The Meaning of John 9:9 Explained

John 9:9

KJV: Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he.

YLT: others said -- 'This is he;' and others -- 'He is like to him;' he himself said, -- 'I am he.'

Darby: Some said, It is he; others said, No, but he is like him: he said, It is I.

ASV: Others said, It is he: others said, No, but he is like him. He said, I am he .

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Some  said,  This  is he:  others  [said],  He is  like  him:  [but] he  said,  I  am  [he]. 

What does John 9:9 Mean?

Context Summary

John 9:1-12 - Jesus Opens Blind Eyes
At the close of the previous chapter our Lord bore the contradiction of sinners against Himself. The Jews had caught up the stones gathered to repair the Temple, in order to inflict the doom of the blasphemer; but Jesus passed through them unscathed and began to descend the great steps. To human gaze there was need for Jesus to hasten from His foes, John 8:59; in His thought there was greater need to heal this blind beggar. In the most leisurely manner, therefore, He made clay and wrought this miracle of sight. His heart was at rest in God. No great thing is wrought by those who live in perpetual ferment. Through the quiet heart God works His own works, and there will be time enough to get them all done before "the night cometh when no man can work," John 9:4.
Our Lord perceived that beneath the unpromising exterior of this man were elements of nobility, which He set Himself to elicit. The clay which the man found suddenly applied to his eyes awakened wonder, hope, expectation, and faith. It was a ladder by which he climbed from the pit of despair to the mount of joy. The walk to Siloam was a further venture of faith; but there were other steps to be taken ere he attained to the full stature of his discipleship. Some were forced on him by opposition; to others he was led by Christ Himself. [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 9:9

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]
He said [ἐκεῖνος]
The strong demonstrative throws the man into strong relief as the central figure. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 9:9

John 8:58 Before Abraham was [πριν Αβρααμ γενεσται]
Usual idiom with πριν — prin in positive sentence with infinitive (second aorist middle of γινομαι — ginomai) and the accusative of general reference, “before coming as to Abraham,” “before Abraham came into existence or was born.” I am Undoubtedly here Jesus claims eternal existence with the absolute phrase used of God. The contrast between γενεσται — genesthai (entrance into existence of Abraham) and ειμι — eimi (timeless being) is complete. See the same contrast between εν — en in John 1:1 and εγενετο — egeneto in John 1:14. See the contrast also in Psalm 90:2 between God See the same use of ειμι — eimi in John 6:20; John 9:9; John 8:24, John 8:28; John 18:6. [source]
John 9:15 Again [παλιν]
Besides the questioning of the neighbours (John 9:8, John 9:9). Therefore Since he has been brought to the Pharisees who must make a show of wisdom. Also asked him Inchoative imperfect active of ερωταω — erōtaō “began also to question him.” How he received his sight No denial as yet of the fact, only interest in the “how.” He put Genuine here, but see John 9:6. And lo see That is the overwhelming fact. [source]

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

Some were saying - He it is but others No but like him he is He kept saying I am [he]
Ἄλλοι ἔλεγον ὅτι Οὗτός ἐστιν ἄλλοι Οὐχί ἀλλὰ ὅμοιος αὐτῷ ἐστιν Ἐκεῖνος ἔλεγεν Ἐγώ εἰμι

Ἄλλοι  Some 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἄλλος  
Sense: another, other.
ἔλεγον  were  saying 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.
ὅτι  - 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
ἐστιν  it  is 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.
ἄλλοι  but  others 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἄλλος  
Sense: another, other.
Οὐχί  No 
Parse: Adverb
Root: οὐχί  
Sense: not, by no means, not at all.
ὅμοιος  like 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ὅμοιος  
Sense: like, similar, resembling.
ἐστιν  he  is 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.
ἔλεγεν  kept  saying 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.
εἰμι  am  [he] 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.

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