John 9:29

John 9:29, in plain English

The leaders declare, 'We know God spoke to Moses, but we don't even know where this Jesus comes from.'

Why it's here

The irony is incredible. They think not knowing where Jesus comes from is their strong point, but it actually reveals their spiritual blindness.

Who's speaking

The Pharisees confidently state what they know and don't know, unaware of the irony.

Where it sits in the story

They mean this as a put-down of Jesus, but they're actually admitting their own ignorance about the very thing that matters most.

The scholarly reading

The Pharisees ground their authority in the certainty of God's revelation to Moses while dismissing Jesus as a man of unknown origin—ironic given John's emphasis on Jesus' divine origin.

Language and setting

The irony is thick: they claim to 'know' God spoke to Moses but 'do not know' Jesus' origin. In John's theology, Jesus' origin is precisely from the Father (cf. 7:27-29), making their ignorance culpable.

Voice

The Pharisees state their theological position, privileging known revelation over Jesus' unverified claims.

Significance

The Pharisees unwittingly condemn themselves: their claim not to know Jesus' origin contradicts their supposed expertise in recognizing God's work.

27He replied, “I already told you, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?”

28Then they heaped insults on him and said, “You are His disciple; we are disciples of Moses.

29We know that God spoke to Moses, but we do not know where this man is from.”

30“That is remarkable indeed!” the man said. “You do not know where He is from, and yet He opened my eyes.

31We know that God does not listen to sinners, but He does listen to the one who worships Him and does His will.

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.