John 9:39

THE MESSAGE

Jesus then said, "I came into the world to bring everything into the clear light of day, making all the distinctions clear, so that those who have never seen will see, and those who have made a great pretense of seeing will be exposed as blind."

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Jesus said, “I came into this world

King James Version (1611)
And Iesus said, For iudgment I am come into this world, that they which see not, might see, and that they which see, might be made blind.

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.

English Standard Version
Jesus said, "For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind."

New American Standard Bible
And Jesus said, "For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind."

New Century Version
Jesus said, "I came into this world so that the world could be judged. I came so that the blind would see and so that those who see will become blind."

Amplified Bible
Then Jesus said, "I came into this world for judgment [to separate those who believe in Me from those who reject Me—to declare judgment on those who choose to be separated from God], so that the sightless would see, and those who see would become blind."

New American Standard Bible (1995)
And Jesus said, "For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind."

Legacy Standard Bible
And Jesus said, "For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind."

Berean Standard Bible
Then Jesus declared, "For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind may see and those who see may become blind."

Contemporary English Version
Jesus told him, "I came to judge the people of this world. I am here to give sight to the blind and to make blind everyone who can see."

Complete Jewish Bible
Yeshua said, "It is to judge that I came into this world, so that those who do not see might see, and those who do see might become blind."

Darby Translation
And Jesus said, For judgment am I come into this world, that they which see not may see, and they which see may become blind.

Easy-to-Read Version
Jesus said, "I came into this world so that the world could be judged. I came so that people who are blind could see. And I came so that people who think they see would become blind."

Geneva Bible (1587)
And Iesus sayd, I am come vnto iudgement into this world, that they which see not, might see: and that they which see, might be made blinde.

George Lamsa Translation
Then Jesus said to him, I have come for the judgment of this world, so that those who cannot see may see, and those who see may become blind.

Good News Translation
Jesus said, "I came to this world to judge, so that the blind should see and those who see should become blind."

Lexham English Bible
And Jesus said,]] "For judgment I have come into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind!"

Literal Translation
And Jesus said, I came into this world for judgment, that the ones not seeing may see, and the ones seeing may become blind.

American Standard Version
And Jesus said, For judgment came I into this world, that they that see not may see; and that they that see may become blind.

Bible in Basic English
And Jesus said, I came into this world to be a judge, so that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.

Hebrew Names Version
Yeshua said, "I came into this world for judgment, that those who don't see may see; and that those who see may become blind."

International Standard Version
Then Jesus said, "I have come into this world for judgment, so that those who are blind may see, and those who see may become blind."Matthew 13:13; John 3:17; 12:47;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
Jeshu said to them, For the judgment of this world am I come, that they who see not may see, and they who see may be made blind.

Murdock Translation
And Jesus said: For the judgment of this world, have I come; that they who see not, might see; and that they who see, might become blind.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And Iesus sayde vnto hym: I am come vnto iudgement into this worlde, that they which see not, myght see: and that they which see, myght be made blynde.

English Revised Version
And Jesus said, For judgment came I into this world, that they which see not may see; and that they which see may become blind.

World English Bible
Jesus said, "I came into this world for judgment, that those who don't see may see; and that those who see may become blind."

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And he worshiped him. Jesus said, For judgment am I come into the world, that they who see not, may see, and that they who see, may become blind.

Weymouth's New Testament
"I came into this world," said Jesus, "to judge men, that those who do not see may see, and that those who do see may become blind."

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfore Jhesus seide to hym, Y cam in to this world, `in to doom, that thei that seen not, see, and thei that seen, be maad blynde.

Update Bible Version
And Jesus said, For judgment I came into this world, that those that don't see may see; and that those that see may become blind.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they who see not, may see; and that they who see, may be made blind.

New English Translation
Jesus said,] "For judgment I have come into this world, so that those who do not see may gain their sight, and the ones who see may become blind."

New King James Version
And Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind."

New Living Translation
Then Jesus told him, "I entered this world to render judgment—to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind."

New Life Bible
Jesus said, "I came into this world to say what is right from wrong. I came so those who do not see might see, and those who do see might be made blind."

New Revised Standard
Jesus said, "I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind."

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And Jesus said - For judgment, I, unto this world, came: that, they who were not seeing, might see, and, they who were seeing, might become, blind.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And Jesus said: For judgment I am come into this world: that they who see not may see; and they who see may become blind.

Revised Standard Version
Jesus said, "For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind."

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Iesus sayde: I am come vnto iudgement into this worlde: that they which se not myght se and they which se myght be made blynde.

Young's Literal Translation
And Jesus said, `For judgment I to this world did come, that those not seeing may see, and those seeing may become blind.'

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And Iesus sayde: I am come to iudgmet in to this worlde, that they which se not, might se: and that they which se, might be made blynde.

Mace New Testament (1729)
and Jesus said, to execute justice am I come into this world: that they who see not, may see; and that they who do see, may become blind.

Simplified Cowboy Version
Then Jesus put his hand on the man's shoulder and said to everyone watching, "I have come into this world to set the record straight. Those who thought they were blind will now realize they can see. And those who thought they could see everything will now find out they were the ones who were blind."

