9:3a

Neither this man nor his parents sinned: This clause indicates that neither the man’s sin nor his parents’ sin caused him to be born blind. Translate this in a way that provides a natural answer to the question in 9:2a–b. This clause does not mean that the man and his parents had never sinned. It just means that their sin was not the cause of the man’s blindness. To avoid people wrongly understanding this clause, it may be necessary to say:

It was not the sin of this man or his parents that caused him to be blind
-or-
His blindness has nothing to do with his sins or his parents’ sins. (Good News Translation)
-or-
No one’s sin caused his blindness!

9:3b

but: The Greek text connects the clauses in 9:3b to the previous clause with a word that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as but. This word connects a negative statement (9:3a) to a positive statement (9:3b). This kind of sentence emphasizes the positive statement. Languages have different ways to indicate this type of emphasis. Here are some ways to show the emphasis:

• Use the conjunction but like the Berean Standard Bible. For example:

Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but he was born blind so that the acts of God may be revealed through what happens to him. (NET Bible Bible)

• Use a conjunction other than but. This is a common way in English to show this type of emphasis. For example:

Neither this man’s sin nor his parents’ sin caused his blindness, rather/instead he was born blind so that God’s works might be shown in him.

• Do not use a conjunction as in the New Revised Standard Version. Here is another example:

His blindness has nothing to do with his sins or his parents’ sins. He is blind so that God’s power might be seen at work in him. (Good News Translation)

• Change the order of the clauses. For example:

Neither! He was born blind so that God’s works may be revealed in him, not because he or his parents sinned.

You should translate this emphasis in the way that is most natural in your language.

this happened so that the works of God would be displayed in him: The Greek text does not include the clause this happened, although it is implied by the context. The Berean Standard Bible has supplied it to make the meaning clear. Supply an expression that is natural in this context. For example:

This man was born blind so that God’s power could be shown in him. (New Century Version)
-or-
He is blind so that God’s power might be seen at work in him. (Good News Translation)

so that the works of God would be displayed in him: The Greek word that is translated so that introduces either the purpose or the result of the man being blind. The purpose or result was to show God’s works, that is, God’s deeds or acts, and therefore God’s power. Here are other ways to show this connection:

because of his blindness, you will see God work a miracle for him (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
to show the power of God at work in him (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

the works of God: This phrase here refers to something God does that shows his power. In the Greek it is plural, but in some languages it may be natural to use the singular. For example:

the work of God
-or-
God’s power (Good News Translation)

would be displayed: This verb phrase is passive. It means that people will be able to see God, or God’s power, at work. There are at least two ways to translate this verb phrase:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

could be shown (New Century Version)
-or-
could be seen (New Living Translation (2004))

• Use an active verb. For example:

so that others would see God’s power at work
-or-
to display/show the power of God at work

Use the verb form that is natural in your language in this context.

in him: The pronoun him refers to the blind man. God did a miracle in him by healing his eyes. In some languages it may be more natural to translate this phrase in one of these ways:

through him
-or-
in his life (New International Version)
-or-
through what happens to him (NET Bible Bible)

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