John 9:12

KJV

Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not.

KJV (with Strong's)

Then {G3767} said they {G2036} unto him {G846}, Where {G4226} is {G2076} he {G1565}? He said {G3004}, I know {G1492} not {G3756}.

Complete Jewish Bible

They said to him, “Where is he?” and he replied, “I don’t know.”

Berean Standard Bible

“Where is He?” they asked. “I do not know,” he answered.

American Standard Version

And they said unto him, Where is he? He saith, I know not.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
John 9:12 captures the immediate aftermath of the miraculous healing of a man born blind, as he is brought before the Pharisees. Their probing question, "Where is he?" (referring to Jesus), reveals their suspicion and desire to locate the healer, not to celebrate the divine act. The man's simple and honest reply, "I know not," highlights his focus on the profound personal transformation he experienced rather than on tracking Jesus' physical whereabouts, setting the stage for a prolonged interrogation that exposes the spiritual blindness of the religious authorities.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a pivotal moment in the unfolding narrative of [John 9](/john/9 "John 9 - The Healing of the Man Born Blind"). Immediately preceding it, in [John 9:11](/john/9-11 "John 9:11 - The Man's Testimony"), the man who was formerly blind gives his initial, straightforward testimony about how Jesus healed him, detailing the use of clay and the instruction to wash in the Pool of Siloam. The Pharisees' question in [John 9:12](/john/9-12 "John 9:12 - The Pharisees' Inquiry") marks a shift from the man's personal experience to the religious leaders' skeptical and hostile interrogation of both the man and his parents. This interrogation forms the bulk of the chapter, culminating in the man's expulsion from the synagogue and his subsequent encounter with Jesus, where he truly comes to spiritual sight. The narrative flow emphasizes the escalating conflict between Jesus and the Jewish authorities, who are more concerned with legalistic interpretations of the Sabbath than with the undeniable evidence of divine power.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The healing occurred on the Sabbath, a detail of paramount importance to the Pharisees. Jewish law, particularly as interpreted by the Pharisees, prohibited "work" on the Sabbath, which included activities like mixing clay (as Jesus did) or performing medical treatments. Their question "Where is he?" was not born of curiosity or wonder, but of an intent to find grounds for accusation against Jesus, whom they already viewed as a threat to their authority and traditions. Blindness in ancient Israel was often associated with sin or divine judgment (though Jesus refutes this in [John 9:3](/john/9-3 "John 9:3 - Neither He Nor His Parents Sinned")), making the healing even more astonishing and, to the Pharisees, problematic, as it challenged their theological framework and control over religious interpretation. The Pool of Siloam, a known historical site in Jerusalem, was significant for its connection to purification rituals and the Feast of Tabernacles, adding layers of symbolic meaning to Jesus' instruction.
* **Key Themes:** John 9:12 contributes significantly to several key themes in the Gospel of John. Foremost is the theme of **spiritual blindness versus physical sight**, where the man born blind gains physical sight and then progressively deeper spiritual insight, while the "seeing" Pharisees remain spiritually blind to Jesus' true identity and divine authority (as highlighted in [John 9:39-41](/john/9-39-41 "John 9:39-41 - Jesus' Judgment on Spiritual Blindness")). Another prominent theme is the **escalating opposition to Jesus** from the religious establishment, which is evident in their immediate suspicion and desire to condemn rather than to investigate with an open mind. The man's simple, honest testimony, despite his limited knowledge, underscores the theme of **authentic witness**, demonstrating that a powerful personal encounter with Christ's transformative power is more compelling than complete intellectual understanding of His methods or whereabouts. This verse also subtly introduces the theme of **Jesus' mysterious movements**, as He often withdraws after performing miracles, perhaps to avoid premature political entanglement or to allow the spiritual impact to settle, as seen in other instances like [John 5:13](/john/5-13 "Jesus' Withdrawal After Healing").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **said (Greek, _épō'_):** This verb (G2036) is used here to denote the act of speaking or saying, often in a direct or specific manner. In this context, it highlights the directness of the Pharisees' inquiry, emphasizing their immediate and pointed question to the healed man. It sets the tone for the interrogation that follows, indicating a formal and purposeful address rather than a casual remark.
* **he (Greek, _ekeînos'_):** This demonstrative pronoun (G1565) refers to "that one" or "that man," specifically pointing to Jesus. The Pharisees' use of "he" without naming Jesus directly could imply a degree of disdain or a reluctance to acknowledge Him by name, or simply a common understanding of whom they were referring to as the subject of the miracle. It underscores their immediate focus on the agent of the healing rather than the healing itself.
* **know (Greek, _eídō'_):** This primary verb (G1492) means "to see" (literally or figuratively), and by implication, "to know." In the perfect tense, as used here ("I know not"), it signifies a state of having seen and therefore a state of knowing. The man's declaration, "I know not" (οὐκ οἶδα, _ouk oida_), is a straightforward admission of his lack of knowledge regarding Jesus' current location. It implies a genuine absence of information, not evasiveness, highlighting his focus on the *effect* of the miracle rather than the *whereabouts* of the Healer.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then said they unto him, Where is he?":** This clause marks the beginning of the official interrogation by the Pharisees. The question "Where is he?" (ποῦ ἐστιν ἐκεῖνος; _pou estin ekeinos_?) immediately reveals their agenda: to locate Jesus. Their concern is not the man's newfound sight or the divine power displayed, but the identity and whereabouts of the one who performed the "work" on the Sabbath. This question is a prelude to their attempts to discredit Jesus and the miracle.
* **"He said, I know not.":** This is the man's simple, direct, and honest reply. His statement "I know not" (οὐκ οἶδα, _ouk oida_) signifies a genuine lack of information about Jesus' movements after the healing. This answer is crucial because it demonstrates his sincerity and lack of collusion, yet it also frustrates the Pharisees' immediate objective of apprehending Jesus. It underscores the man's focus on his personal experience of healing rather than on the identity or location of his benefactor, whom he had not yet fully recognized as the Messiah.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs **Irony**, as the "seeing" religious leaders are spiritually blind, unable to perceive the divine work before them, while the man who was physically blind now sees and speaks with simple truth. There is also **Foreshadowing**, as the Pharisees' hostile questioning here anticipates the deeper conflict and eventual expulsion of the man from the synagogue ([John 9:34](/john/9-34 "John 9:34 - The Man's Expulsion from the Synagogue")), illustrating the escalating opposition to Jesus. Furthermore, a **Contrast** is evident between the man's straightforward honesty and the Pharisees' manipulative and suspicious interrogation, highlighting the purity of genuine faith against the backdrop of legalistic rigidity.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
John 9:12 subtly underscores a profound theological truth: one's personal encounter with Christ's transformative power is paramount, even if one does not possess comprehensive knowledge about all of God's ways or His precise whereabouts. The man's simple "I know not" is not a deficiency in his faith, but an honest acknowledgment of limited information, which does not diminish the undeniable reality of his healing. This highlights that genuine testimony often stems from lived experience rather than exhaustive theological understanding, inviting us to trust in the work of God even when the details remain mysterious. It also foreshadows the broader truth that Jesus, the Light of the World, often operates in ways that defy human expectation and control, inviting faith rather than demanding full comprehension.

