Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes?

JOHN 9:26KJV
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John 9:26 (KJV)

What does John 9:26 mean?

John 9:26 shows the Pharisees questioning the man who had been blind, asking him again what Jesus did to him and how his eyes were opened. The verse highlights their persistent disbelief and their focus on the details of the healing rather than accepting the miracle itself.

In this scene, the religious leaders are speaking to the man who was healed by Jesus. They have already questioned him before, but they repeat their questions, pressing for an explanation of exactly what happened. Their repeated questioning suggests skepticism or frustration, as they seem unwilling to accept the man's simple testimony about his healing.

The Greek behind John 9:26

  • πάλιν (palin, "again"): This word shows that the Pharisees are repeating their questions, emphasizing their insistence and perhaps their unwillingness to accept the previous answers.
  • πῶς (pōs, "how"): The Greek word for "how" points to their focus on the method or process of the healing, rather than the significance of the miracle itself. They are more interested in the mechanics than the meaning.

Why John 9:26 matters

  • John 9:26 reveals the Pharisees' resistance to believing in Jesus, even when faced with clear evidence of a miracle.
  • The verse highlights a common theme in John’s Gospel: people can witness something extraordinary but still refuse to see its true meaning.
  • This repeated questioning sets up the contrast between the healed man's growing faith and the religious leaders' stubborn skepticism, which becomes more pronounced as the chapter continues.

Where else these words appear

“he” Greek G455 · used in 75 verses

  • Matthew 2:11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
  • John 10:3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
  • Revelation 3:7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

“eyes” Greek G3788 · used in 86 verses

  • Matthew 5:29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
  • Luke 6:42 Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.
  • 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.

“how” Greek G4459 · used in 100 verses

  • Matthew 6:28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
  • Luke 11:18 If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub.
  • Acts 9:27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

“again” Greek G3825 · used in 138 verses

  • Matthew 4:7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
  • John 4:13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
  • Acts 11:10 And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven.