Section 9:1–12

Jesus healed a man who was blind since his birth

This section tells how Jesus healed a man who had been blind all his life. His disciples asked Jesus who had sinned to make him blind, but Jesus said that he was blind to reveal God’s works. People disagreed about whether this man who could see was the same one who was blind.

Here are other possible section headings:

Jesus cured a man who had always been blind
-or-
Jesus caused a blind man to begin to see
-or-
A man who had never seen anything began to see

Paragraph 9:1–5

Jesus and his followers saw a man who had been blind since he was born. Jesus’ followers thought this must have happened because of someone’s sin. So they asked Jesus whose sin had caused this man’s blindness. But Jesus said that no one had sinned to cause his blindness. Rather, he was born blind so that God’s power would be revealed.

9:1a

Now as Jesus was passing by: This clause introduces a new story. It indicates in a very general way that Jesus was traveling. For example:

As he went on his way (Revised English Bible)
-or-
As he went along (New International Version)
-or-
As he passed by (English Standard Version)

The disciples ask a question in 9:2 but they are not mentioned as present in 9:1. In some languages it may be natural to mention that they are present in 9:1a. For example:

As Jesus was walking along ⌊with his disciples⌋

9:1b

He saw a man blind from birth: The word He refers to Jesus. Jesus noticed a blind man. This man had been blind ever since he was born. The fact that he had been blind since birth is background information that Jesus and the disciples knew.

Here are other ways to translate this clause:

he saw a man who had never been able to see
-or-
he noticed a blind man. This man had been blind since he was born.

blind from birth: This man had been blind all his life. Consider how it is natural to speak of this in your language. For example:

blind from the time he was born
-or-
blind even as a baby
-or-
blind all his life
-or-
born blind (Good News Translation)

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