One of his students asks if a man blind from birth is blind because of mistakes in him or those made by his parents.
John 9:3 Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
John 9:3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.
Neither did this one make a mistake nor did those parents of his. Rather it is so that the deeds of the Divine might be made visible by him.
The humor here is pretty obvious, but it gets hidden in translation. Jesus says God is using a blind man to make something visible. The last phrase is more accurately translated as "made visible by him." The "him" being the blind man. One of the uses of the preposition translated as "in" is to indicate an instrument by which something is done. That is its sense here. Yet, all the English translations translate it as "in."
The word translated as "made manifest" and "displayed" is a rare word for Jesus, one he uses for humor. Its root is a verb that means "to shine." So Jesus is saying that he is blind so he can become an instrument by which others might see. Very poetic as well as humorous. This begins a whole series of puns on seeing and light that would seem very pompous if they weren't primarily humorous.
Of course, the "sinned" here is, as always, misleading. Those asking may not be asking about a moral failing as much as something that was a mistake that blinded the child.
The blind can help us see.
- WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "have" indicates the past perfect tense, but the tense is something that happens at a specific point in time (past, present, or future).
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "man" doesn't exist in the source.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "sinned" does not capture the more general meaning of the word.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "parents" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "but" does not capture the specific meaning of the word.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "God" is not shown in the English translation.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "man" doesn't exist in the source.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "sinned" does not capture the more general meaning of the word.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "parents" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "but" does not capture the specific meaning of the word.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "this happened" doesn't exist in the source.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "God" is not shown in the English translation.
Neither -- "Neither" is a Greek conjunction that means "and not," and "neither/nor" when used in a series.
hath -- (WT) This helping verb "have" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past. This is not the tense of the verb here.
this -- "This" is translated from a Greek adjective that means "this," "that," "the nearer." Without a noun, it has the sense of "this one" or "that one." It is in the form of a subject.
man -- (IW) The Greek word meaning "man" is not in the Greek source.
sinned, -- (CW) "Sinned" is from the verb which means "to miss the mark," "to fail in one's purpose," "to err," "to be mistaken," and "to neglect." See this article about "sin" for more detail. This could easily refer to a making a mistake that blinds a person.
nor -- "Neither" is a Greek conjunction that means "and not," and "neither/nor" when used in a series.
his -- The word translated as "his" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. This pronoun follows the noun so "of his."
missing "the" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article,"the," which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more.
parents: -- "Parents" is a word that means "progenitor" and can refer to parents or ancestors.
but -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "but" denotes an exception or simple opposition. It is used to emphasize the contrast between things like we use "instead," "but instead,"or "rather." It is not the common word usually translated as "but." It is the Greek word "other" like we use "otherwise." Jesus often uses this conjunction to connect a negative clause, not doing something, with a positive one, "instead do this."
that -- The word translated as "that" is an adverb "in that place," "there," "where," "when," or as a conjunction that starts a subordinate clause "that," "when," "in order that" or "because."
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
works -- The Greek word translated as "works" means "deeds," "actions," and "things" in the sense of "every thing."
of -- This word "of" comes from the genitive case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is the "of" of possession.
missing "the" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article,"the," which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more.
God -- The word translated as "God" means "God" and "deity." It is introduced with an article, so "the God," "the Divine" or "the divine one." Jesus often uses it this way perhaps to indicate the one God as opposed to the pagan gods.
should -- This helping verb in English comes from the form of the Greek verb that indicates a possibility. We would usually say "might" or "should" in English.
be -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
made manifest --The verb translated as "made manifest" means "make clear" and "make famous."
in -- The word translated as "in" means "in," "within," "with" (an instrument), "during" (time), or "among" with a dative object as the one here. One of its uses is to indicate an instrument by which something is done.
him. -- The word translated as "his" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. The word means "the same" when used as an adjective. In the adverbial form, it means "just here" or "exactly there." This pronoun follows the noun so "of his."
