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Selected Verse: John 9:18 - King James

Verse	Translation	Text
Joh 9:18	King James	But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight.

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
the Jews did not believe . . . he had been born blind . . . till they called the parents of him that had received his sight--Foiled by the testimony of the young man himself, they hope to throw doubt on the fact by close questioning his parents, who, perceiving the snare laid for them, ingeniously escape it by testifying simply to the identity of their son, and his birth-blindness, leaving it to himself, as a competent witness, to speak as to the cure. They prevaricated, however, in saying they "knew not who had opened his eyes," for "they feared the Jews," who had come to an understanding (probably after what is recorded, Joh 7:50, &c.; but by this time well known), that whoever owned Him as the Christ would be put out of the synagogue--that is, not simply excluded, but excommunicated.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

the Jews did not believe . . . he had been born blind . . . till they called the parents of him that had received his sight--Foiled by the testimony of the young man himself, they hope to throw doubt on the fact by close questioning his parents, who, perceiving the snare laid for them, ingeniously escape it by testifying simply to the identity of their son, and his birth-blindness, leaving it to himself, as a competent witness, to speak as to the cure. They prevaricated, however, in saying they "knew not who had opened his eyes," for "they feared the Jews," who had come to an understanding (probably after what is recorded, Joh 7:50, &c.; but by this time well known), that whoever owned Him as the Christ would be put out of the synagogue--that is, not simply excluded, but excommunicated.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Is this your son? ... - The Pharisees proposed three questions to the parents, by which they hoped to convict the man of falsehood: 1. Whether he was their son? 2. Whether they would affirm that he was born blind? and, 3. Whether they knew by what means he now saw? They evidently intended to intimidate the parents, so that they might give an answer to one of these questions that would convict the man of deception. We see here the art to which men will resort rather than admit the truth. Had they been half as much disposed to believe on Jesus as they were to disbelieve, there would have been no difficulty in the case. And so with all men: were they as much inclined to embrace the truth as they are to reject it, there would soon be an end of cavils.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

Is this your son? ... - The Pharisees proposed three questions to the parents, by which they hoped to convict the man of falsehood:

1. Whether he was their son?

2. Whether they would affirm that he was born blind? and,

3. Whether they knew by what means he now saw?

They evidently intended to intimidate the parents, so that they might give an answer to one of these questions that would convict the man of deception. We see here the art to which men will resort rather than admit the truth. Had they been half as much disposed to believe on Jesus as they were to disbelieve, there would have been no difficulty in the case. And so with all men: were they as much inclined to embrace the truth as they are to reject it, there would soon be an end of cavils.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
The Jews Notice the change from the Pharisees. The Pharisees had already divided on this miracle (Joh 9:16). The Jews represent that section which was hostile to Jesus. Of him that had received his sight (αὐτοῦ τοῦ ἀναβλέψαντος). Properly, "of the very one who had received."

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]

The Jews

Notice the change from the Pharisees. The Pharisees had already divided on this miracle (Joh 9:16). The Jews represent that section which was hostile to Jesus.

Of him that had received his sight (αὐτοῦ τοῦ ἀναβλέψαντος).

Properly, "of the very one who had received."

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
But the Jews did not believe - All the subterfuge they could use was simply to sin against their conscience, by asserting that the man had not been blind; but out of this subterfuge they were soon driven by the testimony of the parents, who, if tried farther on this subject, might have produced as witness, not only the whole neighborhood, but nearly the whole city: for it appears the man got his bread by publicly begging, Joh 9:8. That he had been blind, and received his sight - This clause is omitted in some MSS., probably because similar words occur immediately after. There is, however, no evidence against it, sufficient to exclude it from the test.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826

But the Jews did not believe - All the subterfuge they could use was simply to sin against their conscience, by asserting that the man had not been blind; but out of this subterfuge they were soon driven by the testimony of the parents, who, if tried farther on this subject, might have produced as witness, not only the whole neighborhood, but nearly the whole city: for it appears the man got his bread by publicly begging, Joh 9:8.

That he had been blind, and received his sight - This clause is omitted in some MSS., probably because similar words occur immediately after. There is, however, no evidence against it, sufficient to exclude it from the test.

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