Devine Scripture

John 9:28

What does John 9:28 mean?

A plain-English look at John 9:28 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What John 9:28 means

The authorities respond with insult and derision: “Thou art his disciple; but we are disciples of Moses.” They cast the healed man’s stance as disloyalty and elevate their own identity as guardians of Mosaic tradition. This reveals a defensive posture—rather than weigh evidence, they retreat to credentials and lineage. Their reviling exposes wounded pride more than a search for truth. The contrast they draw is false, since Moses pointed to God’s future work. But in their minds, siding with Jesus means abandoning Moses. The insult marks a hardening of heart and a move from inquiry to denunciation.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are disciples of Moses.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are disciples of Moses.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And they were angry with him and said, You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

They reviled him, therefore, and said, `Thou art his disciple, and we are Moses' disciples;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

They reviled him therefore and said: Be thou his disciple; but we are the disciples of Moses.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

They railed at him, and said, Thou art his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses.

Context

This outburst follows the man’s pointed challenge. It signals a breakdown in reasoned examination and a shift to ad hominem attack. By claiming Moses as their authority, they set up the next assertion that they know God spoke to Moses but claim ignorance about Jesus’ origin. This will allow the healed man to highlight the inconsistency of denying one whose works reflect divine power. The debate now centers on authority and origin—key themes in John’s Gospel—and will culminate in the man’s compelling argument and his subsequent expulsion.

v.27He answered them, I told you even now, and ye did not hear; wherefore would ye hear it again? would ye also become his disciples?

v.28This passage

v.29We know that God hath spoken unto Moses: but as for this man, we know not whence he is.

Cross references

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

  • 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.

  • John 7:19

    Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you doeth the law? Why seek ye to kill me?

  • Romans 2:17

    But if thou bearest the name of a Jew, and restest upon the law, and gloriest in God,

  • 1 Peter 2:23

    who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

  • John 7:47

    The Pharisees therefore answered them, Are ye also led astray?

  • John 5:45

    Think not that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, on whom ye have set your hope.

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