John 9:17

17 Therefore they said again to the blind man [Therefore they say again to the blind man], What sayest thou of him, that opened thine eyes? And he said, That he is a prophet.

John 9:17 Meaning and Commentary

John 9:17

They say unto the blind man again
After they had discoursed among themselves, and could not agree about the author of the miracle, they turn to him that had been blind, who is called the blind man, because he had been so, and ask him his sentiments of him:

what sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes?
the question seems, at first sight, as if it was, whether Jesus had opened his eyes or not; but by the answer it appears, that it required his thoughts of him, "who hath opened thine eyes", as the Vulgate Latin and Persic versions read; or "seeing", or "because he hath opened thine eyes", as the Arabic and Ethiopic versions:

he said, he is a prophet;
the Syriac and Persic versions read, "I say he is a prophet"; or, "he is certainly a prophet", as the Arabic version. The Jews were wont to conclude a man's being a prophet from miracles wrought by him; see ( John 6:14 ) ( 7:31 ) ; though it does not appear that he believed him, as yet, to be that prophet, or the Messiah, that was to come; see ( John 9:36 ) .

John 9:17 In-Context

15 Again the Pharisees asked him, how he had seen. And he said to them, He laid to me clay on the eyes [He put to me clay on the eyes]; and I washed, and I see.

16 Therefore some of the Pharisees said, This man is not of God, that keepeth not the sabbath. Other men said, How may a sinful man do these signs. And strife was among them. [Therefore some of the Pharisees said, This man is not of God, for he keepeth not the sabbath. Other men said, How may a man sinner do these signs, or miracles? And division was among them.]

17 Therefore they said again to the blind man [Therefore they say again to the blind man], What sayest thou of him, that opened thine eyes? And he said, That he is a prophet.

18 Therefore the Jews believed not of him, that he was blind, and had seen, till they called his father and mother, that had seen.

19 And they asked them, and said, Is this your son, which ye say was born blind [And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, whom ye say, for he is born blind]? how then seeth he now?