John 9:21

KJV

But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself.

KJV (with Strong's)

But {G1161} by what means {G4459} he {G991} now {G3568} seeth {G991}, we know {G1492} not {G3756}; or {G2228} who {G5101} hath opened {G455} his {G846} eyes {G3788}, we {G2249} know {G1492} not {G3756}: he {G846} is {G2192} of age {G2244}; ask {G2065} him {G846}: he {G846} shall speak {G2980} for {G4012} himself {G848}.

Complete Jewish Bible

but how it is that he can see now, we don’t know; nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him — he’s old enough, he can speak for himself!”

Berean Standard Bible

But how he can now see or who opened his eyes, we do not know. Ask him. He is old enough to speak for himself.”

American Standard Version

but how he now seeth, we know not; or who opened his eyes, we know not: ask him; he is of age; he shall speak for himself.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
John 9:21 captures the cautious and evasive response of the parents of the man born blind when interrogated by the Jewish authorities about their son's miraculous healing. Faced with intense pressure and the threat of severe social and religious ostracism, they confirm their son's former blindness and current sight but strategically distance themselves from identifying the healer or the means of the miracle, instead deferring to their son as a legally competent witness.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within the broader narrative of [Jesus's healing of the man born blind](/john/9 "John 9 - Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind") on the Sabbath, an act that immediately provokes intense scrutiny and hostility from the Jewish religious leaders, particularly the Pharisees. The preceding verses (John 9:1-20) detail the miracle itself, the initial astonishment of the neighbors, and the subsequent interrogation of the healed man. The Pharisees, unwilling to accept a miracle that would validate Jesus's claims and challenge their authority, attempt to discredit the event by questioning the man's identity, his former blindness, and the means of his healing. Their inability to deny the physical reality of the man's sight leads them to summon his parents, hoping to find a contradiction or a reason to dismiss the miracle. The parents' response in [John 9:21-23](/john/9-21-23 "John 9:21-23 - The Parents' Fearful Testimony") reveals the immense social and religious pressure exerted by the authorities.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is Jerusalem, and the religious authorities, primarily the Pharisees, wield significant power over Jewish society. Healing on the Sabbath was a contentious issue, as their strict interpretation of the Law prohibited such activity, viewing it as "work." Jesus's repeated Sabbath healings (e.g., [Mark 3:1-6](/mark/3-1-6 "Mark 3:1-6 - Healing on the Sabbath") and [Luke 13:10-17](/luke/13-10-17 "Luke 13:10-17 - Healing a Woman on the Sabbath")) were direct challenges to their authority and legalistic system. The threat of "being put out of the synagogue" (John 9:22) was a severe form of excommunication, leading to social isolation, economic hardship, and religious disenfranchisement. It meant being cut off from the community, unable to participate in religious life, and potentially shunned by family and friends. For the parents, this was a terrifying prospect, influencing their cautious and non-committal testimony. Their statement "he is of age" (Greek: _hēlikian echei_) refers to the Jewish legal concept that a person who has reached maturity (typically around 13 for boys) is responsible for their own testimony and actions.

* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes to several major themes within [the Gospel of John](/john/1 "The Gospel of John - The Word Became Flesh"). Firstly, it highlights the theme of **spiritual blindness versus physical sight**. While the man gains physical sight, the Pharisees remain spiritually blind to Jesus's true identity and divine authority. Secondly, it underscores the **escalating conflict between Jesus and the Jewish religious establishment**. Their relentless questioning and attempts to discredit Jesus's miracles reveal their hardened hearts and unwillingness to accept the [Light of the World](/john/8-12 "John 8:12 - Jesus, the Light of the World"). Thirdly, the parents' response exemplifies the **cost of discipleship** and the **fear of man**. Their self-preservation instinct, driven by the fear of excommunication, prevents them from fully acknowledging the miraculous work of Jesus, contrasting sharply with their son's eventual bold confession of faith in [John 9:35-38](/john/9-35-38 "John 9:35-38 - The Blind Man's Confession and Worship").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **know (Language, _eídō'_):** This word, G1492, derived from a primary verb, means "to see (literally or figuratively); by implication, (in the perfect tense only) to know." The parents' repeated assertion, "we know not," is a deliberate evasion. While they physically "see" their son now sees, and they "know" he was born blind, they feign ignorance about the "how" and "who" of the healing. This calculated "not knowing" is a strategic denial of the obvious, protecting them from implicating themselves or Jesus.
* **of age (Language, _hēlikía'_):** G2244, meaning "maturity (in years or size)," refers to the legal age of accountability in Jewish culture. By stating "he is of age," the parents are asserting that their son is legally competent to give his own testimony. This is not merely a statement of fact but a legal maneuver to shift the burden of explanation and potential consequences from themselves to their son, thereby avoiding direct confrontation with the authorities about Jesus's identity.
* **speak (Language, _laléō'_):** G2980, a prolonged form of an obsolete verb, signifies "to talk, i.e., utter words." The parents' declaration that their son "shall speak for himself" is a crucial turning point. It sets the stage for the healed man's powerful and increasingly bold testimony, which ultimately leads to his expulsion from the synagogue but also to his profound spiritual encounter with Jesus.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But by what means he now seeth, we know not;":** This clause reveals the parents' immediate deflection. They acknowledge the undeniable fact of their son's restored sight ("he now seeth") but immediately plead ignorance regarding the "means" or method of the healing. This is a deliberate attempt to avoid any statement that might link the miracle to Jesus, thereby protecting themselves from the Pharisees' wrath. Their "we know not" is a lie of omission, driven by fear.
* **"or who hath opened his eyes, we know not:":** This second part of their denial reinforces the first, focusing on the agent of the healing. They refuse to name Jesus, even though they likely knew he was the one who performed the miracle. This highlights their acute awareness of the political and religious dangers associated with acknowledging Jesus as a divine healer. Their repeated "we know not" underscores their desperate effort to remain neutral and avoid culpability.
* **"he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself.":** This final statement is both a legal declaration and a strategic evasion. By asserting their son's legal maturity, they formally hand over the responsibility of testimony to him. This allows them to avoid answering directly while still ensuring that the truth of the healing event can be confirmed, albeit through their son's own words. It is a masterful, albeit fearful, deflection that shifts the spotlight entirely to the healed man.

#### Literary Devices
The verse prominently features **Evasion**, as the parents repeatedly use "we know not" to avoid direct answers, despite knowing the basic facts of their son's healing. This evasion is a form of **Self-Preservation**, driven by the explicit threat of excommunication mentioned in the subsequent verse. There is also a subtle **Irony** in their claim of ignorance, as the miracle was undeniably clear to all, including themselves. Their statement also functions as a **Shift of Responsibility**, as they deftly redirect the interrogation from themselves to their son, who, being "of age," is legally bound to speak for himself.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The parents' fearful response in John 9:21 serves as a poignant illustration of the human tendency to prioritize personal safety and social acceptance over a courageous confession of truth, especially when that truth involves acknowledging God's transformative work through Christ. Their "we know not" is not a statement of genuine ignorance but a calculated act of self-preservation in the face of intimidating religious authority. This highlights a recurring tension in the Gospels: the conflict between the fear of man and the fear of God, and the societal pressures that can prevent individuals from openly embracing or defending Jesus. Ultimately, their caution contrasts sharply with their son's growing boldness, demonstrating that while human fear can hinder open testimony, God's truth will ultimately find a voice.

* [Matthew 10:32-33](/matthew/10-32-33 "Matthew 10:32-33 - Confessing Christ Before Men")
* [Proverbs 29:25](/proverbs/29-25 "Proverbs 29:25 - The Fear of Man")
* [John 12:42-43](/john/12-42-43 "John 12:42-43 - Secret Believers Among the Rulers")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
John 9:21 offers a sobering look at the pressures believers can face and the difficult choices that arise when acknowledging Christ might incur personal cost. The parents' fear-driven evasion reminds us that while God's power is undeniable, human weakness and the desire for social acceptance can lead to compromise. This verse challenges us to examine our own lives: are there areas where we, out of fear of judgment, ostracism, or inconvenience, hesitate to acknowledge God's work in our lives or to speak openly about our faith in Jesus? The narrative implicitly calls us to courage, urging us to consider that while the parents sought to protect themselves, their son's bold testimony ultimately led him to a deeper, saving faith in Jesus. Our testimony, though it may bring earthly consequences, is a powerful means by which God's truth is revealed and glorified.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what situations do I find myself tempted to remain silent or evasive about my faith in Jesus?**
* **What "costs" of discipleship am I currently facing, or might I anticipate, in my context?**
* **How can I cultivate a greater courage to speak for Christ, even when it is uncomfortable or unpopular?**
* **What does the parents' response teach me about the dangers of prioritizing human approval over divine truth?**

### FAQ
**Why were the parents so evasive in their answers to the Pharisees?**

Answer: The parents were evasive primarily due to intense fear of the Jewish authorities. As stated in [John 9:22](/john/9-22 "John 9:22 - The Threat of Excommunication"), the Jewish leaders had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus as the Christ would be "put out of the synagogue." This meant severe social, religious, and economic ostracism. To openly declare that Jesus had performed such a miracle would be to align themselves with Him and risk excommunication, a devastating consequence in their society. Their "we know not" was a calculated attempt to avoid this penalty while still implicitly confirming the undeniable fact of their son's restored sight.

**What does "he is of age" mean in the context of this verse?**

Answer: In Jewish legal tradition, "he is of age" (Greek: _hēlikian echei_) meant that the individual had reached maturity and was legally competent to give testimony in a court or before religious authorities. This typically occurred around the age of 13 for boys. By stating this, the parents were not just providing a factual detail; they were strategically declaring that their son was a legally credible witness, capable of speaking for himself without parental guidance or responsibility. This allowed them to shift the burden of explanation and potential repercussions from themselves to their son, effectively deflecting the Pharisees' interrogation.

**Did the parents believe Jesus was the Messiah, or were they simply afraid?**

Answer: The text does not explicitly state the parents' belief about Jesus's messianic identity. Their primary motivation in this verse is clearly fear and self-preservation, as evidenced by their evasiveness and the explicit mention of the threat of excommunication in [John 9:22](/john/9-22 "John 9:22 - The Threat of Excommunication"). While they undoubtedly witnessed and benefited from Jesus's miraculous power through their son's healing, their actions suggest that their fear of human authority outweighed any potential nascent faith or desire to openly acknowledge Jesus as the Christ at this moment. Their priority was protecting their family and social standing.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The narrative of the man born blind, and his parents' fearful response in [John 9:21](/john/9-21 "John 9:21 - The Parents' Evasion"), ultimately points to Jesus as the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan to bring spiritual sight to a world lost in darkness. While the parents' fear highlights humanity's struggle with confessing Christ under pressure, Jesus's work in this chapter demonstrates His divine authority as the [Light of the World](/john/9-5 "John 9:5 - Jesus, the Light of the World"). He not only restores physical sight but also offers spiritual illumination, as seen in the healed man's progression from calling Jesus "a prophet" to confessing Him as "Lord" and worshipping Him ([John 9:17](/john/9-17 "John 9:17 - The Man Calls Jesus a Prophet") and [John 9:38](/john/9-38 "John 9:38 - The Man Worships Jesus")). This miracle foreshadows the greater spiritual healing available through Christ, who came to open the eyes of those who are spiritually blind ([Isaiah 42:7](/isaiah/42-7 "Isaiah 42:7 - Opening Blind Eyes")). The parents' refusal to speak for Jesus contrasts sharply with the bold testimony of the man who was blind, illustrating that true sight comes through encountering and confessing Christ, even when it incurs a cost. Ultimately, Jesus's mission was to bring light into the world, and those who believe in Him will not remain in darkness ([John 12:46](/john/12-46 "John 12:46 - Jesus, the Light of 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.