There is a notable contrast between the attitude of this man and that of the blind man in Chapter 9. The man here will not even assume responsibility for his own deeds, whereas the man who was healed of his blindness is bold enough to stand up against his parents and the Jewish authorities.

He answered is literally “but he answered them.” Here again the indirect object is redundant for the English reader (see verse 7).

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .