Devine Scripture

John 9:21

What does John 9:21 mean?

A plain-English look at John 9:21 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What John 9:21 means

The parents maintain their careful line: they do not know how he now sees or who opened his eyes. They redirect the authorities to their son, who is “of age” and able to speak for himself. Their statement is prudent, neither denying the miracle nor attributing it to Jesus. This underscores the climate of fear and the costliness of confessing Christ. It also preserves the integrity of testimony: those who know should speak; those who do not should refrain. By pointing back to their son, they ensure the conversation returns to the one with firsthand knowledge—the healed man whose courage will soon outstrip theirs.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

but how he now seeth, we know not; or who opened his eyes, we know not: ask him; he is of age; he shall speak for himself.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

but how he now seeth, we know not; or who opened his eyes, we know not: ask him; he is of age; he shall speak for himself.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

But how it is he is now able to see, or who made his eyes open, we are not able to say: put the question to him; he is old enough to give an answer for himself.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and how he now seeth, we have not known; or who opened his eyes, we have not known; himself is of age, ask him; he himself shall speak concerning himself.'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

But how he now seeth, we know not: or who hath opened his eyes, we know not. Ask himself: he is of age: Let him speak for himself.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

but how he now sees we do not know, or who has opened his eyes we do not know. He is of age: ask him; he will speak concerning himself.

Context

Having affirmed the son’s identity and congenital blindness, the parents avoid answering about the healing’s cause. Their deferral to their adult son keeps them from directly confronting the issue of Jesus’ role. The narrative will immediately explain their reluctance as fear of excommunication. This sets the social backdrop for the boldness we will soon see in the healed man. The authorities, unsatisfied, will summon him again, intensifying pressure to denounce Jesus and align with their judgment.

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

v.21This passage

v.22These things said his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man should confess him to be Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.

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