John 9:32
What does John 9:32 mean?
A plain-English look at John 9:32 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 9:32 means
He observes that such a miracle is without precedent: never in recorded memory has anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. This is not just a healing but a new creative act, signaling divine power at work. The uniqueness of the event strengthens the argument that Jesus is no ordinary man and cannot be dismissed as a sinner acting independently of God. The magnitude and novelty of the sign point to a heavenly origin. The healed man weaves together experience, common theology, and history to compel a verdict that Jesus’ work reveals who He is.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Since the world began it was never heard that any one opened the eyes of a man born blind.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Since the world began it was never heard that any one opened the eyes of a man born blind.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949In all the years nobody has ever before seen the eyes of a man blind from birth made open.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862from the age it was not heard, that any one did open eyes of one who hath been born blind;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752From the beginning of the world it hath not been heard, that any man hath opened the eyes of one born blind.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Since time was, it has not been heard that any one opened the eyes of one born blind.
Context
This point carries the man’s argument toward its conclusion. Having established that God hears those who do His will, he adds the weight of historical uniqueness. The unprecedented nature of the miracle presses the authorities to draw the obvious inference in the next verse: Jesus must be from God. The logic is cumulative and tight, leaving little room for evasive maneuvers. This reasoning will provoke the leaders’ anger and result in the man’s expulsion, showing truth’s cost when it confronts hardened unbelief.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Revelation 16:18
and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunders; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since there were men upon the earth, so great an earthquake, so mighty.
- Job 20:4
Knowest thou notthis of old time, Since man was placed upon earth,
- Luke 1:70
(As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets that have been from of old),
- Isaiah 64:4
For from of old men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen a God besides thee, who worketh for him that waiteth for him.
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