Neither -- "Neither" is a Greek conjunction that means "and not," and "neither/nor" when used in a series.
this -- "This" is translated from a Greek adjective that means "this," "that," "the nearer." Without a noun, it has the sense of "this one" or "that one." It is in the form of a subject.
man -- (IW) The Greek word meaning "man" is not in the Greek source.
nor -- "Neither" is a Greek conjunction that means "and not," and "neither/nor" when used in a series.
his -- The word translated as "his" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. This pronoun follows the noun so "of his."
missing "the" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article,"the," which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more.
parents: -- "Parents" is a word that means "progenitor" and can refer to parents or ancestors.
sinned, -- (CW) "Sinned" is from the verb which means "to miss the mark," "to fail in one's purpose," "to err," "to be mistaken," and "to neglect." See this article about "sin" for more detail. This could easily refer to a making a mistake that blinds a person.
but -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "but" denotes an exception or simple opposition. It is used to emphasize the contrast between things like we use "instead," "but instead,"or "rather." It is not the common word usually translated as "but." It is the Greek word "other" like we use "otherwise." Jesus often uses this conjunction to connect a negative clause, not doing something, with a positive one, "instead do this."
this happened -- (IW) The Greek word meaning "the happened" is not in the Greek source.
so that -- The word translated as "so that" is an adverb "in that place," "there," "where," "when," or as a conjunction that starts a subordinate clause "that," "when," "in order that" or "because."
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
works -- The Greek word translated as "works" means "deeds," "actions," and "things" in the sense of "every thing."
of -- This word "of" comes from the genitive case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is the "of" of possession.
missing "the" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article,"the," which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more.
God -- The word translated as "God" means "God" and "deity." It is introduced with an article, so "the God," "the Divine" or "the divine one." Jesus often uses it this way perhaps to indicate the one God as opposed to the pagan gods.
might -- This helping verb in English comes from the form of the Greek verb that indicates a possibility. We would usually say "might" or "should" in English
be -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
displayed --The verb translated as "displayed" means "make clear" and "make famous."
in -- The word translated as "in" means "in," "within," "with" (an instrument), "during" (time), or "among" with a dative object as the one here. With the accusative, it means "into," "on," and "for." When referring to time, it means "during." It can mean "on," "at," or "by" in the sense of "near."
him. -- The word translated as "his" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. The word means "the same" when used as an adjective. In the adverbial form, it means "just here" or "exactly there." This pronoun follows the noun so "of his."
Οὔτε [12 verses](partic) "Neither" is oute, which means "and not," and "neither/nor" when used in a series.
οὗτος [83 verses](adj sg masc nom) "This" is houtos, which as an adjective means "this," "that," "the nearer."
ἥμαρτεν [7 verses] (3rd sg aor ind act) “Hath sinned” is from hamartanô, which means "to miss the mark," "to fail in one's purpose," "to err," "to be mistaken," and "to neglect."
οὔτε [12 verses](partic) "Neither" is oute, which means "and not," and "neither/nor" when used in a series. -- "Neither" is a Greek conjunction that means "and not," and "neither/nor" when used in a series.
οἱ [821 verses](article pl masc nom) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). -
γονεῖς [4 verses] (noun pl masc nom) "Parents" is goneus, which mean "progenitor" and can refer to parents or ancestors.
αὐτοῦ [720 verses](adj sg masc gen) "His" is autos, which means "the same," and the reflexive pronouns, "myself," "yourself," "himself," "herself," "itself," or the oblique case of the pronouns, "him," "her," and "it." It also means "one's true self," that is, "the soul" as opposed to the body and "of one's own accord." In the adverbial form, it means "just here" or "exactly there."
ἀλλ᾽[154 verses](conj) "But" is alla, which means "otherwise," "but," "still," "at least," "except," "yet," nevertheless," "rather," "moreover," and "nay."
ἵνα [134 verses](adv/conj) "That" is hina, which means "in that place," "there," "where," "when," but when beginning a phrase "that," "in order that," "when," and "because."
φανερωθῇ [4 verses] (3rd sg aor subj pass) "Should be made manifest" is phaneroo, which means "make manifest", "reveal", "make clear", "make known," and "make famous."
τὰ [821 verses](article pl neut nom/acc) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
ἔργα [31 verses] (noun pl neut nom/acc) "Works" is ergon, which means "works," "tasks," "deeds," "actions," "thing," and "matter."
τοῦ [821 verses](article sg masc gen) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). -
θεοῦ [144 verses](noun sg masc gen) "God" is theos, which means "God," "divine," and "Deity."
ἐν [413 verses](prep) "In" is en, which means, with a dative object, "in," "on," "at," "by," "among," "within," "surrounded by," "in one's hands," "in one's power," "during," and "with." One of its uses is to indicate an instrument by which something is done.
αὐτῷ. [720 verses](adj sg masc dat) "Him" is autos, which means "the same," and the reflexive pronouns, "myself," "yourself," "himself," "herself," "itself," or the oblique case of the pronouns, "him," "her," and "it." It also means "one's true self," that is, "the soul" as opposed to the body and "of one's own accord." In the adverbial form, it means "just here" or "exactly there."