John 9:13

KJV

¶ They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind.

KJV (with Strong's)

They brought {G71} to {G4314} the Pharisees {G5330} him {G846} that aforetime {G4218} was blind {G5185}.

Complete Jewish Bible

They took the man who had been blind to the P’rushim.

Berean Standard Bible

They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind.

American Standard Version

They bring to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
John 9:13 marks a critical juncture in the narrative of the man born blind, transitioning from the miraculous healing to its immediate aftermath of scrutiny and interrogation. Following Jesus' extraordinary act of restoring sight, the neighbors and those familiar with the man, bewildered by the transformation, bring him before the Pharisees. This action initiates a formal inquiry by the religious authorities, setting the stage for a profound theological debate concerning the source of Jesus' power, the nature of the Sabbath, and the true meaning of spiritual sight.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows the astounding miracle detailed in [John 9:1-12](/john/9-1-12 "John 9:1-12 - Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind"). Jesus had encountered a man blind from birth, anointing his eyes with mud made from spittle and earth, and instructing him to wash in the Pool of Siloam. The man's obedience resulted in immediate sight. The preceding verses vividly portray the astonishment and confusion of the man's neighbors and acquaintances, who initially question his identity due to the radical change. Their inability to reconcile the formerly blind beggar with the seeing man leads them to seek external judgment, specifically from the recognized religious authorities, the Pharisees. This move is crucial, as it shifts the focus from a private miracle to a public controversy, laying the groundwork for the escalating conflict between Jesus and the Jewish leadership that characterizes much of John's Gospel.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Pharisees were a prominent Jewish religious and political sect known for their strict adherence to the Mosaic Law and their extensive oral traditions (halakha). They held significant influence among the common people and were considered the authoritative interpreters of the Law. Bringing the healed man to them was a natural step for the community, as the Pharisees were the arbiters of religious disputes and unusual occurrences, especially those involving claims of divine intervention or violations of the Law. Crucially, the healing occurred on the Sabbath (as revealed in [John 9:14](/john/9-14 "John 9:14 - The Sabbath Controversy Begins")), a day on which certain forms of work, including healing, were considered unlawful by the Pharisees. This context immediately frames the miracle not just as an act of compassion, but as a direct challenge to their legalistic interpretations and authority, setting the stage for a trial-like interrogation rather than a celebration of God's power.
* **Key Themes:** John 9:13 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the Gospel of John and this chapter. Firstly, it highlights the theme of **Authority and Scrutiny**, demonstrating how Jesus' divine authority is constantly challenged and subjected to human, legalistic scrutiny by those who refuse to acknowledge Him. Secondly, the verse underscores the **Miracle and Controversy** theme; while the miracle itself is undeniable, its timing and method ignite fierce opposition, transforming a compassionate act into a legalistic battleground. This sets up the critical theme of **Spiritual Blindness versus Physical Sight**. While the man receives physical sight, the Pharisees, despite witnessing compelling evidence, demonstrate a profound spiritual inability to perceive the truth about Jesus, leading them to reject the Light of the World, as Jesus declares Himself to be in [John 9:5](/john/9-5 "John 9:5 - Jesus, the Light of the World"). This contrast between physical and spiritual sight is central to the chapter's theological message.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Pharisees (Greek, _Pharisaîos_):** Derived from a Hebrew root meaning "to separate," the Pharisees were a Jewish sect characterized by their zealous adherence to the Law and their oral traditions. In the New Testament, they frequently represent the religious establishment that opposed Jesus, often due to their legalistic interpretations and their perceived threat to their authority. Their appearance here signifies the transition from a personal miracle to an institutional challenge, as they are the ones empowered to investigate and judge such matters, especially those touching upon the Sabbath law.
* **aforetime (Greek, _poté_):** This adverb emphasizes the long-standing nature of the man's condition – he was "at some time" or "in time past" blind. This detail is crucial because it underscores the magnitude and undeniable nature of the miracle. It was not a temporary ailment but a congenital condition, making the healing all the more extraordinary and eliminating any doubt about the man's prior state. It highlights the profound power of Jesus to reverse a lifelong affliction.
* **blind (Greek, _typhlós_):** This term literally means "opaque" or "smoky," and by extension, "blind" (physically or mentally). In John 9, it carries both literal and metaphorical weight. Physically, it describes the man's condition. Metaphorically, it foreshadows the spiritual blindness of the Pharisees, who, despite their religious learning, are unable to see the divine truth manifest in Jesus' actions. The contrast between the man, who gains physical sight and then spiritual insight, and the Pharisees, who possess physical sight but remain spiritually blind, is a central motif of the chapter.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"They brought to the Pharisees":** The "they" refers to the neighbors and acquaintances of the healed man, as described in the preceding verses ([John 9:8-12](/john/9-8-12 "John 9:8-12 - Neighbors Question the Healed Man's Identity")). Their motivation is a mixture of astonishment, confusion, and perhaps a desire for official validation or explanation for such an unprecedented event. Bringing him to the Pharisees indicates their recognition of the Pharisees' authority in matters of religious law and miracles, particularly given the miracle occurred on the Sabbath. This act initiates the formal investigation and subsequent interrogation.
* **"him that aforetime was blind":** This phrase clearly identifies the subject of the inquiry. The emphasis on his past state ("aforetime was blind") serves to highlight the undeniable reality and profound nature of his healing. It is not just a man, but *the* man whose lifelong blindness was a well-known fact, making his restoration of sight a public and verifiable miracle that demands an explanation from the religious authorities.

