Born Blind, Now Seeing
At this, his neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging began to ask, “Isn’t this the man who used to sit and beg?” John 9:8 · Berean Standard Bible
The people who knew the blind man as a beggar can hardly believe their eyes—is this really the same person?
This man had been a familiar figure in the neighborhood, sitting and begging day after day. Now everything about him has changed.
The man's neighbors and people who used to see him begging start asking each other if this is really him.
You can feel the buzz of confusion. People who walked past this man every day are now doing double takes, whispering to each other, trying to figure out what happened.
The healed man's neighbors and those familiar with him as a beggar begin questioning his identity, reflecting the dramatic transformation that sight has brought.
In first-century Palestine, begging was a fixed social role. The man's transformation was so complete that his identity was called into question, illustrating the radical nature of the sign.
The neighbors and community members who had previously seen the man begging now raise questions about his identity.
The miracle's aftermath begins as the local community struggles to reconcile the seeing man before them with the blind beggar they had known for years.
6When Jesus had said this, He spit on the ground, made some mud, and applied it to the man’s eyes.
7Then He told him, “Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam” (which means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came back seeing.
8At this, his neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging began to ask, “Isn’t this the man who used to sit and beg?”
9Some claimed that he was, but others said, “No, he just looks like him.”
10“How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.
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.
This page covers one. BibleKey does all 31,102 — tap any verse for its meaning, any word for its Hebrew or Greek root, and keep reading without leaving the chapter.
Not just the famous ones. BibleKey is free on iPhone and iPad.
Download on the App StoreFree on iPhone & iPad