John 9:18

The Jews still did not believe that the man had been blind and had received his sight until they summoned his parents

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The narrative reports that Jewish authorities, having heard the healed man’s testimony, refused to accept his miracle until they verified his identity by summoning his parents. This occurs immediately after the man identifies Jesus as a prophet and precedes the parents’ fearful response to their son’s healing.

The words — The Greek οὐκ ἐπίστευσαν (ouk episteusan) translates literally as "did not believe," emphasizing a deliberate refusal to accept the evidence. The particle οὖν (oun) functions as a temporal or logical connector, indicating the authorities’ continued skepticism prior to the interrogation.

The thread — This pattern of unbelief despite clear evidence echoes the warning in Hebrews 3:15 to avoid hardening hearts when hearing God’s voice. It also parallels the historical reluctance to acknowledge divine intervention seen in Isaiah 26:11, where raised hands go unseen until judgment arrives.

Why it lands — The text demands a reader acknowledge that empirical evidence alone does not guarantee faith when prejudice or institutional fear intervenes. It requires a direct confrontation with one’s own conditions for acceptance before acting on visible truth.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight.

Cross-references

Hebrews 3:15 As it has been said: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as you did in the rebellion.”
Genesis 19:14 So Lot went out and spoke to the sons-in-law who were pledged in marriage to his daughters. “Get up,” he said. “Get out of this place, for the LORD is about to destroy the city!” But his sons-in-law thought he was joking.
Isaiah 26:11 O LORD, Your hand is upraised, but they do not see it. They will see Your zeal for Your people and be put to shame. The fire set for Your enemies will consume them!
Isaiah 53:1 Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
Luke 16:31 Then Abraham said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”
John 1:19 And this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him, “Who are you?”
John 5:44 How can you believe if you accept glory from one another, yet do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?
John 9:22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews. For the Jews had already determined that anyone who confessed Jesus as the Christ would be put out of the synagogue.
John 12:37 Although Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still did not believe in Him.
Hebrews 4:11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same pattern of disobedience.