in hardship, and it prepares for Jesus’ correction and revelation of a greater plan.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And his disciples put a question to him, saying, Master, was it because of this man's sin, or the sin of his father and mother, that he has been blind from birth?

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and his disciples asked him, saying, `Rabbi, who did sin, this one or his parents, that he should be born blind?'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And his disciples asked him: Rabbi, who hath sinned, this man or his parents, that he should be born blind?

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

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

Context

Coming right after Jesus observes the blind man, this verse voices the disciples’ theological puzzle. Their question frames the issue that Jesus will immediately address: not who to blame, but what God intends to do. Their either-or assumption prepares the reader for Jesus’ neither-nor answer. This exchange sets in motion the shift from speculation about guilt to demonstration of divine work. It also foreshadows the coming controversy, because Jesus’ answer and action will challenge both conventional beliefs about suffering and rigid interpretations of Sabbath observance.

v.1And as he passed by, he saw a man blind from his birth.

v.2This passage

v.3Jesus answered, Neither did this man sin, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

Cross references

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

  • Luke 13:2

    And he answered and said unto them, Think ye that these Galilæans were sinners above all the Galilæans, because they have suffered these things?

  • John 9:34

    They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.

  • Acts 28:4

    And when the barbarians saw the venomous creature hanging from his hand, they said one to another, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped from the sea, yet Justice hath not suffered to live.

  • Exodus 20:5

    thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them; for I Jehovah thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, upon the third and upon the fourth generation of them that hate me,

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