John 9:31

We know that God does not listen to sinners, but He does listen to the one who worships Him and does His will.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The man born blind addresses the Pharisees during their second interrogation, immediately after declaring that Jesus opened his eyes despite their ignorance of His origin.

The words — οἴδαμεν (oidamen) means "we know," marking the speaker’s firm assertion, while ἀκούει (akouei) translates as "does listen," specifying God’s conditional attention to prayer.

The thread — The verse’s claim that God hears the obedient but ignores the wicked parallels Proverbs 15:29, which contrasts the LORD’s distance from the wicked with His hearing of the righteous, and aligns with Isaiah 1:15 and Proverbs 28:9 regarding divine rejection of prayers from those who persist in rebellion or disregard the law.

Why it lands — The text states that God’s responsiveness is tied to worship and obedience rather than mere ritual, requiring the reader to verify whether their own conduct matches the will they claim to pursue.

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

Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.

Cross-references

Proverbs 15:29 The LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.
Isaiah 1:15 When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you multiply your prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood.
Proverbs 28:9 Whoever turns his ear away from hearing the law, even his prayer is detestable.
Micah 3:4 Then they will cry out to the LORD, but He will not answer them. At that time He will hide His face from them because of the evil they have done.
Psalms 145:19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them.
Proverbs 1:28 Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will earnestly seek me, but will not find me.
Zechariah 7:13 And just as I had called and they would not listen, so when they called I would not listen, says the LORD of Hosts.
Psalms 34:15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their cry.
Psalms 66:18 If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
Proverbs 21:13 Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too shall cry out and receive no answer.