Bible Strands
John 9:39
Then Jesus declared, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind may see and those who see may become blind.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus speaks to the Pharisees present with him, immediately after the formerly blind man has confessed faith and worshiped him (v. 38). He is declaring his own purpose, not yet answering their question in v. 40.
The words — κρίμα (krima) carries the sense of a verdict or dividing, not merely punishment; it is the act of separating one group from another. The double εἰς (eis) frames the clause: "for judgment" into "into this world," binding the purpose to the place.
The thread — John 3:19 states the verdict that men loved darkness rather than light; John 12:46 restates the purpose as coming so that no one who believes remains in darkness; Acts 26:18 describes the result as opening eyes and turning from darkness to light.
Why it lands — The verse makes self-certainty the condition of blindness: the one who claims to see is the one at risk of being made blind. It asks the reader to treat their own confident perception as the very thing under examination.
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
And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.
Cross-references
- John 3:19 And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil.
- John 12:46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in Me should remain in darkness.
- Acts 26:18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me.’
- John 8:12 Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”
- Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed,
- 1 John 2:11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness. He does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
- John 12:40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so that they cannot see with their eyes, and understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.”
- Luke 1:79 to shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
- Matthew 13:13 This is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.’
- John 5:22 Furthermore, the Father judges no one, but has assigned all judgment to the Son,