Devine Scripture

John 9:8

What does John 9:8 mean?

A plain-English look at John 9:8 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What John 9:8 means

Neighbors who had known the man as a lifelong beggar are astonished and divided. Some think it is him; others think it is merely someone who resembles him. Their reaction underlines how complete the change is—so great that it challenges recognition. The community had long categorized him by his disability and social status. Now they must reevaluate him in light of a work they cannot easily explain. The verse shows that miracles create questions and force reconsideration of settled opinions. It also begins to gather witnesses whose testimonies will fuel the coming investigations by the religious authorities.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

The neighbors therefore, and they that saw him aforetime, that he was a beggar, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?

KJV

King James Version · 1611

The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

The neighbors therefore, and they that saw him aforetime, that he was a beggar, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Then the neighbours and others who had seen him before in the street, with his hand out for money, said, Is not this the man who got money from people?

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

the neighbours, therefore, and those seeing him before, that he was blind, said, `Is not this he who is sitting and begging?'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

The neighbours, therefore, and they who had seen him before that he was a beggar, said: Is not this he that sat and begged? Some said: This is he.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

The neighbours therefore, and those who used to see him before, that he was a beggar, said, Is not this he that was sitting and begging?

Context

After the man returns seeing, the first wave of response comes from those who knew him best in everyday life. Their debate over his identity shifts the focus from the healing act to verifying the fact. This prepares the way for formal inquiries: if the neighbors are unsure, officials will want to examine the case. The confusion also sets the stage for the man’s own voice to be heard. What he says about himself and about Jesus will become central evidence in the controversy that follows with the Pharisees.

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.

v.8This passage

v.9Others said, It is he: others said, No, but he is like him. He said, I am he.

Cross references

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

  • Acts 3:2

    And a certain man that was lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the door of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;

  • Ruth 1:19

    So they two went until they came to Beth-lehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Beth-lehem, that all the city was moved about them, and the women said, Is this Naomi?

  • Mark 10:46

    And they come to Jericho: and as he went out from Jericho, with his disciples and a great multitude, the son of Timæus, Bartimæus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the way side.

  • 1 Samuel 2:8

    He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, He lifteth up the needy from the dunghill, To make them sit with princes, And inherit the throne of glory: For the pillars of the earth are Jehovah’s, And he hath set the world upon them.

  • Luke 16:20

    and a certain beggar named Lazarus was laid at his gate, full of sores,

  • 1 Samuel 21:11

    And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands?

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