The Meaning of John 9:40 Explained

John 9:40

KJV: And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?

YLT: And those of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things, and they said to him, 'Are we also blind?'

Darby: And some of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things, and they said to him, Are we blind also?

ASV: Those of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things, and said unto him, Are we also blind?

Discover John 9:40

CONTEXT: What is the Context of John 9:40?

MEANING: What does John 9:40 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in John 9:40 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in John 9:40?

What is the context of John 9:40?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And [some] of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?

What does John 9:40 Mean?

Context Summary

John 9:35-41 - "a Stone Of Stumbling"

In John 9:35 we hear of Jesus finding the outcast, whom the Pharisees had excommunicated; and this story is appropriately followed by a picture of the true Shepherd as contrasted with the false. At night sundry flocks are brought to the Eastern sheepfold and committed to the care of the keeper or porter. In the morning the shepherds knock at the barred door of the enclosure, and the porter opens from within. Each separates his own sheep by calling their names, and when thus summoned the flock follows its shepherd, wherever he may lead.

The sheepfold in this parable holds the Jewish people. The stranger is the religious Teacher who fails to speak in the familiar phrase of Moses and the prophets. The Pharisees and scribes are the thieves and robbers who have stolen God's glory and made profit of his flock. Note that whenever you are put forth, you will find Christ going before.

God has sent many true shepherds from out His presence chamber, to care not only for individuals or churches but for nations. [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 9:40

Are we also blind? [Μη και ημεις τυπλοι εσμεν]
Negative answer expected (μη mē) and yet these Pharisees who overheard the words of Jesus to the new convert vaguely suspected that Jesus was referring to them by the last clause. Up in Galilee Jesus had called the Pharisees blind guides who stumble into the pit (Matthew 15:14). [source]

Are we blind also [μὴ καὶ ἡμεῖς τυφλοί ἐσμεν]
The also belongs with we. The interrogative particle has the force of we are surely not, and the we is emphatic. Are we also blind? So Rev. [source]

What do the individual words in John 9:40 mean?

Heard of the Pharisees these things who with Him were and they said to Him Not also we blind are

ἤκουσαν ἐκ τῶν Φαρισαίων ταῦτα οἱ μετ’ αὐτοῦ ὄντες καὶ εἶπον αὐτῷ Μὴ καὶ ἡμεῖς τυφλοί ἐσμεν

ἤκουσαν	Heard
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural Root: ἀκουστός Sense: to be endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf.
Φαρισαίων	Pharisees
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Plural Root: Φαρισαῖος Sense: A sect that seems to have started after the Jewish exile.
ταῦτα	these things
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Plural Root: οὗτος Sense: this.
εἶπον	they said
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural Root: λέγω Sense: to speak, say.
αὐτῷ	to Him
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular Root: αὐτός Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
καὶ	also
Parse: Conjunction Root: καί Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
τυφλοί	blind
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural Root: τυφλός Sense: blind.

What are the major concepts related to John 9:40?

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Similar Scriptures for John 9:40

		Matthew 15:12-14 [3]
		Revelation 3:17 [3]
		John 9:34 [2]
		Luke 11:39-54 [2]
		Romans 2:19-22 [2]
		John 7:47-52 [2]
		Matthew 23:16-28 [2]