John 9 · Verse 3

John 9:3

Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
John 9:3, King James Version

John 9:3 in other translations

BSBJesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God would be displayed in him.
WEBJesus answered, “This man didn’t sin, nor did his parents, but that the works of God might be revealed in him.
ASVJesus answered, Neither did this man sin, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
YLTJesus answered, ‘Neither did this one sin nor his parents, but that the works of God may be manifested in him;
DARBYJesus answered, Neither has this man sinned nor his parents, but that the works of God should be manifested in him.
BBEJesus said in answer, It was not because of his sin, or because of his father's or mother's; it was so that the works of God might be seen openly in him.
WebsterJesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

What does John 9:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 9:1-5

Joh 9:1-41. The Opening of the Eyes of One Born Blind, and What Followed on It. 1-5. as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from birth--and who "sat begging" (Joh 9:8).

Read the full comment on John 9:1-5 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 3. Neither hath this man sinned, &c. That is, his blindness is not the effect of his sin, or that of his parents. Jesus did not, evidently, mean to affirm that he or his parents were without any sin, but that this blindness was not the effect of sin. This answer is to be interpreted by the nature of the question submitted to him. The sense is, "his blindness is not to be traced to any fault of his or of his parents."

But that the works of God. This thing has happened that it might appear how great and wonderful are the works of God. By the works of God, here, is evidently intended the miraculous power which God would put forth to heal the man, or rather, perhaps, the whole that happened to him in the course of divine providence--first his blindness, as an act of his providence, and then his healing him, as an act of mercy and power. It has all happened, not by the fault of his parents or of himself, but by the wise arrangement of God, that it might be seen in what way calamities come, and in what way God meets and relieves them. And from this we may learn,

1st. To pity and not to despise and blame those who are afflicted with any natural deformity or calamity. While the Jews regarded it as the effect of sin, they looked upon it without compassion. Jesus tells us that it is not the fault of man, but proceeds from the wise arrangement of God.

2nd. All suffering in the world is not the effect of sin. In this case it is expressly so declared; and there may be many modes of suffering that cannot be traced to any particular transgression. We should be cautious, therefore, in affirming that there can be no calamity in the universe but by transgression.

3rd. We see the wise and wonderful arrangement of Divine Providence. It is a part of his great plan to adapt his mercies to the woes of men; and often calamity, want, poverty, and sickness are permitted, that he may show the provisions of his mercy, that he may teach us to prize his blessings, and that deep-felt gratitude for deliverance may bind us to him.

4th. Those who are afflicted with blindness, deafness, or any deformity, should be submissive to God. It is his appointment, and is right and best. God does no wrong, and the universe will, when all his works are seen, feel and know that he is just.

(a) "that the works of God" Jn 11:4

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 3 Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents - That is, the blindness of this person is not occasioned by any sin of his own, nor of his parents, but has happened in the ordinary course of Divine providence, and shall now become the instrument of salvation to his soul, edification to others, and glory to God. Many of the Jews thought that marks on the body were proofs of sin in the soul. From a like persuasion, probably arose that proverb among our northern neighbors-Mark him whom God marks.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 9:1-7

Christ cured many who were blind by disease or accident; here he cured one born blind. Thus he showed his power to help in the most desperate cases, and the work of his grace upon the souls of sinners, which gives sight to those blind by nature. This poor man could not see Christ, but Christ saw him. And if we know or apprehend anything of Christ, it is because we were first known of him. Christ says of uncommon…

Read the full comment on John 9:1-7 →

John 9:3 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.

ἈπεκρίθηApekrithēAnsweredG611
Ἰησοῦς·IēsousJesus;G2424
οὔτεouteNeitherG3777
οὗτοςhoutosthis [man]G3778
ἥμαρτενhēmartensinnedG264
οὔτεoutenor [sinned]G3777
οἱhoitheG3588
γονεῖςgoneisparentsG1118
αὐτοῦ,autouof him,G846
ἀλλ᾽all᾽butG235
ἵναina[it was] thatG2443
φανερωθῇphanerōthēamay be displayedG5319
τὰtatheG3588
ἔργαergaworksG2041
τοῦtou<the>G3588
θεοῦtheouof GodG2316
ἐνeninG1722
αὐτῷ.autōhim.G846

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

Cross references for John 9:3

  • John 11:4

    When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.

  • John 11:40

    Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

  • Ecclesiastes 9:1-2

    For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them. All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.

  • Job 2:3-6

    And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause. And Satan answered the Lord, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.

  • Job 42:7

    And it was so, that after the Lord had spoken these words unto Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.

  • 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.

  • Acts 4:21

    So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.

  • Acts 28:4

    And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.

  • Job 1:8-12

    And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. …

  • John 14:11-13

    Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

  • Job 22:5-30

    Is not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite? For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing. Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry. But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; and the honourable man dwelt in it. …

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Neither.
Job 1:8-12; 2:3-6; 21:27; 22:5-30; 32:3; 42:7; Ec 9:1,2; Lu 13:2-5
Ac 28:4
but.
11:4,40; 14:11-13; Mt 11:5; Ac 4:21

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

Context

  • John 9:2

    And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

  • John 9:3

    Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

  • John 9:4

    I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

Read all of John 9

John 9:3 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Respondió Jesús: Ni éste pecó, ni sus padres: mas para que las obras de Dios se manifiesten en él.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Jésus répondit: Ni celui-ci n’a péché, ni ses parents; mais c’est afin que les œuvres de Dieu soient manifestées en lui.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Jesus antwortete: Weder dieser hat gesündigt, noch seine Eltern, sondern auf daß die Werke Gottes an ihm geoffenbart würden.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Respondit Jesus: Neque hic peccavit, neque parentes ejus: sed ut manifestentur opera Dei in illo.