John 9:16

16 Then sayde some of the pharises: this man is not of God because he kepeth not the saboth daye. Other sayde: how can a man yt is a synner do suche myracles? And ther was stryfe amonge the.

John 9:16 Meaning and Commentary

John 9:16

Wherefore said some of the Pharisees
Or sanhedrim, for they were not all of one mind, as appears by what follows:

this man is not of God;
meaning not the blind man, but Jesus; and their sense is, he is not sent of God, he does not come from him to do his will and work, nor does he seek his glory, nor is he on his side, or for his interest;

because he keepeth not the sabbath day:
this they concluded from his making clay of spittle, and spreading it on the blind man's eyes, which was contrary to the traditions of their elders: one of whose rules and canons is ^F14, that

``it is forbidden to put fasting spittle even on the eyelid on a sabbath day.''

An eye salve, or a plaster for the eye, if it was put on for pleasure, was lawful, but not for healing ^F15: but if it was put on, on the evening of the sabbath, it might continue on the sabbath day {p}.

Others said, how can a man that is a sinner,
or a sabbath breaker,

do such miracles?
as curing a man born blind, the like of which was never heard: those that reasoned after this manner may be supposed to be Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea.

And there was a division among them;
even in the sanhedrim, they could not agree about the character of the person that had done this miracle.

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FOOTNOTES:

F14 T. Hieros. Sabbat, fol. 14. 4. & Avoda Zara, fol. 40. 4. & T. Bab. Sabbat, fol 108. 2. & Maimon. Hilchot Sabbat, c. 21. sect. 25.
F15 Piske Tosephot Sabbat, art. 67.
F16 T. Hieros. Sabbat, fol. 3, 4. Maimon. ib.

John 9:16 In-Context

14 for it was the Saboth daye when Iesus made the claye and opened his eyes.

15 Then agayne the pharises also axed him how he had receaved his syght. He sayde vnto the: He put claye apon myne eyes and I wasshed and do se.

16 Then sayde some of the pharises: this man is not of God because he kepeth not the saboth daye. Other sayde: how can a man yt is a synner do suche myracles? And ther was stryfe amonge the.

17 Then spake they vnto the blynde agayne: What sayst thou of him because he hath openned thyne eyes? And he sayd: He is a Prophet.

18 But the Iewes dyd not beleve of the felowe how that he was blynde and receaved his syght vntyll they had called the father and mother of him that had receaved his syght.