But others replied, “These are not the words of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
Parallel translations
- WEB 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?”
- KJV Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil 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 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 4:11And the LORD said to him, “Who gave man his mouth? Or who makes the mute or the deaf, the sighted or the blind? Is it not I, the LORD?
- Isa 35:5–6Then the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
- Matt 11:5The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.
- Ps 94:9He who affixed the ear, can He not hear? He who formed the eye, can He not see?
- John 9:32–33Never before has anyone heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind.
- Ps 146:8the LORD opens the eyes of the blind, the LORD lifts those who are weighed down, the LORD loves the righteous.
- Exod 8:19“This is the finger of God,” the magicians said to Pharaoh. But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, just as the LORD had said.
- John 9:6When Jesus had said this, He spit on the ground, made some mud, and applied it to the man’s eyes.
- Matt 4:24News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering acute pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed—and He healed them.
- Prov 20:12Ears that hear and eyes that see—the LORD has made them both.
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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.