John 9:20

John 9:20, in plain English

The parents confirm the basic facts: yes, this is our son, and yes, he was definitely born blind.

Why it's here

Their testimony removes any doubt about the reality of the miracle. They know their own son, and they know he couldn't see from birth.

Who's speaking

The parents answer honestly about what they know for certain.

Where it sits in the story

The parents give the leaders exactly the verification they didn't want to hear. There's no denying the starting point of this miracle.

The scholarly reading

The parents confirm two facts—their son's identity and his congenital blindness—providing irrefutable witness to the miracle's baseline condition.

Language and setting

Parental testimony held strong legal weight in Jewish law. Their confirmation of congenital blindness eliminates the possibility that the man had merely been temporarily impaired or was an impostor.

Voice

The parents respond to the authorities, confirming what they know with certainty about their son.

Significance

The parents provide the verification the authorities hoped wouldn't come: yes, he is their son, and yes, he was indisputably born blind.

18The Jews still did not believe that the man had been blind and had received his sight until they summoned his parents

19and asked, “Is this your son, the one you say was born blind? So how is it that he can now see?”

20His parents answered, “We know he is our son, and we know he was born blind.

21But how he can now see or who opened his eyes, we do not know. Ask him. He is old enough to speak for himself.”

22His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews. For the Jews had already determined that anyone who confessed Jesus as the Christ would be put out of the synagogue.

Read all of John 9 — A man blind from birth receives sight, and the Pharisees interrogate him relentlessly. His simple testimony dismantles their theology piece by piece.