John 9:7

9:7 and said to him, “Go wash in the pool of Siloam” ¹  (which is translated “sent”). ²  So the blind man ³  went away and washed, and came back seeing.

John 11:15

11:15 and I am glad ⁴  for your sake that I was not there, so that you may believe. ⁵  But let us go to him.”

[9:7]  ¹ tn The pool’s name in Hebrew is shiloah from the Hebrew verb “to send.” In Gen 49:10 the somewhat obscure shiloh was interpreted messianically by later Jewish tradition, and some have seen a lexical connection between the two names (although this is somewhat dubious). It is known, however, that it was from the pool of Siloam that the water which was poured out at the altar during the feast of Tabernacles was drawn.

[9:7]  ² sn This is a parenthetical note by the author. Why does he comment on the meaning of the name of the pool? Here, the significance is that the Father sent the Son, and the Son sent the man born blind. The name of the pool is applicable to the man, but also to Jesus himself, who was sent from heaven.

[9:7]  ³ tn Grk “So he”; the referent (the blind man) is specified in the translation for clarity.

[11:15]  ⁴ tn Grk “and I rejoice.”

[11:15]  ⁵ sn So that you may believe. Why does Jesus make this statement? It seems necessary to understand the disciples’ belief here in a developmental sense, because there are numerous references to the disciples’ faith previous to this in John’s Gospel, notably 2:11. Their concept of who Jesus really was is continually being expanded and challenged; they are undergoing spiritual growth; the climax is reached in the confession of Thomas in John 20:28.