Paragraph 9:6–12
In Isaiah 42:6, 7 the Messiah is called “a light to the nations,” who will “open the eyes of the blind.” (The phrase “open the eyes of the blind” means “heal the eyes of the blind” or “enable someone to see.”) Here Jesus showed that he was the Messiah, the light of the world, by healing the blind man. People began to ask the man questions about this, and he told them honestly what happened.
9:6a
When Jesus had said this: These words introduce what Jesus did next. Introduce this in a way that is natural in your language here. For example:
After Jesus said this (God’s Word)
-or-
Jesus said this and then
-or-
Then (New Living Translation (2004))
He spit on the ground: The word spit means to force saliva (the liquid in one’s mouth) out of your mouth. Use an expression that is natural and polite.
9:6b
made some mud: These words indicate that Jesus mixed his saliva with the dust or dirt on the ground. Refer to the wet mixture, or mud, in a way that is natural in your language. For example:
paste (Revised English Bible)
-or-
clay (NET Bible Bible footnote)
9:6c
and applied it to the man’s eyes: Jesus put the mixture over the man’s eyes when they were closed. In some languages it may be necessary to make this clear. For example:
spread it over the man’s ⌊closed⌋ eyes
applied: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as applied is more literally “anointed” or “smeared/spread on” or “rubbed on.” Use a verb that refers to rubbing a small amount of mud or clay on someone’s skin.
the man’s eyes: This phrase refer to the man who was born blind.
General Comment on 9:6a–c
There are four verbs in 9:6a–c and you may want to begin a new sentence after 9:6a or 9:6b. For example:
After Jesus said this, he spit on the ground. He made some mud and smeared it on the man’s eyes. (Contemporary English Version)
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