Devine Scripture

John 9:6

What does John 9:6 mean?

A plain-English look at John 9:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What John 9:6 means

Jesus uses an unusual method, making clay with His saliva and applying it to the man’s eyes. The act shows His sovereign freedom in how He heals; He is not constrained to one technique. The physical sign may help the man engage his faith through tangible action. It also ensures a public process, not a hidden result, inviting witnesses to follow the steps. The detail resists superstition: the power is not in the clay but in Jesus who commands and heals. His hands-on approach communicates personal care and intention, turning the man’s disability into a moment of direct contact with the One who can restore.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and anointed his eyes with the clay,

KJV

King James Version · 1611

When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and anointed his eyes with the clay,

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Having said these words, he put earth, mixed with water from his mouth, on the man's eyes,

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

These things saying, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and rubbed the clay on the eyes of the blind man, and said to him,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

When he had said these things, he spat on the ground and made clay of the spittle and spread the clay upon his eyes,

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Having said these things, he spat on the ground and made mud of the spittle, and put the mud, as ointment, on his eyes.

Context

After asserting that He is the light of the world, Jesus begins the healing. The method He chooses will become controversial since it involves making clay on the Sabbath, a point the Pharisees will seize upon. Here the process is slow and visible; Jesus sets up a sequence that requires the man’s obedience to a further command. This step transitions from teaching to action and puts the story into motion toward the pool of Siloam. Readers should see that the healing is not accidental but structured to be seen, questioned, and discussed.

v.5When I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

v.6This passage

v.7and said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam (which is by interpretation, Sent). He went away therefore, and washed, and came seeing.

Cross references

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

  • Revelation 3:18

    I counsel thee to buy of me gold refined by fire, that thou mayest become rich; and white garments, that thou mayest clothe thyself, and that the shame of thy nakedness be not made manifest; and eyesalve to anoint thine eyes, that thou mayest see.

  • Mark 7:33

    And he took him aside from the multitude privately, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat, and touched his tongue;

  • Mark 8:23

    And he took hold of the blind man by the hand, and brought him out of the village; and when he had spit on his eyes, and laid his hands upon him, he asked him, Seest thou aught?

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