John 9:8

¶ The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?

The neighbours {G1069} therefore {G3767}, and {G2532} they which before {G4386} had seen {G2334} him {G846} that {G3754} he was {G2258} blind {G5185}, said {G3004}, Is {G2076} not {G3756} this {G3778} he that sat {G2521} and {G2532} begged {G4319}?

His neighbors and those who previously had seen him begging said, “Isn’t this the man who used to sit and beg?”

At this, his neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging began to ask, “Isn’t this the man who used to sit and beg?”

The neighbors therefore, and they that saw him aforetime, that he was a beggar, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?

John 9:8 KJV captures the immediate, astonished reaction of the community to the miraculous healing of the man born blind, a powerful sign performed by Jesus Christ. This verse highlights the initial disbelief and questioning that follows a profound divine intervention.

Context of John 9:8

This verse directly follows the account of Jesus healing a man who had been blind from birth. In John 9:1-7, Jesus employs a unique method: He spat on the ground, made clay, anointed the man's eyes, and instructed him to wash in the Pool of Siloam. The man obeyed and returned seeing. John 9:8 marks the beginning of the public's encounter with this transformed individual, setting the stage for subsequent inquiry and controversy.

Key Themes in John 9:8

  • Identity and Recognition: The neighbors and those who knew him before question if this truly is the same man. His transformation was so complete that his former identity as a blind beggar was almost unrecognizable, leading to doubt and speculation.
  • The Nature of Miracles: The verse underscores how radically a divine miracle can alter a person's life and external circumstances, often challenging the established perceptions of those around them. This healing was not subtle but undeniably transformative.
  • Public Witness and Skepticism: The fact that "the neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind" are the ones speaking emphasizes the public nature of the man's previous condition and the open witness to his healing. Their immediate reaction is not awe, but skepticism and questioning, "Is not this he that sat and begged?" This foreshadows the later resistance from religious authorities found in John 9:13 onwards.

Linguistic Insight

The Greek word for "begged" in this verse is prosaitōn (προσαιτῶν), which specifically refers to someone who habitually begs. This detail reinforces the man's long-standing public identity as a beggar, making his newfound sight even more astonishing and difficult for the community to grasp. It emphasizes the complete reversal of his life's circumstances.

Significance and Application

John 9:8 serves as a powerful reminder that God's work in a person's life can be so profound that it challenges the perceptions of those who knew them before. Just as the neighbors struggled to reconcile the man they knew with the man who could now see, people today may struggle to accept the transformative power of faith in Christ in others or even in themselves. This verse encourages us to consider:

  • How do we react to radical change, especially when it points to divine intervention?
  • Are we quick to doubt or to celebrate when God does something extraordinary?
  • The man's testimony, detailed in John 9:11, becomes crucial in affirming his new reality. Our personal experiences with God's power can be a powerful witness, even in the face of disbelief.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 1 Samuel 2:8

    He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, [and] lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set [them] among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth [are] the LORD'S, and he hath set the world upon them.

  • Luke 18:35

    ¶ And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:

  • Luke 16:20

    And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,

  • Luke 16:22

    And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

  • Mark 10:46

    ¶ And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.

  • 1 Samuel 21:11

    And the servants of Achish said unto him, [Is] not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?

  • Acts 3:2

    And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;

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