He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.
He {G1565} answered {G611} and {G2532} said {G2036}, A man {G444} that is called {G3004} Jesus {G2424} made {G4160} clay {G4081}, and {G2532} anointed {G2025} mine {G3450} eyes {G3788}, and {G2532} said {G2036} unto me {G3427}, Go {G5217} to {G1519} the pool {G2861} of Siloam {G4611}, and {G2532} wash {G3538}: and {G1161} I went {G565} and {G2532} washed {G3538}, and I received sight {G308}.
He answered, “The man called Yeshua made mud, put it on my eyes, and told me, ‘Go to Shiloach and wash!’ So I went; and as soon as I had washed, I could see.”
He answered, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and anointed my eyes, and He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed and received my sight.”
He answered, The man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to Siloam, and wash: so I went away and washed, and I received sight.
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John 9:6
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, -
John 9:7
And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing. -
John 9:27
He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear [it] again? will ye also be his disciples? -
Jeremiah 36:17
And they asked Baruch, saying, Tell us now, How didst thou write all these words at his mouth?
John 9:11 records the simple yet profound testimony of the man who was born blind, explaining to those questioning him how he received his sight. This verse is a pivotal moment in the narrative, as the man recounts the precise steps taken by Jesus that led to his miraculous healing.
Context
This verse is part of a longer narrative in John Chapter 9, which details one of Jesus' most remarkable miracles: healing a man born blind. The event begins with Jesus and His disciples encountering the man, prompting a discussion about the cause of his blindness (John 9:2). Jesus declares that the man's blindness was not due to sin, but "that the works of God should be made manifest in him" (John 9:3). Immediately after this, Jesus performs the healing by making clay with saliva and anointing the man's eyes, then instructing him to wash in the Pool of Siloam. Verse 11 is the man's direct response to his neighbors and the Pharisees who are astonished and skeptical about his newfound sight.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
The Greek word for "anointed" here is epechrisen (ἐπέχρισεν), which means to smear or spread upon. It's a simple, descriptive term that accurately conveys the action of Jesus applying the clay to the man's eyes. The man's response, "I received sight," uses the Greek verb aneblepsa (ἀνέβλεψα), which can mean "to look up" or "to recover sight." In this context, it unequivocally refers to the restoration of his vision, emphasizing the miraculous nature of the event.
Practical Application
John 9:11 offers several powerful applications for believers today. Firstly, it reminds us that God often works through specific, sometimes unexpected, instructions. Our part is to respond with simple obedience, trusting in His wisdom and power, much like the man was told to "go, shew yourselves unto the priests". Secondly, it underscores the importance of giving testimony to what Jesus has done in our lives. The man born blind didn't offer theological explanations but simply stated the undeniable facts of his personal encounter and transformation. This direct, personal testimony can be a powerful witness to others about the reality of Jesus Christ.