Contextual Overview

³⁹ Jesus then said, "I came into the world to bring everything into the clear light of day, making all the distinctions clear, so that those who have never seen will see, and those who have made a great pretense of seeing will be exposed as blind." ⁴⁰ Some Pharisees overheard him and said, "Does that mean you're calling us blind?" ⁴¹ Jesus said, "If you were really blind, you would be blameless, but since you claim to see everything so well, you're accountable for every fault and failure."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

For: John 3:17, John 5:22-27, John 8:15, Jeremiah 1:9, Jeremiah 1:10, Luke 2:34, Luke 13:30, 2 Corinthians 2:16

that they: John 9:25, John 9:36-38, John 8:12, John 12:46, Matthew 11:5, Luke 1:79, Luke 4:18, Luke 7:21, Acts 26:18, 2 Corinthians 4:4-6, Ephesians 5:14, 1 Peter 2:9

might be: John 3:19, John 12:40, John 12:41, Isaiah 6:9, Isaiah 29:10, Isaiah 42:18-20, Isaiah 44:18, Matthew 6:23, Matthew 13:13-15, Luke 11:34, Luke 11:35, Romans 11:7-10, 2 Thessalonians 2:10, 1 John 2:11

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 6:18 - Smite this people Job 24:13 - rebel Psalms 119:18 - Open Isaiah 29:14 - for the wisdom Isaiah 35:5 - the eyes Isaiah 42:7 - open Isaiah 42:19 - Who is blind Isaiah 50:11 - This shall Ezekiel 12:2 - which Hosea 14:9 - but Zechariah 11:17 - the sword Malachi 3:2 - who may abide Matthew 11:25 - because Matthew 23:16 - ye blind Mark 10:52 - he received Luke 14:21 - Go Luke 18:43 - he Luke 20:7 - that John 8:26 - to judge John 9:7 - and came Acts 13:11 - thou 1 Corinthians 2:8 - for 2 Corinthians 3:14 - their 1 Timothy 1:13 - because

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And Jesus said, for judgment I am come into this world,.... The Syriac version reads, "for the judgment of this world I am come"; and with which agrees the Ethiopic version, "for the judgment of the world I am come into the world"; and the Arabic and Persic versions still more expressly, "to judge this world", or "the world, am I come"; which seems contrary to what Christ elsewhere says, John 3:17. Nor is the sense of the words that Christ came by the judgment of God, or the order of divine providence, or to administer justice in the government of the world, in a providential way, or to distinguish his own people from others, though all these are true; but either to fulfil the purpose and decree of God in revealing truth to some, and hiding it from others; or in a way of judgment to inflict judicial blindness on some, whilst in a way of mercy he illuminated others. So Nonnus interprets it of κριμα θισσον, a twofold "judgment", which is different the one from the other.

That they which see not, might see; meaning, not so much corporeally as spiritually, since in the opposite clause corporeal blindness can have no place; for though Christ restored bodily sight to many, he never took it away from any person. The sense is, that Christ came as a light into the world, that those who are in the darkness of sin, ignorance, and unbelief, and who are sensible of the same, and desire spiritual illuminations, as this man did, might see what they are by nature, what need they stand in of him, and what fulness of grace, life, righteousness, and salvation, there is in him for them.

And that they which see might be made blind; that such who are wise and knowing in their own conceit, who fancy themselves to have great light and knowledge, to have the key of knowledge, and to have the true understanding of divine things, and to be guides of the blind, such as the Scribes and Pharisees, might be given up to judicial blindness and hardness of heart, so as to shut their eyes, and harden their hearts against the Gospel, and the truths of it, and which was in judgment to them: such different effects Christ and his Gospel have, as to illuminate and soften some, and blind and harden others; just as some creatures, as bats and owls, are blinded by the sun, whilst others see clearly by the light of it; and as that also has these different effects to soften the wax, and harden the clay; see Isaiah 6:9.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For judgment - The word “judgment,” here, has been by some understood in the sense of condemnation - “The effect of my coming is to condemn the world. But this meaning does not agree with those places where Jesus says that he came not to condemn the world, John 3:17; John 12:47; John 5:45. To judge is to express an opinion in a judicial manner, and also to express any sentiment about any person or thing, John 7:24; John 5:30; Luke 8:43. The meaning here may be thus expressed: “I came to declare the condition of men; to show them their duty and danger. My coming will have this effect, that some will be reformed and saved, and some more deeply condemned.”

That they ... - The Saviour does not affirm that this was the design of his coming, but that such would be the effect or result. He came to declare the truth, and the effect would be, etc. Similar instances of expression frequently occur. Compare Matthew 11:25; Matthew 10:34; “I came not to send peace, but a sword” - that is, such will be the effect of my coming.

That they which see not - Jesus took this illustration, as he commonly did, from the case before him; but it is evident that he meant it to be taken in a spiritual sense. He refers to those who are blind and ignorant by sin; whose minds have been darkened, but who are desirous of seeing.

Might see - Might discern the path of truth, of duty, and of salvation, John 10:9.

They which see - They who suppose they see; who are proud, self-confident, and despisers of the truth. Such were evidently the Pharisees.

Might be made blind - Such would be the effect of his preaching. It would exasperate them, and their pride and opposition to him would confirm them more and more in their erroneous views. This is always the effect of truth. Where it does not soften it hardens the heart; where it does not convert, it sinks into deeper blindness and condemnation.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 39. For judgment I am come — I am come to manifest and execute the just judgment of God:

1. By giving sight to the blind, and light to the Gentiles who sit in darkness.

2. By removing the true light from those who, pretending to make a proper use of it, only abuse the mercy of God.

In a word, salvation shall be taken away from the Jews, because they reject it; and the kingdom of God shall be given to the Gentiles.