He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.

JOHN 9:11KJV
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John 9:11 (KJV)

What does John 9:11 mean?

John 9:11 records the man who had been blind explaining how Jesus healed him: Jesus made some clay, put it on his eyes, told him to wash in the pool of Siloam, and after doing so, the man received his sight. This verse gives the man’s straightforward account of what happened to him.

The verse is spoken by the man who was born blind, answering people who are questioning him about how he was healed. He describes the actions of Jesus and the steps he followed, emphasizing that his healing came after obeying Jesus’ instructions. The story is set in Jerusalem, and the pool of Siloam was a well-known place there.

The Greek behind John 9:11

  • Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous): This is the Greek form of "Jesus." The man refers to Jesus simply as "a man called Jesus," showing he does not yet fully understand who Jesus is.
  • πηλόν (pēlon): This word means "clay" or "mud." The detail that Jesus made clay and used it in the healing is unusual and draws attention to the physical, hands-on nature of the miracle.
  • ἀνέβλεψα (aneblepsa): This verb is translated "I received sight." It literally means "I looked up" or "I regained sight," highlighting the dramatic change from blindness to seeing.

Why John 9:11 matters

  • John 9:11 shows that the man who was healed is simply reporting what happened, without adding interpretation or opinion, which makes his testimony credible and straightforward.
  • The verse emphasizes the physical actions involved in the miracle—making clay, anointing eyes, washing—showing that Jesus’ healings often involved both words and tangible acts.
  • This verse sets up the ongoing conversation in the chapter, where the man’s understanding of Jesus will grow as he is questioned further by others.

Where else these words appear

“anointed” Greek G2025 · used in 2 verses

  • 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,

“Siloam” Greek G4611 · used in 3 verses

  • Luke 13:4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
  • John 9:7 And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam,(which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.

“clay” Greek G4081 · used in 5 verses

  • 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 9:14 And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.
  • John 9:15 Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see.

“pool” Greek G2861 · used in 5 verses

  • John 5:2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.
  • John 5:4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
  • John 5:7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.