9:25a

He answered: The pronoun He refers to the man who had been blind. Translate this so that it is clear who is speaking. For example:

“I don’t know whether he is a sinner,” the man replied. (New Living Translation (2004))

Whether He is a sinner I do not know: In this context the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Whether can also be translated as “if.” For example:

I don’t know if he is a sinner. (New Century Version)

The word Whether in this context is introducing one of two alternatives. The second alternative, that Jesus is not a sinner, is left implied in the Berean Standard Bible. In some languages it may be natural to make it explicit. For example:

Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. (New International Version)

General Comment on 9:25a

In some languages it may be natural to translate this sentence following the order of the clauses in the Greek. For example:

He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know.” (New International Version)

9:25b

There is one thing I do know: The man indicated that although he did not know who Jesus was, there was something he did know. The Greek text emphasizes the one thing that he does know. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

All I know is this (Revised English Bible)
-or-
But I definitely know one thing.
-or-
But one thing I am sure of (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

The man was of course sure of many things, but he was talking about things relevant to their question. In order to avoid wrong meanings, it may be possible to make it clearer. For example:

I certainly know this:…
-or-
All I know ⌊about this event⌋ is that….

I was blind, but now I see!: This is more literally “I was blind and now I see.” The Berean Standard Bible used the word but to indicate that what happened was surprising and unusual. In spite of the fact that he was blind, the man could now see. Here are other ways to indicate this contrast:

I used to be blind, but now I can see. (God’s Word)

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