King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
Complete Jewish Bible:
Yeshua answered, “His blindness is due neither to his sin nor to that of his parents; it happened so that God’s power might be seen at work in him.
Berean Standard Bible:
Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God would be displayed in him.
American Standard Version:
Jesus answered, Neither did this man sin, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Jesus{G2424} answered{G611}, Neither{G3777} hath{G264} this man{G3778} sinned{G264}, nor{G3777} his{G846} parents{G1118}: but{G235} that{G2443} the works{G2041} of God{G2316} should be made manifest{G5319} in{G1722} him{G846}.
Cross-References (KJV):
John 11:4
- When Jesus heard [that], he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
Ecclesiastes 9:1
- ¶ For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, [are] in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred [by] all [that is] before them.
Ecclesiastes 9:2
- All [things come] alike to all: [there is] one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as [is] the good, so [is] the sinner; [and] he that sweareth, as [he] that feareth an oath.
John 11:40
- Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
Job 42:7
- ¶ And it was [so], that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me [the thing that is] right, as my servant Job [hath].
Matthew 11:5
- The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
Job 2:3
- And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that [there is] none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for John 9:3
John 9:3 is a verse that occurs within the narrative of Jesus healing a man born blind. This event is unique to the Gospel of John and is one of the seven miraculous signs in this Gospel that illustrate Jesus' divine authority. The verse addresses a question posed by Jesus' disciples, who assume that the man's blindness must be a punishment for either his own sins or those of his parents, reflecting a common belief of the time that suffering was a direct result of sin.
In His response, Jesus refutes this notion, stating unequivocally that neither the man nor his parents have sinned as to cause his blindness. Instead, Jesus explains that the man's condition exists "that the works of God should be made manifest in him." This declaration serves multiple thematic purposes: it challenges the simplistic cause-and-effect understanding of suffering, it asserts that God's glory can be revealed through acts of mercy and healing, and it underscores the belief that Jesus' miracles are not just acts of compassion but also demonstrations of divine power meant to lead people to faith.
The historical context of this verse is rooted in the Second Temple period, where Jewish thought often grappled with theodicy—the question of why a good God permits evil and suffering. Jesus' teaching here diverges from the more retributive theologies of His time, offering a more nuanced view of human suffering and divine purpose. The verse also reflects the developing Christology of the early Christian community, emphasizing Jesus' role as a healer and revealer of God's will.
In summary, John 9:3 confronts the misconception that personal or familial sin is the sole cause of suffering, instead presenting suffering as an opportunity for God's power to be revealed. This verse is a cornerstone in the Gospel of John for understanding Jesus' mission to bring light into darkness, both physically, as in the case of the blind man, and spiritually, through the proclamation of the good news.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: G2424
There are 935 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: Ἰησοῦς
Transliteration: Iēsoûs
Pronunciation: ee-ay-sooce'
Description: of Hebrew origin (יְהוֹשׁוּעַ); Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites:--Jesus. - Strong's Number: G611
There are 248 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἀποκρίνομαι
Transliteration: apokrínomai
Pronunciation: ap-ok-ree'-nom-ahee
Description: from ἀπό and ; to conclude for oneself, i.e. (by implication) to respond; by Hebraism (compare עָנָה) to begin to speak (where an address is expected):--answer. - Strong's Number: G3777
There are 45 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: οὔτε
Transliteration: oúte
Pronunciation: oo'-teh
Description: from οὐ and τέ; not too, i.e. neither or nor; by analogy, not even:--neither, none, nor (yet), (no, yet) not, nothing. - Strong's Number: G264
There are 96 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἁμαρτάνω
Transliteration: hamartánō
Pronunciation: ham-ar-tan'-o
Description: perhaps from Α (as a negative particle) and the base of μέρος; properly, to miss the mark (and so not share in the prize), i.e. (figuratively) to err, especially (morally) to sin:--for your faults, offend, sin, trespass. - Strong's Number: G3778
There are 344 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: οὗτος
Transliteration: hoûtos
Pronunciation: how'-tahee
Description: from the article ὁ and αὐτός; the he (she or it), i.e. this or that (often with article repeated):--he (it was that), hereof, it, she, such as, the same, these, they, this (man, same, woman), which, who. - Strong's Number: G846
There are 3776 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: αὐτός
Transliteration: autós
Pronunciation: ow-tos'
Description: from the particle (perhaps akin to the base of ἀήρ through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative ἑαυτοῦ) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare αὑτοῦ. - Strong's Number: G1118
There are 18 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: γονεύς
Transliteration: goneús
Pronunciation: gon-yooce'
Description: from the base of γίνομαι; a parent:--parent. - Strong's Number: G235
There are 635 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἀλλά
Transliteration: allá
Pronunciation: al-lah'
Description: neuter plural of ἄλλος; properly, other things, i.e. (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations):--and, but (even), howbeit, indeed, nay, nevertheless, no, notwithstanding, save, therefore, yea, yet. - Strong's Number: G2443
There are 535 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἵνα
Transliteration: hína
Pronunciation: hin'-ah
Description: probably from the same as the former part of ἑαυτοῦ (through the demonstrative idea; compare ὁ); in order that (denoting the purpose or the result):--albeit, because, to the intent (that), lest, so as, (so) that, (for) to. Compare ἵνα μή. - Strong's Number: G2041
There are 161 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἔργον
Transliteration: érgon
Pronunciation: er'-gon
Description: from a primary (but obsolete) (to work); toil (as an effort or occupation); by implication, an act:--deed, doing, labour, work. - Strong's Number: G2316
There are 1172 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: θεός
Transliteration: theós
Pronunciation: theh'-os
Description: of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with ὁ) the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very:--X exceeding, God, god(-ly, -ward). - Strong's Number: G5319
There are 43 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: φανερόω
Transliteration: phaneróō
Pronunciation: fan-er-o'-o
Description: from φανερός; to render apparent (literally or figuratively):--appear, manifestly declare, (make) manifest (forth), shew (self). - Strong's Number: G1722
There are 2129 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἐν
Transliteration: en
Pronunciation: en
Description: a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between εἰς and ἐκ); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (… sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.