John 9:40
New International Version
Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?”

New Living Translation
Some Pharisees who were standing nearby heard him and asked, “Are you saying we’re blind?”

English Standard Version
Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?”

Berean Standard Bible
Some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard this, and they asked Him, “Are we blind too?”

Berean Literal Bible
Some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things, and they said to Him, "Are we also blind?"

King James Bible
And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?

New King James Version
Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, “Are we blind also?”

New American Standard Bible
Those who were with Him from the Pharisees heard these things and said to Him, “We are not blind too, are we?”

NASB 1995
Those of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and said to Him, “We are not blind too, are we?”

NASB 1977
Those of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things, and said to Him, “We are not blind too, are we?”

Legacy Standard Bible
Some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and said to Him, “Are we blind too?”

Amplified Bible
Some Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and said to Him, “Are we also blind?”

Christian Standard Bible
Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things and asked him, “We aren’t blind too, are we? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and asked Him, “We aren’t blind too, are we?”

American Standard Version
Those of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things, and said unto him, Are we also blind?

Contemporary English Version
When the Pharisees heard Jesus say this, they asked, "Are we blind?"

English Revised Version
Those of the Pharisees which were with him heard these things, and said unto him, Are we also blind?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Some Pharisees who were with Jesus heard this. So they asked him, "Do you think we're blind?"

Good News Translation
Some Pharisees who were there with him heard him say this and asked him, "Surely you don't mean that we are blind, too?"

International Standard Version
Some of the Pharisees who were near him overheard this and asked him, "We aren't blind, too, are we?"

Majority Standard Bible
Some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard this, and they asked Him, “Are we blind too?”

NET Bible
Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this and asked him, "We are not blind too, are we?"

New Heart English Bible
Those of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things, and said to him, "Are we also blind?"

Webster's Bible Translation
And some of the Pharisees who were with him heard these words, and said to him, Are we blind also?

Weymouth New Testament
These words were heard by those of the Pharisees who were present, and they asked Him, "Are *we* also blind?"

World English Bible
Those of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And those of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things, and they said to Him, “Are we also blind?”

Berean Literal Bible
Some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things, and they said to Him, "Are we also blind?"

Young's Literal Translation
And those of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things, and they said to him, 'Are we also blind?'

Smith's Literal Translation
And they being with him of the Pharisees heard these things, and said to him,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And some of the Pharisees, who were with him, heard: and they said unto him: Are we also blind?

Catholic Public Domain Version
And certain Pharisees, who were with him, heard this, and they said to him, “Are we also blind?”

New American Bible
Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not also blind, are we?”

New Revised Standard Version
Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not blind, are we?”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
When some of the Pharisees who were with him heard these words, they said to him, Why, are we also blind?

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And those of the Pharisees who had been with him heard these things and they said to him, “Are we also blind?”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And some of the Pharisees who were with him, heard these things, and said to him: Are we also blind?

Godbey New Testament
And those of the Pharisees being with Him heard, and said to Him, Whether are we also blind?

Haweis New Testament
And some of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things, and said to him, Are we blind also?

Mace New Testament
some of the Pharisees who were then present hearing this, said to him, are we likewise blind?

Weymouth New Testament
These words were heard by those of the Pharisees who were present, and they asked Him, "Are *we* also blind?"

Worrell New Testament
Those of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things, and said to Him, "Are we also blind?"

Worsley New Testament
And some of the pharisees who were present, heard these words, and said to Him, Are we blind also?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Spiritual Blindness
39Then Jesus declared, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind may see and those who see may become blind.” 40Some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard this, and they asked Him, “Are we blind too?” 41“If you were blind,” Jesus replied, “you would not be guilty of sin. But since you claim you can see, your guilt remains.”…

Cross References
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.”

John 3:19-21
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. / Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. / But whoever practices the truth comes into the Light, so that it may be seen clearly that what he has done has been accomplished in God.”

Matthew 13:13-15
This is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.’ / In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. / For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’

Isaiah 6:9-10
And He replied: “Go and tell this people, ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ / Make the hearts of this people calloused; deafen their ears and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”

Romans 11:7-10
What then? What Israel was seeking, it failed to obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened, / as it is written: “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see, and ears that could not hear, to this very day.” / And David says: “May their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution to them. ...

2 Corinthians 4:3-4
And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. / The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Matthew 15:14
Disregard them! They are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”

John 12:37-41
Although Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still did not believe in Him. / This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: “Lord, who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” / For this reason they were unable to believe. For again, Isaiah says: ...

Isaiah 42:18-20
Listen, you deaf ones; look, you blind ones, that you may see! / Who is blind but My servant, or deaf like the messenger I am sending? Who is blind like My covenant partner, or blind like the servant of the LORD? / Though seeing many things, you do not keep watch. Though your ears are open, you do not hear.”

Jeremiah 5:21
“Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear.

Ezekiel 12:2
“Son of man, you are living in a rebellious house. They have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious house.

Mark 4:11-12
He replied, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those on the outside everything is expressed in parables, / so that, ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven.’”

Luke 8:10
He replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, ‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’

Acts 28:25-27
They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit was right when He spoke to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet: / ‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.” / For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’

Romans 1:21-22
For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. / Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools,


Treasury of Scripture

And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said to him, Are we blind also?

Are.

John 9:34
They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.

