the Jews (the authorities in Jerusalem)

In the English Good News Bible (2nd edition of 1992), this occurrence of the Greek hoi Ioudaioi, traditionally “the Jews” in English, is translated with “the authorities (in Jerusalem)” in contexts that imply that the referred groups are hostile to Jesus For an explanation of the differentiated translation in English as well as translation choices in a number of languages, see the Jews.

complete verse (John 9:18)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 9:18:

  • Uma: “But the Yahudi rulers, they did not believe that he was really the blind man earlier, and that he could suddenly see. That is why they called his mother and father in order to meet with them,” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “But those leaders of the Yahudi did not believe that this person had really been blind and could see now, therefore they called his mother-father and questioned them.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And then the leaders of the Jews, they could not believe that he was a cured blind person. Therefore they called his mother and father,” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “But the rulers of the Jews refused/didn’t-want to believe that that man who could-see now was-born already-blind if they didn’t first ask his parents. Therefore they had-them -called” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Those leaders of the Judio didn’t believe that he had been blind in the past and then had been made well, that’s why they sent for his parents.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “But the Jews didn’t believe that the man speaking had been blind. They believed only when they had summoned the father and mother of the man who had been blind.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Jesus Cures the Man Born Blind

Following is a 1973 painting of the JESUS MAFA project, a response to New Testament readings from the Lectionary by a Christian community in Cameroon, Africa. Each of the readings was selected and adapted to dramatic interpretation by the community members. Photographs of their interpretations were made, and these were then transcribed to paintings:

In this simply beautiful painting of one of Jesus’ healings, we see a caring Jesus bend over a blind man holding his walking stick. From the story in John’s gospel, we know that the religious leaders struggle with accepting Jesus’ activity and Jesus responds saying, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.” The Pharisees do not look at the blind man as a person, but as a symbol and Jesus points out their error. We are reminded that we should see the humanity in all people, refusing to use them for our own ends. We must look past our own issues and see the individuals.

From Art in the Christian Tradition , a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. Image retrieved March 23, 2026. Original source: librairie-emmanuel.fr.

Translation commentary on John 9:18

The Jewish authorities is literally “the Jews”; see Appendix II.

Were not willing to believe is literally “did not believe” (Revised Standard Version), but several translations see this meaning in John’s words (Moffatt, Jerusalem Bible, New English Bible. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch “would not believe”; New American Bible “refused to believe”).

A literal translation of were not willing to believe that he had been blind and could now see may seem anomalous in some languages, since it was perfectly clear to the Jewish authorities that the man could now see. It may therefore be necessary to translate “were not willing to believe that this man who could at that time see had previously been blind.” In English the adverb now can indicate contemporaneous time as well as present time, but in this type of context it may be necessary to translate now as “at that particular time.”

They called his parents must not be translated as to imply they shouted to them. Since the process of “calling” in this type of context is rather complex, it may be necessary to translate with two different verbs, for example, “ordered the man’s parents to come before them” or “commanded that the man’s parents be brought before them.”

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 .

SIL Translator’s Notes on John 9:18

Paragraph 9:18–23

The Pharisees decided to ask the parents of the blind beggar about the healing. The parents realized that their answers could cause them trouble and refused to answer the questions.

9:18a

The Greek text includes a conjunction that is usually translated “therefore.” Most English translations, including the Berean Standard Bible, do not explicitly translate this conjunction here. However, some scholars think that the conjunction should be translated here. It does seem that there is a development in the story here.

Some scholars think that the conjunction should be translated as “therefore” or “so.” (The man thought that Jesus was a prophet so the Pharisees did not believe that he had been blind.) Others think that it indicates a weak contrast. (The man believed that Jesus was a prophet but the Pharisees did not.) Here are some ways to translate this conjunction:

But the Jewish leaders would not believe that the man had once been blind. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
So the Pharisees did not believe that he had really been blind and then could see.

Translate this conjunction in a way that is natural in your language.

The Jews still did not believe that the man had been blind and had received his sight: The Jewish leaders did not believe the healed man. They were not convinced that he had been blind before. And if he had not been blind, then he was not healed.

The Jews: Here the phrase The Jews refers to the Jewish leaders who were opposed to Jesus. They are likely the same group of people who are called “the Pharisees” in 9:15a. The phrase does not refer to all the Jews.

still did not believe that the man had been blind: The Jewish leaders refused to accept that the man that was talking with them used to be blind. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

would not believe that the man had been blind (Revised English Bible)
-or-
were not willing to believe that he had been blind (Good News Translation)

had received his sight: The Jewish leaders accepted that the man could see. But they did not believe that this was the result of Jesus healing him. They thought that he was lying and was always able to see. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

had gained his sight (NET Bible Bible)
-or-
could now see (Good News Translation)

General Comment on 9:18a

In some languages a literal translation may imply that the leaders did not believe that the man could see. In those languages it may be natural to mention only that the man had previously been blind. For example:

But the Jewish leaders would not believe that the man had once been blind. (Contemporary English Version)

9:18b

until: This word here indicates that the Jewish leaders did not believe before they talked to the parents. Then they accepted that the man was telling the truth about his blindness. The word until connects to both the rest of 9:18b and also 9:19a. That means that two things had to happen before they believed. First, they had to call the parents and second, they had to ask them about their son.

they summoned his parents: The Jewish leaders wanted to ask the man’s parents about what had happened. So they sent someone to go and bring his parents to them. Refer to the man in a way that is natural in your language. It may be best to use a shorter form. For example:

sent for the man’s parents (New International Version)
-or-
told/ordered his parents to come

General Comment on 9:18a–b

The man referred to as “he” in 9:18a is identified in 9:18b as “the man who had received his sight.” In many languages this long phrase used to identify the man may not be natural or clear. And in 9:18a the text says that this man had received his sight. So it may not be necessary to repeat this information in 9:18b. For example:

The Jewish authorities, however, were not willing to believe that he had been blind and could now see, until they called his parents. (Good News Translation)
-or-
But the Jewish leaders would not believe that the man had once been blind. They sent for his parents (Contemporary English Version)
-or-

18b Until they talked to the man’s parents, 18a the Jews didn’t believe that the man had been blind and had been given sight. (God’s Word)

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