John 9:13 (KJV)

What does John 9:13 mean?

John 9:13 describes how the people who had seen the formerly blind man brought him to the Pharisees, the religious leaders of the time. This sets up the next part of the story, where the Pharisees will question the man about how he received his sight.

In the context of John chapter 9, Jesus has just healed a man who was blind from birth. The people who witnessed this miracle are now taking the man to the Pharisees, likely because the healing happened on the Sabbath and they want the religious authorities to judge what has happened. This verse marks a transition from the miracle itself to the investigation by the Pharisees.

The Greek behind John 9:13

• "brought" (ἄγουσιν, agousin): This Greek word often means to lead or bring someone, sometimes with the sense of presenting them before an authority. Here, it suggests the man is being formally taken to the Pharisees for questioning.
• "Pharisees" (Φαρισαῖοι, Pharisaiōi): The Pharisees were a group of influential Jewish religious leaders known for their strict interpretation of the law. Their involvement signals that the healing is now being treated as a significant religious issue.
• "aforetime" (ποτέ, pote): This word means "formerly" or "once." It emphasizes that the man had truly been blind in the past, highlighting the reality of the miracle.

Why John 9:13 matters

• John 9:13 shows that the healing was not just a private event but became a public and controversial matter, drawing in the religious authorities.
• The verse sets the stage for the conflict between Jesus and the Pharisees, which is a key theme in the Gospel of John.
• By specifying that the man was "aforetime" blind, the verse underlines the miraculous nature of his healing and prepares the reader for the coming investigation into how it happened.