#### Literary Devices
The verse primarily employs **Foreshadowing** and **Irony**. The act of bringing the man to the Pharisees **foreshadows** the escalating conflict between Jesus and the religious authorities, setting the stage for the intense interrogation and theological debate that will unfold in the rest of the chapter. It also **foreshadows** the eventual excommunication of the healed man ([John 9:34](/john/9-34 "John 9:34 - The Man Excommunicated")). There is also a subtle **Irony** at play: those who are physically sighted (the neighbors and Pharisees) are confused and spiritually blind to the divine power at work, while the man who was physically blind is now seeing and will soon gain spiritual insight into Jesus' identity. This sets up the central metaphorical contrast of the chapter between physical and spiritual sight.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
John 9:13 is a pivotal moment that underscores the clash between divine revelation and human resistance. It highlights how God's miraculous work, intended to bring glory to Himself and reveal His Son, can be met with suspicion and legalistic opposition rather than worship and belief. The Pharisees, representing the established religious order, prioritize their rigid interpretations of the Law over the undeniable evidence of God's power and compassion. This verse sets the stage for a profound exploration of spiritual discernment, challenging readers to consider whether they are truly "seeing" God's work or are blinded by their own preconceptions, traditions, or self-interest. It emphasizes that true authority and understanding come from God, not from human institutions or titles, and that genuine faith often requires a willingness to transcend conventional wisdom.

* [John 5:16](/john/5-16 "John 5:16 - Persecution for Healing on the Sabbath")
* [Matthew 15:14](/matthew/15-14 "Matthew 15:14 - Blind Guides")
* [Isaiah 6:9-10](/isaiah/6-9-10 "Isaiah 6:9-10 - Hearts Hardened")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
John 9:13 serves as a powerful reminder that genuine encounters with God's truth and power often provoke a response, not always of acceptance, but sometimes of intense scrutiny and opposition, especially from those who feel their established order or beliefs are threatened. For believers today, this verse challenges us to examine our own hearts: are we open to God's work even when it defies our expectations or challenges our traditions? Do we celebrate God's miracles, or do we, like the Pharisees, seek to dissect and discredit them based on our own rules and preconceived notions? The narrative encourages us to prioritize the truth of God's revelation over human systems and to stand firm in our testimony, even when it leads to uncomfortable confrontations. It also calls us to spiritual humility, recognizing that true sight is a gift from God, and that without it, even religious knowledge can become a source of blindness.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be spiritually blind, even while possessing religious knowledge or experience?**
* **How do I typically react when God's work or truth challenges my comfortable traditions or understanding?**
* **Am I willing to stand for Christ's truth, even if it means facing scrutiny or opposition from those in authority?**
* **What does this passage teach me about the nature of true authority versus human authority?**

### FAQ

**Why did the neighbors bring the healed man to the Pharisees?**

Answer: The neighbors brought the healed man to the Pharisees primarily due to their astonishment and confusion over the miraculous healing, combined with the fact that the healing occurred on the Sabbath. The Pharisees were the recognized religious authorities and legal interpreters in Jewish society, entrusted with investigating unusual occurrences, especially those involving claims of divine power or potential violations of the Law. The neighbors likely sought an official explanation or judgment, particularly concerning the legality of Jesus' actions on the Sabbath, as this was a contentious issue for the religious elite (see [John 9:14](/john/9-14 "John 9:14 - The Sabbath Controversy")).

**What is the significance of the man being "aforetime blind" (blind from birth)?**

Answer: The detail that the man was "aforetime blind," meaning blind from birth, is highly significant. It emphasizes the profound and undeniable nature of the miracle. This was not a temporary ailment or a partial healing, but the reversal of a lifelong, congenital condition, which was considered humanly impossible. This fact eliminates any doubt about the man's prior condition and underscores the extraordinary power of Jesus, making the miracle a clear sign of divine intervention and a powerful testimony to Jesus' identity, as even the disciples initially believed such a condition was due to sin ([John 9:2](/john/9-2 "John 9:2 - Disciples Ask About Sin and Blindness")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
John 9:13, though seemingly a simple statement of fact, profoundly points to Christ as the ultimate fulfiller of God's redemptive plan. The man born blind, brought before the scrutinizing eyes of the religious establishment, becomes a living testament to Jesus' identity as the "Light of the World" ([John 9:5](/john/9-5 "John 9:5 - Jesus, the Light of the World")). Just as Jesus gave physical sight to the man, He came to give spiritual sight to a world blinded by sin and ignorance. The Pharisees' subsequent interrogation and their ultimate rejection of the man's testimony and of Jesus Himself reveal their own spiritual blindness, fulfilling prophecies about those who would see but not perceive ([Isaiah 6:9-10](/isaiah/6-9-10 "Isaiah 6:9-10 - Hearts Hardened")). Christ's mission was not merely to heal physical ailments, but to open the eyes of the heart to the truth of God, leading people from darkness to His marvelous light ([1 Peter 2:9](/1_peter/2-9 "1 Peter 2:9 - Called Out of Darkness")). This verse, therefore, foreshadows the ongoing spiritual battle where the undeniable evidence of Christ's power is met with resistance, yet ultimately, those who believe, like the healed man, come to worship Him as Lord ([John 9:38](/john/9-38 "John 9:38 - The Man Worships Jesus")). Jesus, the true Lamb of God, was brought before earthly authorities, just as the formerly blind man was, to be judged, yet through His perfect life, death, and resurrection, He became the source of eternal sight and salvation for all who believe ([John 3:16](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God So Loved the World")).

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 11:46

But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done.

John 11:47

Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.

John 12:42

¶ Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess [him], lest they should be put out of the synagogue:

John 8:3

And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,

John 8:8

And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.

John 11:57

Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew [it], that they might take him.

John 12:19

The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.