Some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard this, and they asked Him, “Are we blind too?”
Parallel translations
- WEB Those of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?”
- KJV And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?
- ESV Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?”
- NKJV Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, “Are we blind also?”
- NASB Those who were with Him from the Pharisees heard these things and said to Him, “We are not blind too, are we?”
- NLT Some Pharisees who were standing nearby heard him and asked, “Are you saying we’re 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
Some Pharisees, stung by Jesus' words, ask whether He means they too are blind. Their question reveals offended pride rather than genuine inquiry.
Overview
The Pharisees prided themselves as guides of the blind and teachers of Israel, so the charge of blindness offended them. Their defensive question shows they sense the rebuke but resist it. Their self-confidence sets up Jesus' sobering verdict in the next verse.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Rev 3:17You say, ‘I am rich; I have grown wealthy and need nothing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.
- Matt 15:12–14Then the disciples came to Him and said, “Are You aware that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?”
- Matt 23:16–28Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’
- Rom 2:19–22if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those in darkness,
- John 7:47–52“Have you also been deceived?” replied the Pharisees.
- Luke 11:39–54“Now then,” said the Lord, “you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.
- John 9:34They replied, “You were born in utter sin, and you are instructing us?” And they threw him out.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 9:40 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.