The Meaning of John 9:25 Explained

John 9:25

KJV: He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.

YLT: he answered, therefore, and said, 'If he be a sinner -- I have not known, one thing I have known, that, being blind, now I see.'

Darby: He answered therefore, If he is sinful I know not. One thing I know, that, being blind before, now I see.

ASV: He therefore answered, Whether he is a sinner, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

<3767> He  answered  and  said,  Whether  he be  a sinner  [or no], I know  not:  one thing  I know,  that,  whereas I was  blind,  now  I see. 

What does John 9:25 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The healed man refused to speculate on Jesus" sinfulness. He left that to the theological heavyweights. However, he refused to back down and deny that Jesus had given him sight. Here is another of many instances in the fourth Gospel of personal testimony, which John consistently presented as important and effective. Regardless of a believer"s understanding of Christology, he or she can always testify to the change that Jesus Christ has effected in that person"s life.

Context Summary

John 9:13-25 - The Testimony Of Personal Experience
The jealous Pharisees now set themselves to discredit the miracle and to throw suspicion upon the witness. But their hostility, prompted by jealousy and vindictiveness, forced the healed man to realize the moral majesty of Jesus. His eyes became opened to the true values of things, as well as to the world of nature. In a day he had grown far away from the parents, who were simple people, unaccustomed to the glare of publicity, and very much afraid of these religious magnates.
It is marvelous to note this man proving himself more than a match for his opponents, and answering them with a simplicity and a majesty that confounded them. Matthew 10:19. He needed, however, a touch that no human wisdom could impart, and this was given by Christ, who always seeks those whom man casts out and those who dare to live up to the truth they know. Notice the steps: He is a prophet; He is not a sinner; He is from God; he worshiped Him. None come in contact with Christ without being blinded or enlightened. Our guilt is proportioned to our refusal of the light. [source]

Chapter Summary: John 9

1  The man born blind is restored to sight
8  He is brought to the Pharisees
13  They are offended at it;
35  but he is received of Jesus, and confesses him
39  Who they are whom Jesus enlightens

Greek Commentary for John 9:25

One thing I know [εν οιδα]
This man is keen and quick and refuses to fall into the trap set for him. He passes by their quibbling about Jesus being a “sinner” Literally, “Being blind I now see.” The present active participle ων — ōn of ειμι — eimi by implication in contrast with αρτι — arti (just now, at this moment) points to previous and so past time. It must be borne in mind that the man did not at this stage know who Jesus was and so had not yet taken him as Saviour (John 9:36-38). [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 9:25

John 13:7 I … thou [εγω συ]
Jesus repeats the pronouns used by Peter in similar contrast. Not now Just now γνωσηι δε μετα ταυτα — arti means (John 9:19, John 9:25). Used again by Jesus (John 13:33) and Peter (John 13:37). But thou shalt understand hereafter Future middle of οιδα — ginōskō (instead of the verb oida) to know by experience. “Thou shalt learn after these things,” even if slowly. [source]
John 13:33 Little children [τεκνια]
Diminutive of τεκνα — tekna and affectionate address as Jesus turns to the effect of his going on these disciples. Only here in this Gospel, but common in 1John (1 John 2:1, etc.), and nowhere else in N.T. Yet a little while Accusative of extent of time. See also John 7:33; John 8:21 (to which Jesus here refers); John 16:16-19. So now I say unto you This juncture point (αρτι — arti) of time relatively to the past and the future (John 9:25; John 16:12, John 16:31). [source]
John 9:9 Nay but he is like him [Ουχι αλλα ομοιος αυτωι εστιν]
Vigorous denial (αυτοι — ouchi) and mere similarity suggested. Associative instrumental case ομοιος — autoi after εκεινος ελεγεν — homoios The crowd is divided. He said (ekeinos elegen). Emphatic demonstrative (as in John 9:11, John 9:12, John 9:25, John 9:36), “That one spake up.” He knew. [source]
John 9:27 I told you even now [ειπον υμιν ηδη]
In John 9:15, John 9:17, John 9:25. Would ye also become his disciples? Negative answer formally expected, but the keenest irony in this gibe. Clearly the healed man knew from the use of “also” (και — kai) that Jesus had some “disciples” (ματηται — mathētai predicate nominative with the infinitive γενεσται — genesthai) and that the Pharisees knew that fact. “Do ye also (like the Galilean mob) wish, etc.” See John 7:45-52. It cut to the bone. [source]

What do the individual words in John 9:25 mean?

Answered then he Whether a sinner He is not I know One [thing] I do know that blind being now I see
Ἀπεκρίθη οὖν ἐκεῖνος Εἰ ἁμαρτωλός ἐστιν οὐκ οἶδα ἓν οἶδα ὅτι τυφλὸς ὢν ἄρτι βλέπω

Ἀπεκρίθη  Answered 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἀποκρίνομαι  
Sense: to give an answer to a question proposed, to answer.
Εἰ  Whether 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: εἰ  
Sense: if, whether.
ἁμαρτωλός  a  sinner 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἁμαρτωλός  
Sense: devoted to sin, a sinner.
ἐστιν  He  is 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.
οἶδα  I  know 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: οἶδα  
Sense: to see.
ἓν  One  [thing] 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: εἷς  
Sense: one.
οἶδα  I  do  know 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: οἶδα  
Sense: to see.
ὅτι  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
τυφλὸς  blind 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: τυφλός  
Sense: blind.
ὢν  being 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.
ἄρτι  now 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ἄρτι  
Sense: just now, this moment.
βλέπω  I  see 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: βλέπω  
Sense: to see, discern, of the bodily eye.

What are the major concepts related to John 9:25?

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