John 9 · Verse 39

John 9:39

And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

John 9:39, King James Version

John 9:39 in other translations

BSB	Then Jesus declared, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind may see and those who see may become blind.”
WEB	Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment, that those who don’t see may see; and that those who see may become blind.”
ASV	And Jesus said, For judgment came I into this world, that they that see not may see; and that they that see may become blind.
YLT	And Jesus said, ‘For judgment I to this world did come, that those not seeing may see, and those seeing may become blind.'
DARBY	And Jesus said, For judgment am I come into this world, that they which see not may see, and they which see may become blind.
BBE	And Jesus said, I came into this world to be a judge, so that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.
Webster	And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they who see not, may see; and that they who see, may be made blind.

What does John 9:39 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 9:39-41

39-41. Jesus said--perhaps at the same time, but after a crowd, including some of the skeptical and scornful rulers, had, on seeing Jesus talking with the healed youth, hastened to the spot. that they which see not might see, &c.--rising to that sight of which the natural vision communicated to the youth was but the symbol. (See on Joh 9:5, and compare Lu 4:18). that they which see might be made blind--judicially incapable of apprehending and receiving the truth, to which they have wilfully shut their eyes.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 39. For judgment. The word judgment, here, has been by some understood in the sense of condemnation-- "The effect of my coming is to condemn the world." But this meaning does not agree with those places where Jesus says that he came not to condemn the world, Jn 3:17, 12:47, 5:45. To judge is to express an opinion in a judicial manner, and also to express any sentiment about any person or thing, Jn 7:24, 5:30, Lk 8:43. The meaning here may be thus expressed:

"I came to declare the condition of men; to show them
their duty and danger. My coming will have this effect,
that some will be reformed and saved, and some more
deeply condemned."

That they, &c. The Saviour does not affirm that this was the design of his coming, but that such would be the effect or result. He came to declare the truth, and the effect would be, &c. Similar instances of expression frequently occur. Comp. Mt 11:25, 10:34: "I came not to send peace, but a sword "--that is, such will be the effect of my coming.

That they which see not. Jesus took this illustration, as he commonly did, from the case before him; but it is evident that he meant it to be taken in a spiritual sense. He refers to those who are blind and ignorant by sin; whose minds have been darkened, but who are desirous of seeing.

Might see. Might discern the path of truth, of duty, and of salvation, Jn 10:9.

They which see. They who suppose they see; who are proud, self-confident, and despisers of the truth. Such were evidently the Pharisees.

Might be made blind. Such would be the effect of his preaching.

It would exasperate them, and their pride and opposition to him would confirm them more and more in their erroneous views. This is always the effect of truth. Where it does not soften it hardens the heart; where it does not convert, it sinks into deeper blindness and condemnation.

(a) "For judgment" Jn 5:22,27, 12:47 (b) "they which see not" 1Pet 2:9 (c) "they which see" Mt 13:13, Jn 3:19

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 39 For judgment I am come - I am come to manifest and execute the just judgment of God: 1. By giving sight to the blind, and light to the Gentiles who sit in darkness. 2. By removing the true light from those who, pretending to make a proper use of it, only abuse the mercy of God. In a word, salvation shall be taken away from the Jews, because they reject it; and the kingdom of God shall be given to the Gentiles.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 9:39-41

Christ came into the world to give sight to those who were spiritually blind. Also, that those who see might be made blind; that those who have a high conceit of their own wisdom, might be sealed up in ignorance. The preaching of the cross was thought to be folly by such as by carnal wisdom knew not God. Nothing fortifies men's corrupt hearts against the convictions of the word, more than the high opinion which others have of them; as if all that gained applause with men, must obtain acceptance with God. Christ silenced them. But the sin of the self-conceited and self-confident remains; they reject the gospel of grace, therefore the guilt of their sin remains unpardoned, and the power of their sin remains unbroken.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

John 9:39 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.

καὶkaiAndG2532

εἶπενeipensaidG2036

ὁho<the>G3588

Ἰησοῦς·IēsousJesus;G2424

εἰςeisForG1519

κρίμαkrimajudgmentG2917

ἐγὼegōI myselfG1473

εἰςeisintoG1519

τὸνton<the>G3588

κόσμονkosmonworldG2889

τοῦτονtoutonthisG3778

ἦλθον,ēlthoncame,G2064

ἵναinathatG2443

οἱhoithoseG3588

μὴmēnotG3361

βλέποντεςblepontesseeingG991

βλέπωσινblepōsinmay seeG991

καὶkaiandG2532

οἱhoithoseG3588

βλέποντεςblepontesseeingG991

τυφλοὶtuphloiblindG5185

γένωνται.¶genōntaimay become.G1096

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

Cross references for John 9:39

John 3:19
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Acts 26:18
To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
John 12:46
I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
John 8:12
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
1 John 2:11
But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
Luke 4:18
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
John 12:40-41
He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.
Luke 1:79
To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Romans 11:7-10
What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.
John 5:22-27
For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. …
Matthew 13:13-15
Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
2 Corinthians 4:4-6
In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

For.
3:17; 5:22-27; 8:15; Jer 1:9,10; Lu 2:34; 13:30; 2Co 2:16
that they.
25,36-38; 8:12; 12:46; Mt 11:5; Lu 1:79; 4:18; 7:21; Ac 26:18
2Co 4:4-6; Eph 5:14; 1Pe 2:9
might be.
3:19; 12:40,41; Isa 6:9; 29:10; 42:18-20; 44:18; Mt 6:23; 13:13-15
Lu 11:34,35; Ro 11:7-10; 2Th 2:10; 1Jo 2:11

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

Context

John 9:38
And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.
John 9:39
And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.
John 9:40
And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?

Read all of John 9

John 9:39 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Y dijo Jesús: Yo, para juicio he venido á este mundo: para que los que no ven, vean; y los que ven, sean cegados.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Et Jésus dit: Moi, je suis venu dans ce monde pour le jugement, afin que ceux qui ne voient pas, voient; et que ceux qui voient deviennent aveugles.
German Elberfelder 1871	Und Jesus sprach: Zum Gericht bin ich in diese Welt gekommen, auf daß die Nichtsehenden sehen und die Sehenden blind werden.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Et dixit Jesus: In judicium ego in hunc mundum veni: ut qui non vident videant, et qui vident cæci fiant.