John 9:31
Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.
John 9:31 in other translations
| BSB | We know that God does not listen to sinners, but He does listen to the one who worships Him and does His will. |
|---|---|
| WEB | We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, he listens to him. |
| ASV | We know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and do his will, him he heareth. |
| YLT | and we have known that God doth not hear sinners, but, if any one may be a worshipper of God, and may do His will, him He doth hear; |
| DARBY | But we know that God does not hear sinners; but if any one be God-fearing and do his will, him he hears. |
| BBE | We have knowledge that God does not give ear to sinners, but if any man is a worshipper of God and does his pleasure, to him God's ears are open. |
| Webster | Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man is a worshiper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. |
What does John 9:31 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 9:24-34
24-34. Give God the praise; we know that this man is a sinner--not wishing him to own, even to the praise of God, that a miracle had been wrought upon him, but to show more regard to the honor of God than ascribe any such act to one who was a sinner.
Barnes' Notes
God heareth not. When a miracle was performed it was customary to invoke the aid of God. Jesus often did this himself, and it was by his power only that prophets and apostles could perform miracles. The word "heareth" in this place is to be understood as referring to such cases. God will not "hear"--that is, answer.
Sinners. Impostors. False prophets and pretenders to divine revelation. See Jn 9:24. The meaning of this verse is, therefore, "It is well understood that God will not give miraculous aid to impostors and false prophets," We may remark here,
1st. That the passage has no reference to the prayers which sinners make for salvation.
2nd. If it had it would not be of course true. It was the mere opinion of this man, in accordance with the common sentiment of the Jews, and there is no evidence that he was inspired.
3rd. The only prayers which God will not hear are those which are offered in mockery, or when the man loves his sins and is un- willing to give them up. Such prayers God will not hear, Ps 66:18: "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me;" Isa 1:14,15, Job 27:9, Jer 11:11, Eze 8:18, Mic 3:4, Zech 8:13.
A worshipper. A sincere worshipper; one who fears, loves, and adores him.
Doeth his will. Obeys his commandments. This is infallibly true. The Scripture abounds with promises to such that God will hear their prayer. See Ps 34:15, Mt 7:7,8.
(t) "God heareth not sinners" Job 27:9, Ps 66:18, Prov 28:9, Isa 1:15 Jer 11:11, Eze 8:18, Mic 3:4, Zech 7:13
(u) "but if any man" Ps 34:15, Prov 15:29
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 9:24-34
As Christ's mercies are most valued by those who have felt the want of them, that have been blind, and now see; so the most powerful and lasting affections to Christ, arise from actual knowledge of him. In the work of grace in the soul, though we cannot tell when, and how, and by what steps the blessed change was wrought, yet we may take the comfort, if we can say, through grace, Whereas I was blind, now I see. I…
John 9:31 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.
Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for John 9:31
- Proverbs 15:29
The Lord is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.
- Isaiah 1:15
And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.
- Proverbs 28:9
He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.
- Micah 3:4
Then shall they cry unto the Lord, but he will not hear them: he will even hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings.
- Proverbs 1:28-29
Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord:
- Psalms 145:19
He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.
- Zechariah 7:13
Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the Lord of hosts:
- Psalms 34:15-16
The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
- Psalms 66:18-20
If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.
- Proverbs 21:13
Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.
- 1 John 3:21-22
Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
- Ezekiel 8:18
Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them.
Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Job 27:8,9; 35:12; 42:8; Ps 18:41; 34:15; 66:18-20; Pr 1:28,29; 15:29
Pr 21:13; 28:9; Isa 1:15; 58:9; Jer 11:11; 14:12; Eze 8:18; Mic 3:4
Zec 7:13
if any.
Ps 34:15; Pr 15:29
and doeth.
4:34; 7:17; 15:16; Ps 40:8; 143:10; Heb 10:7; 1Jo 3:21,22
him.
11:41,42; Ge 18:23-33; 19:29; 20:7; 1Ki 17:20-22; 18:36-38
2Ch 32:20,21; Ps 99:6; 106:23; Jer 15:1; Jas 5:15-18
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain
Context
- John 9:30
The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.
- John 9:31
Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.
- John 9:32
Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.
John 9:31 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Y sabemos que Dios no oye á los pecadores: mas si alguno es temeroso de Dios, y hace su voluntad, á éste oye. |
|---|---|
| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Or, nous savons que Dieu n’écoute pas les pécheurs; mais si quelqu’un est pieux envers Dieu et fait sa volonté, celui-là il l’écoute. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Wir wissen aber,daß Gott Sünder nicht hört, sondern wenn jemand gottesfürchtig ist und seinen Willen tut, den hört er. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | scimus autem quia peccatores Deus non audit: sed si quis Dei cultor est, et voluntatem ejus facit, hunc exaudit. |