John 9:21

but how he now sees, we don’t know; or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. He is of age. Ask him. He will speak for himself.”

World English Bible

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Other translations

WEBBE

but how he now sees, we don’t know; or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. He is of age. Ask him. He will speak for himself.”

BSB

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.”

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.

ASV

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.

BBE

But how it is he is now able to see, or who made his eyes open, we are not able to say: put the question to him; he is old enough to give an answer for himself.

Original Greek

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πῶς pōs How G4459 δὲ de however G1161 νῦν nun presently G3568 βλέπει blepei he sees G991 οὐκ ouk not G3756 οἴδαμεν oidamen we know G6063 ἢ ē or G2228 τίς tis who G5101 ἤνοιξεν ēnoixen opened G455 αὐτοῦ autou of him G846 τοὺς tous the G3588 ὀφθαλμοὺς ophthalmous eyes G3788 ἡμεῖς hēmeis we ourselves G3165 οὐκ ouk not G3756 οἴδαμεν oidamen know G6063 αὐτὸν auton him G846 ἐρωτήσατε erōtēsate do ask G2065 αὐτὸς autos he himself G846 ἡλικίαν hēlikian [of] age G2244 ἔχει echei is G2192 αὐτὸς autos He himself G846 περὶ peri Concerning G4012 ἑαυτοῦ he'autou himself G1438 λαλήσει.¶ lalēsei he will speak G2980

The early church

(Tr. xliv. 10) As f to say, We might justly be compelled to speak for an infant, that could not speak for itself: but he, though blind from his birth, has been always able to speak.

Augustine of Hippo · d. 430Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)

Now when there were three questions asked, whether he was their son, whether he had been blind, and how he received his sight, the parents only acknowledged two of them, but do not add the third. And this came to pass for the sake of the truth, in order that none other save the man that was healed, who was also worthy of credit, should acknowledge this matter. And how would the parents have favored Christ, when even of what they knew some part they spake not through fear of the Jews? What say they? "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but by what means he now seeth we know not, or who hath opened his eyes we know not; he is of age, he shall speak for himself." By making him to be worthy of credit, they begged off themselves; "He is not a child, say they, nor incapable, but able to testify for himself."

John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on John

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 18–23

The Pharisees vainly hoped to disprove this notable miracle. They expected a Messiah, but could not bear to think that this Jesus should be he, because his precepts were all contrary to their traditions, and because they expected a Messiah in outward pomp and splendour. The fear of man brings a snare, Pr 29:25, and often makes people deny and disown Christ and his truths and ways, and act against their consciences. The unlearned and poor, who are simple-hearted, readily draw proper inferences from the evidences of the light of the gospel; but those whose desires are another way, though ever learning, never come to the knowledge of the truth.

Read Matthew Henry on John 9 →

Cross-references

Topics

Opinion, Public

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.