Others said, “These are not the sayings of one possessed by a demon. It isn’t possible for a demon to open the eyes of the blind, is it?”
Parallel translations
- KJV Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?
- BSB But others replied, “These are not the words of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
- ESV Others said, “These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
- NKJV Others said, “These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
- NASB Others were saying, “These are not the words of one who is demon-possessed. A demon cannot open the eyes of those who are blind, can it?”
- NLT Others said, “This doesn’t sound like a man possessed by a demon! Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Others object that a demon could not speak such words or open the eyes of the blind. His miracles testify against the accusation of madness.
Overview
This group reasons from the healing of the man born blind that Jesus' power is not demonic. The undeniable miracle stands as evidence of His genuine authority. Even amid hostility, some are moved to defend Him by what He has done.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Exod 4:11Yahweh said to him, “Who made man’s mouth? Or who makes one mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Isn’t it I, Yahweh?
- Isa 35:5–6Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped.
- Matt 11:5the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.
- Ps 94:9He who implanted the ear, won’t he hear? He who formed the eye, won’t he see?
- John 9:32–33Since the world began it has never been heard of that anyone opened the eyes of someone born blind.
- Ps 146:8Yahweh opens the eyes of the blind. Yahweh raises up those who are bowed down. Yahweh loves the righteous.
- Exod 8:19Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is God’s finger:” and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he didn’t listen to them; as Yahweh had spoken.
- John 9:6When he had said this, he spat on the ground, made mud with the saliva, anointed the blind man’s eyes with the mud,
- Matt 4:24The report about him went out into all Syria. They brought to him all who were sick, afflicted with various diseases and torments, possessed with demons, epileptics, and paralytics; and he healed them.
- Prov 20:12The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Yahweh has made even both of them.
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Christ at the center
John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.
How John 10:21 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.