Those who were with Him from the Pharisees heard these things and said to Him, “We are not blind too, are we?”
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?
- BSB Some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard this, and they asked Him, “Are we blind too?”
- NKJV Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, “Are we blind also?”
- NLT Some Pharisees who were standing nearby heard him and asked, “Are you saying we’re 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
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 3:17Because you say, ‘I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing;’ and don’t know that you are the wretched one, miserable, poor, blind, and naked;
- Matt 15:12–14Then the disciples came, and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended, when they heard this saying?”
- Matt 23:16–28“Woe to you, you blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obligated.’
- Rom 2:19–22and are confident that you yourself are a guide of the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,
- John 7:47–52The Pharisees therefore answered them, “You aren’t also led astray, are you?
- Luke 11:39–54The Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter, but your inward part is full of extortion and wickedness.
- John 9:34They answered him, “You were altogether born in sins, and do you teach us?” They threw him out.
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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
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