John 9:2

and His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Jesus is approached by His disciples as He passes by a man blind from birth. They direct a question to Him regarding the cause of the man's congenital blindness.

The words — ἠρώτησαν (ērōtēsan) translates literally as "asked," capturing the disciples' direct inquiry. ῥαββί (rhabbi) means "Rabbi," a title of respect used by the disciples when addressing Jesus.

The thread — This inquiry parallels the suffering-as-sin assumption in Luke 13:2 and anticipates the later accusation in John 9:34, while echoing the generational consequence theme of Exodus 20:5. It also occurs immediately after Jesus identifies the blind man in John 9:1 and precedes His correction in John 9:3.

Why it lands — It forces a reader to examine whether they attribute suffering to personal guilt or to a broader divine purpose. The question demands a shift from moral calculation to recognition of God's sovereign work.

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

καὶkaiAnd ἠρώτησανērōtēsanasked αὐτὸνautonHim οἱhoithe μαθηταὶmathētaidisciples αὐτοῦautouof Him λέγοντες·legontessaying;ῥαββί,rhabbiRabbi,τίςtiswho ἥμαρτεν,hēmartensinned,οὗτοςhoutosthis [man]ἢēor οἱhoithe γονεῖςgoneisparents αὐτοῦ,autouof him,ἵναinathat τυφλὸςtuphlosblind γεννηθῇ;¶gennēthēahe may be born?

King James Version

And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

Cross-references

Luke 13:2 To this He replied, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered this way?
John 9:34 They replied, “You were born in utter sin, and you are instructing us?” And they threw him out.
Exodus 20:5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,
Acts 28:4 When the islanders saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “Surely this man is a murderer. Although he was saved from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.”
Matthew 16:14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
Matthew 23:7 the greetings in the marketplaces, and the title of ‘Rabbi’ by which they are addressed.