If this man were not from God, he couldn’t have done it.”
Parallel translations
- WEB If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”
- KJV If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.
- BSB If this man were not from God, He could do no such thing.”
- ESV If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”
- NKJV If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.”
- NASB If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.”
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
The man concludes that if Jesus were not from God, he could do nothing. The miracle proves Jesus' divine origin.
Overview
The healed man reaches a clear verdict: Jesus' power demonstrates that he comes from God. His simple logic, grounded in the undeniable sign, outshines the Pharisees' learned unbelief. The verse marks the climax of his testimony, affirming that Christ's works reveal his identity as the one sent by God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- John 9:16Some therefore of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, because he doesn’t keep the Sabbath.” Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” There was division among them.
- John 3:2The same came to him by night, and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him.”
- Acts 5:38–39Now I tell you, withdraw from these men, and leave them alone. For if this counsel or this work is of men, it will be overthrown.
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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 9:33 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.