* [John 5:13](/john/5-13 "Jesus' Withdrawal After Healing")
* [1 Peter 1:8](/1_peter/1-8 "Loving Christ Unseen")
* [John 7:27](/john/7-27 "The Origin of the Messiah")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The man born blind, despite his limited knowledge of Jesus' identity and whereabouts, stands as a powerful example of authentic witness. His testimony was rooted in his personal experience of transformation, not in a complete theological dossier. This reminds us that our most compelling witness for Christ often comes from sharing what He has done in our lives, even if we don't have all the answers to every theological or philosophical question. In a world that often demands certainty and comprehensive understanding, the man's "I know not" provides a liberating truth: faith is not about knowing everything, but about trusting the One who knows all and acts powerfully. It challenges us to reflect on our own priorities: are we, like the Pharisees, more concerned with scrutinizing the details and finding fault, or are we, like the healed man, focused on the profound grace and transformative power of God at work in our lives and the lives of others?

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What does the man's simple "I know not" teach us about the nature of authentic testimony?**
* **How does our focus on personal experience with Christ compare to our desire for complete intellectual understanding of Him?**
* **In what ways might we, like the Pharisees, prioritize rules or traditions over recognizing and celebrating God's miraculous work?**
* **When have you experienced God's power in your life, even when you didn't fully understand His methods or reasons?**

### FAQ
**Why didn't the man know where Jesus went after the healing?**

Answer: The text does not explicitly state why Jesus departed immediately after healing the man, but it aligns with a pattern seen elsewhere in John's Gospel and the Synoptics where Jesus often withdrew after performing miracles. For instance, after healing the invalid at the Pool of Bethesda, Jesus "slipped away" ([John 5:13](/john/5-13 "John 5:13 - Jesus Slips Away")). This withdrawal might have been to avoid premature public acclaim, to prevent a political uprising, or to allow the spiritual impact of the miracle to settle without immediate external pressures. For the man, his immediate focus was on his newfound sight and the instruction to wash in the Pool of Siloam, not on tracking his healer. His honest "I know not" underscores his sincerity and the fact that his testimony was based purely on his personal experience of healing, not on a pre-arranged plan or collusion with Jesus.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
John 9:12, though a simple exchange, profoundly points to Christ as the one who brings light and life, even when His presence is not immediately discernible to all. The man's "I know not" regarding Jesus' physical location foreshadows a deeper truth: our relationship with Christ is not always predicated on His visible presence or our complete understanding of His ways. Just as the man experienced a profound, life-altering miracle without fully comprehending the Healer's identity or whereabouts, believers today encounter the transformative power of the risen Christ through faith, even though we do not see Him physically ([1 Peter 1:8](/1_peter/1-8 "1 Peter 1:8 - Loving Christ Unseen")). Jesus, the [Light of the World](/john/8-12 "John 8:12 - Jesus, the Light of the World"), illuminates our spiritual blindness, enabling us to "see" and believe. The man's journey from physical blindness to spiritual sight, culminating in his worship of Jesus later in the chapter ([John 9:38](/john/9-38 "John 9:38 - The Man Worships Jesus")), illustrates the ultimate fulfillment found in Christ: He not only restores physical faculties but, more importantly, grants spiritual understanding and new life to those who were once lost in darkness ([Ephesians 5:8](/ephesians/5-8 "Ephesians 5:8 - Children of Light")). Even without knowing His immediate location, the man's life was forever changed by encountering the One who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life ([John 14:6](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus, the Way, Truth, and Life")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

John 7:11

Then the Jews sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he?

Exodus 2:18

And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How [is it that] ye are come so soon to day?

Exodus 2:20

And he said unto his daughters, And where [is] he? why [is] it [that] ye have left the man? call him, that he may eat bread.

John 5:11

He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.

John 5:13

And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in [that] place.