9:39a

For judgment I have come into this world: Jesus indicated that he came to the world for the world to be judged. This was the result or perhaps the purpose of his coming. But Jesus did not say here that he would be the judge, and in 3:17 and 12:47 he said that he did not come to judge. Therefore, it is important that you do not say here that Jesus came to judge. (You should not follow Good News Translation where it says, “I came to this world to judge.”)

The idea seems to be that Jesus came and offered salvation. As a result, some people believed him and were saved and others rejected him and were judged. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

I came into this world so that the world could be judged. (New Century Version)
-or-
People will be judged because I came to this world

For judgment: The word judgment here refers to deciding whether someone is guilty or innocent. People are divided into two groups: believers and unbelievers. The Greek text emphasizes the phrase For judgment. Here are some ways that you can indicate this emphasis:

It is for judgment that I have come into this world (Revised English Bible)
-or-
The reason that I came to this world is so that people will be judged/separated

In some languages it may be natural to make explicit who would judge and who would be judged. It is important that you do not say that Jesus would judge. That is because John 3:17 and 12:47 both say that he did not come to judge. For example:

Because I came into this world, God will judge the people here
-or-
I came to this world that God may judge/separate people

9:39b–c

so that the blind may see and those who see may become blind: These clauses describe both the purpose and the result of the judging. This judgment has two results, one positive and one negative. Spiritually blind people become able to see, but people who can already see spiritually (or think they can) become blind.

Although Jesus had just healed a man who was literally blind, here he spoke mainly about people who were spiritually blind. For example, Jesus did not come so that people who could physically see would become blind. However, Isaiah 6:9–10 does talk about God’s messenger causing people to become spiritually blind. Jesus quoted these words in Matthew 13:14–15, applying them to his own ministry. You may want to write a footnote to explain what Jesus meant in these clauses. Consider how you can help your readers understand that Jesus spoke figuratively here. For example:

As for those who do not know God, they are compared to a blind person, I will remove their blindness. But those who say that they know God, I will show that they are still blind.

9:39b

so that the blind may see: The words so that here introduce the purpose of Christ’s coming into the world. In some languages it may be natural to make this explicit. For example:

I came so that the blind would see (New Century Version)
-or-
I am here to give sight to the blind (Contemporary English Version)

the blind may see: Although Jesus did heal physically blind people, this phrase refers mainly to people who are spiritually blind. That is because 9:39c can only refer to people becoming spiritually blind. The phrase the blind refers to those who know that they need help to see the truth. Christ is the light of the world, and only people who believe in him can truly see (see 9:5b). If it is not understood that Jesus spoke mainly figuratively, you may need to make the meaning more explicit. For example:

those who do not know God, who are compared to people who do not see, may become able to see
-or-
the person who knows that his ability to understand is made blind, I will heal him so that he can understand well
-or-
the people who do not see/know the truth about God, and so are like those who cannot see, will see

9:39c

and those who see may become blind: This clause indicates the second purpose of Jesus’ coming to earth. When the Jewish leaders rejected the light (Jesus), they showed that they were spiritually blind. In other words, Jesus’ coming caused them to become even blinder than they were before. This had to happen because they rejected the only true light, the light of the world (9:5b). In your translation it may be necessary to indicate some of the meaning of the metaphor. For example:

and those who say “We know God,” I will show that they are blind
-or-
and those who say that their ability to understand spiritual things has not become blind, his ability to understand will become ⌊more⌋ blind
-or-
and the people who say that they see because they think that they see/know the truth about God, they will become blind

those who see: This phrase here refers to the Jewish leaders, who felt confident that they could see. They could see physically, and they thought that they could see spiritually. They thought that they clearly understood God. They thought that they knew what God was like and what his rules were, and they were proud about that. They were proud of their knowledge of God and his law, but they did not truly know God. For example:

those who think they see (New Living Translation (2004))

may become blind: This phrase is a metaphor. With this metaphor Jesus compared not believing to being blind. These people reject the only true light, because they think they do not need it. In this way they confirm their own spiritual blindness.

General Comment on 9:39a–c

In your translation it should be clear that the judgment spoken of in 9:39a is described in 9:39b, c. Here are ways to indicate this:

I came into this world so that the world could be judged. I came so that the blind would see and so that those who see will become blind. (New Century Version)
-or-
It is for judgment that I have come into this world—to give sight to the sightless and to make blind those who see. (Revised English Bible)

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