John 9:39

¶ And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

And {G2532} Jesus {G2424} said {G2036}, For {G1519} judgment {G2917} I {G1473} am come {G2064} into {G1519} this {G5126} world {G2889}, that {G2443} they which see {G991} not {G3361} might see {G991}; and {G2532} that they which see {G991} might be made {G1096} blind {G5185}.

Yeshua said, “It is to judge that I came into this world, so that those who do not see might see, and those who do see might become blind.”

Then Jesus declared, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind may see and those who see may become blind.”

And Jesus said, For judgment came I into this world, that they that see not may see; and that they that see may become blind.

Commentary

In John 9:39, Jesus delivers a profound statement about the purpose of His coming, immediately following the miraculous healing of the man born blind. This verse encapsulates a critical aspect of His mission: a spiritual judgment that reveals the true state of people's hearts and minds. It’s a paradox where those who admit their spiritual inability gain sight, while those who presume to see become spiritually blind.

Context

This powerful declaration comes at the climax of the narrative concerning the healing of the man born blind. Throughout John chapter 9, Jesus performs a miracle that leads to intense scrutiny and interrogation by the Pharisees, who represent the religious establishment. Despite undeniable evidence, the Pharisees refuse to acknowledge Jesus' divine authority and instead condemn the healed man and Jesus Himself. Their spiritual pride and rejection of the Light lead to Jesus' pronouncement here, setting the stage for their direct confrontation in John 9:40-41. The physical healing serves as a powerful metaphor for spiritual transformation.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment as Revelation: Jesus' coming is not merely to condemn, but to expose and reveal. The "judgment" (Greek: krisis, meaning "separation" or "decision") He brings is one that distinguishes between those who are open to His truth and those who resist it. It's a sorting process that brings hidden spiritual conditions to light.
  • Spiritual Sight vs. Blindness: This verse highlights the profound spiritual irony. Those who recognize their need for spiritual understanding ("they which see not") are granted true insight by Jesus, who is the Light of the World. Conversely, those who are confident in their own spiritual understanding and refuse to acknowledge Jesus ("they which see") are paradoxically made blind to the truth because of their pride and self-sufficiency. Their rejection of Jesus confirms their spiritual darkness.
  • The Paradox of Grace and Truth: Jesus' mission is ultimately one of salvation, not condemnation (John 3:17). However, His presence forces a choice, and that choice results in a form of judgment. Those who embrace Him receive life and light; those who reject Him, despite seeing His works, become more entrenched in their spiritual blindness.

Linguistic Insights

The word translated as "judgment" here is krisis (κρίσις) in Greek, which signifies a separation, a decision, or a sifting. It's not primarily about condemnation in the sense of a final verdict, but about the process of distinguishing and revealing. Jesus' very presence acts as a catalyst for this discernment. The terms for "seeing" (βλέπω - blepō) and "being made blind" (τυφλός - tuphlos) encompass both literal physical states and, more importantly, spiritual conditions. Jesus uses the physical healing to illustrate a deeper spiritual reality.

Practical Application

John 9:39 challenges us to examine our own spiritual posture. Are we like the man born blind, humble and open to receiving sight from Jesus, even if it means being ostracized by the world? Or are we like the Pharisees, so convinced of our own wisdom and righteousness that we become impervious to God's truth? This verse calls for humility and a willingness to admit our spiritual need. True spiritual sight comes from acknowledging our blindness and turning to Christ, who alone can grant it. It's a reminder that pride can be the greatest obstacle to understanding and experiencing God's truth.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • John 3:19 (14 votes)

    And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

  • John 12:46 (12 votes)

    I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

  • Acts 26:18 (11 votes)

    To open their eyes, [and] to turn [them] from darkness to light, and [from] the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

  • John 8:12 (8 votes)

    ¶ Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

  • 1 John 2:11 (6 votes)

    But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

  • Luke 4:18 (5 votes)

    The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

  • John 12:40 (5 votes)

    He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with [their] eyes, nor understand with [their] heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.