John 9:18

Context

9:18 Now the Jewish religious leaders¹ refused to believe² that he had really been blind and had gained his sight until at last they summoned³ the parents of the man who had become able to see.⁴

John 9:11

Context
9:11 He replied,⁵ “The man called Jesus made mud,⁶ smeared it⁷ on my eyes and told me,⁸ ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed, and was able to see.”⁹

John 9:15

Context
9:15 So the Pharisees asked him again how he had gained his sight.¹⁰ He replied,¹¹ “He put mud¹² on my eyes and I washed, and now¹³ I am able to see.”

[9:18] ¹tn 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.”

[9:18] ²tn The Greek text contains the words “about him” at this point: “the Jewish authorities did not believe about him…”

[9:18] ³tn Grk “they called.”

[9:18] ⁴tn Or “the man who had gained his sight.”

[9:11] ⁵tn Grk “That one answered.”

[9:11] ⁶tn Or “clay” (moistened earth of a clay-like consistency).

[9:11] ⁷tn Grk “and smeared.” Direct objects in Greek were often omitted when obvious from the context.

[9:11] ⁸tn Grk “said to me.”

[9:11] ⁹tn Or “and I gained my sight.”

[9:15] ⁹tn Or “how he had become able to see.”

[9:15] ¹⁰tn Grk “And he said to them.”

[9:15] ¹¹tn Or “clay” (moistened earth of a clay-like consistency).

[9:15] ¹²tn 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).