9:18 Now the Jewish religious leaders 16 refused to believe 17 that he had really been blind and had gained his sight until at last they summoned 18 the parents of the man who had become able to see. 19
1 sn A quotation from Isa 54:13.
2 tn Or “listens to the Father and learns.”
3 tn Grk “who is of.”
4 tn Grk “to God hears” (in the sense of listening to something and responding to it).
5 tn Grk “you do not hear” (in the sense of listening to something and responding to it).
6 tn Grk “you are not of God.”
5 tn Grk “this one.”
6 tn Grk “but so that.” There is an ellipsis that must be supplied: “but [he was born blind] so that” or “but [it happened to him] so that.”
7 tn Or “deeds”; Grk “works.”
8 tn Or “manifested,” “brought to light.”
9 tn Grk “in him.”
7 tn Or “how he had become able to see.”
8 tn Grk “And he said to them.”
9 tn Or “clay” (moistened earth of a clay-like consistency).
10 tn The word “now” is not in the Greek text, but is supplied to indicate the contrast between the man’s former state (blind) and his present state (able to see).
9 tn Or “the Jewish religious authorities”; Grk “the Jews.” In NT usage the term ᾿Ιουδαῖοι (Ioudaioi) may refer to the entire Jewish people, the residents of Jerusalem and surrounding territory, the authorities in Jerusalem, or merely those who were hostile to Jesus. (For further information see R. G. Bratcher, “‘The Jews’ in the Gospel of John,” BT 26 [1975]: 401-9.) Here the phrase refers mainly to the Pharisees, mentioned by name in John 9:13, 15, 16. References in this context to Pharisees and to the synagogue (v. 22) suggest an emphasis on the religious nature of the debate which is brought out by the translation “the Jewish religious leaders.”
10 tn The Greek text contains the words “about him” at this point: “the Jewish authorities did not believe about him…”
11 tn Grk “they called.”
12 tn Or “the man who had gained his sight.”
11 tn Grk “God does not hear.”
12 tn Or “godly.”
13 tn Grk “he”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
14 tn Or “hears.”
15 tn Grk “this one.”
13 tn Or “the Jewish authorities”; Grk “the Jews.” Here the phrase refers to the Jewish leaders. The question they ask Jesus (“Are you the Christ?”) is the same one they sent and asked of John the Baptist in the desert (see John 1:19-34). See also the note on the phrase “the Jewish people” in v. 19.
14 tn Grk “said to him.” This has been translated as “asked” for stylistic reasons.
15 tn Grk “How long will you take away our life?” (an idiom which meant to keep one from coming to a conclusion about something). The use of the phrase τὴν ψυχὴν ἡμῶν αἴρεις (thn yuchn Jhmwn airei") meaning “to keep in suspense” is not well attested, although it certainly fits the context here. In modern Greek the phrase means “to annoy, bother.”
16 tn Or “the Messiah” (Both Greek “Christ” and Hebrew and Aramaic “Messiah” mean “one who has been anointed”).
17 tn Or “publicly.”
15 tn Grk “that you always hear me.”
16 tn The word “this” is not in the Greek text. Direct objects in Greek were often omitted when clear from the context.
17 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
18 tn Grk “one of the high priest’s servants standing by gave Jesus a strike, saying.” For the translation of ῥάπισμα (rJapisma), see L&N 19.4.