John 10 · Verse 21

John 10:21

Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?
John 10:21, King James Version

John 10:21 in other translations

BSBBut others replied, “These are not the words of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
WEBOthers 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?”
ASVOthers said, These are not the sayings of one possessed with a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?
YLTothers said, ‘These sayings are not those of a demoniac; is a demon able blind men's eyes to open?'
DARBYOthers said, These sayings are not those of one that is possessed by a demon. Can a demon open blind people's eyes?
BBEOthers said, These are not the words of one who has an evil spirit. Is it possible for an evil spirit to make blind people see?
WebsterOthers said, These are not the words of him that hath a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?

What does John 10:21 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 10:19-21

19-21. There was a division ... again among the Jews for these sayings--the light and the darkness revealing themselves with increasing clearness in the separation of the teachable from the obstinately prejudiced. The one saw in Him only "a devil and a madman"; the other revolted at the thought that such words could come from one possessed, and sight be given to the blind by a demoniac; showing clearly that a deeper…

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Barnes' Notes
Verse 21. Not the words, &c. His words are sober, grave, pious, full of wisdom. The preaching of Jesus always produced effect. It made bitter enemies or decided friends. So will all faithful preaching. It is not the fault of the gospel that there are divisions, but of the unbelief and mad passions of men.

(w) "open the eyes of the blind" Jn 9:6

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 21 These are not the words of him that hath a devil - If he were deranged by an unclean spirit, his words would bear a similitude to the spirit that produced them; but these are words of deep sense, soberness, and piety: besides, could a demoniac open the eyes of blind men? This is not the work of a demon. Now we have seen that this man has restored a man who was born blind. Therefore it is demonstrably evident that he is neither a madman nor a demoniac. Behold the usage which the blessed Lord received from his creatures! And behold with what meekness and gentleness he conducts himself! - not a word of impatience proceeds from his lips; nor a look of contempt or indignation is seen in his face. And what was he doing to merit all this? Why, he was instructing the ignorant, and telling the wretched that he was just going to die to save their souls! Amazing love of God, and ingratitude and obduracy of men! Let not the disciple suppose that, in this respect, he shall be above his master. When a minister of Christ has done his utmost to do good to his fellow creatures, let him not be surprised if he meet with nothing from many but reproaches and persecutions for his pains. The grand point is to take Jesus for an example of suffering, and to be armed with the same mind. It appears that the words spoken by the friendly Jews prevailed; and that the others were obliged to abandon the field.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 10:19-21

Satan ruins many, by putting them out of conceit with the word and ordinances. Men would not be laughed out of their necessary food, yet suffer themselves thus to be laughed out of what is far more necessary. If our zeal and earnestness in the cause of Christ, especially in the blessed work of bringing his sheep into his fold, bring upon us evil names, let us not heed it, but remember our Master was thus reproached…

Read the full comment on John 10:19-21 →

John 10:21 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἄλλοιalloiOthersG243
ἔλεγον·elegonwere saying;G3004
ταῦταtautaTheseG3778
τὰta<the>G3588
ῥήματαrhēmatadeclarationsG4487
οὐκouknotG3756
ἔστινestinare [those]G1510
δαιμονιζομένου·daimonizomenouof one demonised;G1139
μὴmēSurely notG3361
δαιμόνιονdaimoniona demonG1140
δύναταιdunataiis ableG1410
τυφλῶνtuphlōnof [the] blindG5185
ὀφθαλμοὺςophthalmous[their] eyesG3788
ἀνοῖξαι;¶anoixaito open?G455

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for John 10:21

  • Exodus 4:11

    And the Lord said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord?

  • Isaiah 35:5-6

    Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.

  • Psalms 94:9

    He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?

  • Matthew 11:5

    The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

  • Exodus 8:19

    Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said.

  • Proverbs 20:12

    The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made even both of them.

  • John 9:6

    When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,

  • John 9:32-33

    Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.

  • Psalms 146:8

    The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind: the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down: the Lord loveth the righteous:

  • Matthew 4:24

    And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Can.
9:6,32; Ex 4:11; 8:19; Ps 94:9; 146:8; Pr 20:12; Isa 35:5,6; Mt 11:5

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • John 10:20

    And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?

  • John 10:21

    Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?

  • John 10:22

    And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.

Read all of John 10

John 10:21 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Decían otros: Estas palabras no son de endemoniado: ¿puede el demonio abrir los ojos de los ciegos?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		D’autres disaient: Ces paroles ne sont pas d’un démoniaque; un démon peut-il ouvrir les yeux des aveugles?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Andere sagten: Diese Reden sind nicht die eines Besessenen; kann etwa ein Dämon der Blinden Augen auftun?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Alii dicebant: Hæc verba non sunt dæmonium habentis: numquid dæmonium potest cæcorum oculos aperire?