Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.
JOHN 9:24KJVWhat does John 9:24 mean?
John 9:24 describes how the religious leaders called the man who had been blind back in and told him to give glory to God, insisting that they know Jesus is a sinner. The leaders are pressuring the healed man to agree with their negative view of Jesus, rather than acknowledge what Jesus has done for him.
The scene takes place after Jesus healed a man who was born blind. The Pharisees, skeptical and upset about the miracle, summon the man again to question him. By saying "Give God the praise," they are urging him to credit God alone and deny any good in Jesus. Their statement, "we know that this man is a sinner," shows their fixed opinion about Jesus and their attempt to sway the man's testimony.
The Greek behind John 9:24
- ἁμαρτωλός (hamartōlos) — "sinner": The Greek word here refers to someone who is morally or religiously in the wrong. The Pharisees use it to discredit Jesus, showing their judgment is already made.
- δόξαν (doxan) — "praise" or "glory": This word often means giving honor or recognition. Here, the leaders use it to push the man to honor God in a way that excludes Jesus, reflecting their bias.
- οἴδαμεν (oidamen) — "we know": This verb carries a sense of certainty or established knowledge. The Pharisees are not asking for the man's opinion but declaring their own conclusion about Jesus.
Why John 9:24 matters
- John 9:24 reveals the pressure religious authorities put on witnesses to conform to their views, even when faced with clear evidence of a miracle.
- The verse highlights the tension between acknowledging God's work and the refusal to see that work in someone they have already judged, like Jesus.
- This moment sets up the man's bold response in the following verses, emphasizing personal experience over authority-driven tradition.