John 7:47-52
Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived? …

Matthew 15:12-14
Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? …

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Blind Ears Heard Pharisees Present Words
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Blind Ears Heard Pharisees Present Words
John 9
1. The man born blind is restored to sight.
8. He is brought to the Pharisees.
13. They are offended at it;
35. but he is received of Jesus, and confesses him.
39. Who they are whom Jesus enlightens.














Some of the Pharisees who were with Him
The Pharisees were a prominent religious group in Judaism during the time of Jesus. Known for their strict adherence to the Law and traditions, they often found themselves in opposition to Jesus' teachings. The phrase "who were with Him" suggests that these Pharisees were in close proximity to Jesus, possibly following Him to scrutinize His actions and words. Historically, the Pharisees were influential in the synagogues and held significant sway over the Jewish people. Their presence in this narrative highlights the tension between Jesus and the religious authorities of His day.

heard this
The act of hearing in the biblical context often implies more than just auditory reception; it suggests understanding and processing the information. The Greek word for "heard" is "ἀκούω" (akouo), which can also mean to comprehend or to heed. The Pharisees' hearing of Jesus' words indicates that they were attentive to His teachings, though their understanding was often clouded by their preconceived notions and spiritual blindness.

and they asked Him
The Pharisees' question to Jesus demonstrates their engagement with His teachings, albeit often with skepticism or hostility. The act of asking in the biblical narrative is significant, as it opens the door for dialogue and revelation. In this context, their question is not just a request for information but a challenge to Jesus' authority and insight. The Greek word "ἐρωτάω" (erotao) used here can imply a questioning that seeks to test or trap, reflecting the Pharisees' contentious relationship with Jesus.

'Are we blind too?'
This question is laden with irony and self-incrimination. The Pharisees, who prided themselves on their spiritual insight and knowledge of the Law, are confronted with the possibility of their own blindness. The Greek word for "blind" is "τυφλός" (tuphlos), which can refer to both physical and spiritual blindness. In the broader scriptural context, blindness often symbolizes a lack of understanding or insight into God's truth. The Pharisees' question reveals their inability to recognize their own spiritual condition, despite their physical sight and religious knowledge. This moment serves as a powerful reminder of the need for humility and openness to God's revelation, as true sight comes from acknowledging one's own limitations and seeking divine wisdom.

(40) And some of the Pharisees which were with him.--The words in the preceding verse are not addressed specially to any one. The Pharisees would be still watching our Lord, and some had probably followed the beggar, expecting that our Lord would seek him, and hoping that the interview might furnish some ground for a fresh charge against one or both of them. It is the presence of mental conditions such as theirs and such as his that has brought again to our Lord's thoughts the judicial result of His manifestation, and this rises to His lips as an utterance of the solemn thought that fills His mind. The Pharisees hear this exclamation, and apply to themselves that which their own state suggested; but which was expressed as, and is, a wide law, holding true for all mankind.

Are we blind also?--They misunderstand His words, for He has asserted of the blind ("they which see not") that the result of His coming is "that they might see." But yet they do not understand the words in a physical sense, in which they could have had no application to themselves. Care is required to catch the force of the term in these three verses, and it may be well to distinguish again the meanings attached to the word blind. It is used (1) for physical blindness. This has been its meaning throughout the chapter. It suggests the imagery in these verses, but is not itself present in the thought which is of spiritual, blindness only. (2) For conscious spiritual blindness ("they which see not," "they which think they see not"), which is really the first step to spiritual sight. (3) For unconscious spiritual blindness ("they which see," "they which think they see"), which is really the first step to a total loss of spiritual perception.

Verse 40. - Those of the Pharisees who were with him. This expression does not simply mean who were near him at that moment, but who were to a certain extent siding with him (John 8:30, 31), while criticizing and rejecting his message; who were incensed with him for promising to them "freedom" and sonship, and whose faith in his claims was of the most superficial and vacillating kind. These wavering, self-satisfied Pharisees heard these things, and they said to him, Are we blind also? Many commentators, who call attention to the contrast between the τυφλοί and μή βλέποντες of ver. 39, think that the speakers who made use of this word did not draw the distinction, and meant nothing more than their use μὴ βλέποντες by of τυφλοί. But this is unsatisfactory; whatever it 'means in the one clause, it ought to mean in the other. There is a difference between "becoming blind," and being "the blind." They ask whether they are blind also, i.e. as blind as those who have, according to Christ's own dictum, become so. They seem to admit that some who have the power of sight have been blinded by the very light that shines upon them, but they are in doubt with reference to their own case.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
[Some] of
ἐκ (ek)
Preposition
Strong's 1537: From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.

the
τῶν (tōn)
Article - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Pharisees
Φαρισαίων (Pharisaiōn)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 5330: Of Hebrew origin; a separatist, i.e. Exclusively religious; a Pharisean, i.e. Jewish sectary.

who
οἱ (hoi)
Article - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

were
ὄντες (ontes)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

with
μετ’ (met’)
Preposition
Strong's 3326: (a) gen: with, in company with, (b) acc: (1) behind, beyond, after, of place, (2) after, of time, with nouns, neut. of adjectives.

Him
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

heard
ἤκουσαν (Ēkousan)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 191: To hear, listen, comprehend by hearing; pass: is heard, reported. A primary verb; to hear.

this,
ταῦτα (tauta)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

they asked
εἶπον (eipon)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

Him,
αὐτῷ (autō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

“Are
ἐσμεν (esmen)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

we
ἡμεῖς (hēmeis)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

blind
τυφλοί (typhloi)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 5185: Blind, physically or mentally. From, tuphoo; opaque, i.e. blind.

too?”
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.


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