Bible Strands
John 9:34
They replied, “You were born in utter sin, and you are instructing us?” And they threw him out.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Jewish authorities respond to the healed blind man after he defends Jesus, declaring they will cast him out of the synagogue. This occurs immediately after the man asserts Jesus must be from God because of his miraculous healing.
The words — ἐν ἁμαρτίαις (en hamartiais) translates literally as "in sins," while ἐγεννήθης (egennēthēs) means "were born." The phrasing asserts the man's innate moral condition rather than a specific past action.
The thread — The exclusion motif echoes Isaiah 66:5, where those who tremble at God's word are hated and cast out by their brothers. The debate over inherited sinfulness also mirrors the disciples' initial question in John 9:2 about who sinned to cause the blindness.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that spiritual authority cannot be dismissed by social or religious rejection. It requires the reader to separate divine truth from institutional approval when facing opposition.
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
They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.
Cross-references
- John 9:2 and His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
- 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.
- Isaiah 66:5 You who tremble at His word, hear the word of the LORD: “Your brothers who hate you and exclude you because of My name have said, ‘Let the LORD be glorified that we may see your joy!’ But they will be put to shame.”
- Genesis 19:9 “Get out of the way!” they replied. And they declared, “This one came here as a foreigner, and he is already acting like a judge! Now we will treat you worse than them.” And they pressed in on Lot and moved in to break down the door.
- Job 25:4 How then can a man be just before God? How can one born of woman be pure?
- Luke 18:17 Truly I tell you, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
- Exodus 2:14 But the man replied, “Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you planning to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and thought, “This thing I have done has surely become known.”
- 2 Chronicles 25:16 While he was still speaking, the king asked, “Have we made you the counselor to the king? Stop! Why be struck down?” So the prophet stopped, but he said, “I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not heeded my advice.”
- Job 14:4 Who can bring out clean from unclean? No one!
- Job 15:14 What is man, that he should be pure, or one born of woman, that he should be righteous?