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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>John 9:41 "If you were blind," Jesus replied, "you would not be guilty of sin. But since you claim you can see, your guilt remains."</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/john/9-41.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/5/43_Jhn_09_41.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="John 9:41 - Spiritual Blindness" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="If you were blind, Jesus replied, you would not be guilty of sin. But since you claim you can see, your guilt remains." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/john/9-41.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/john/9-41.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/john/">John</a> > <a href="/john/9.htm">Chapter 9</a> > Verse 41</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad1.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/john/9-40.htm" title="John 9:40">◄</a> John 9:41 <a href="/john/10-1.htm" title="John 10:1">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/john/9.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/john/9.htm">New International Version</a> Jesus said, &#8220If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains. <a href="/nlt/john/9.htm">New Living Translation</a> “If you were blind, you wouldn’t be guilty,” Jesus replied. “But you remain guilty because you claim you can see. <a href="/esv/john/9.htm">English Standard Version</a> Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains. <a href="/bsb/john/9.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> “If you were blind,” Jesus replied, “you would not be guilty of sin. But since you claim you can see, your guilt remains.” <a href="/blb/john/9.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin. But since you say, 'We see,' your sin remains." <a href="/kjv/john/9.htm">King James Bible</a> Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth. <a href="/nkjv/john/9.htm">New King James Version</a> Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains. <a href="/nasb_/john/9.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now that you maintain, ‘We see,’ your sin remains. <a href="/nasb/john/9.htm">NASB 1995</a> Jesus said to them, &#8220If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, &#8216We see,&#8217 your sin remains. <a href="/nasb77/john/9.htm">NASB 1977 </a> Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains. <a href="/lsb/john/9.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains. <a href="/amp/john/9.htm">Amplified Bible</a> Jesus said to them, “If you were blind [to spiritual things], you would have no sin [and would not be blamed for your unbelief]; but since you claim to have [spiritual] sight, [you have no excuse so] your sin and guilt remain. <a href="/csb/john/9.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> “If you were blind,” Jesus told them, “you wouldn’t have sin. But now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains. <a href="/hcsb/john/9.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> &#8220If you were blind,&#8221 Jesus told them, &#8220you wouldn&#8217t have sin. But now that you say, We see—your sin remains. <a href="/asv/john/9.htm">American Standard Version</a> Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye would have no sin: but now ye say, We see: your sin remaineth. <a href="/cev/john/9.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> Jesus answered, "If you were blind, you would not be guilty. But now that you claim to see, you will keep on being guilty." <a href="/erv/john/9.htm">English Revised Version</a> Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye would have no sin: but now ye say, We see: your sin remaineth. <a href="/gwt/john/9.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> Jesus told them, "If you were blind, you wouldn't be sinners. But now you say, 'We see,' so you continue to be sinners. <a href="/gnt/john/9.htm">Good News Translation</a> Jesus answered, "If you were blind, then you would not be guilty; but since you claim that you can see, this means that you are still guilty." <a href="/isv/john/9.htm">International Standard Version</a> Jesus told them, "If you were blind, you would not have any sin. But now that you insist, 'We see,' your sin still exists." <a href="/msb/john/9.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> ?If you were blind,? Jesus replied, ?you would not be guilty of sin. But since you claim you can see, your guilt remains.? <a href="/net/john/9.htm">NET Bible</a> Jesus replied, "If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin, but now because you claim that you can see, your guilt remains." <a href="/nheb/john/9.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, 'We see,' your sin remains. <a href="/wbt/john/9.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> Jesus said to them, If ye were blind, ye would have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth. <a href="/wey/john/9.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> "If you were blind," answered Jesus, "you would have no sin; but as a matter of fact you boast that you see. So your sin remains!" <a href="/web/john/9.htm">World English Bible</a> Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/john/9.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you were not having had sin, but now you say—We see, therefore your sin remains.” <a href="/blb/john/9.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin. But since you say, 'We see,' your sin remains." <a href="/ylt/john/9.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> Jesus said to them, 'If ye were blind, ye were not having had sin, but now ye say -- We see, therefore doth your sin remain. <a href="/slt/john/9.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> We are not also blind? Jesus said to them If ye were blind, ye had not sinned: and now ye say, That we see; therefore your sin remains.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/john/9.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> Jesus said to them: If you were blind, you should not have sin: but now you say: We see. Your sin remaineth. <a href="/cpdv/john/9.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> Jesus said to them: “If you were blind, you would not have sin. Yet now you say, ‘We see.’ So your sin persists.” <a href="/nabre/john/9.htm">New American Bible</a> Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you are saying, ‘We see,’ so your sin remains. <a href="/nrsvce/john/9.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/john/9.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> Jesus said to them, If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, We see; because of this your sin remains. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/john/9.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> Yeshua said to them, “If you were blind, you would not have sin, but now you say, 'We see.' Because of this, your sin stands.” <div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/john/9.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> Jesus said to them: If you were blind, you would not have sin; but now you say, We see; therefore your sin remains. <a href="/godbey/john/9.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> Jesus said to them, <FR>If you were blind you would not have sin: but now you say that, We see: your sin remaineth.<Fr> <a href="/haweis/john/9.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> Jesus said to them, If ye were blind, ye should not have had sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin is permanent.<CM> <a href="/mace/john/9.htm">Mace New Testament</a> Jesus said to them, if you were blind, you would be excusable; but since you own that you see, you stand convicted. <a href="/wey/john/9.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> "If you were blind," answered Jesus, "you would have no sin; but as a matter of fact you boast that you see. So your sin remains!" <a href="/worrell/john/9.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> Jesus said to them, <FR>"If ye were blind, ye would have no sin; but now ye say, 'We see,' your sin abides."<Fr> <a href="/worsley/john/9.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> Jesus replied, <FR>If ye were blind, ye would not have sin: but now ye say, We see; your sin therefore remaineth.<Fr> <a href="/parallel/john/9-41.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ixy2bchmXZ0?start=3519" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/john/9.htm">Spiritual Blindness</a> …40Some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard this, and they asked Him, “Are we blind too?” 41<a href="/greek/1487.htm" title="1487: Ei (Conj) -- If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.">“If</a> <a href="/greek/1510.htm" title="1510: ēte (V-IIA-2P) -- I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.">you were</a> <a href="/greek/5185.htm" title="5185: typhloi (Adj-NMP) -- Blind, physically or mentally. From, tuphoo; opaque, i.e. blind.">blind,” </a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ho (Art-NMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/2424.htm" title="2424: Iēsous (N-NMS) -- Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.">Jesus</a> <a href="/greek/2036.htm" title="2036: Eipen (V-AIA-3S) -- Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.">replied,</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autois (PPro-DM3P) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons."></a> <a href="/greek/302.htm" title="302: an (Prtcl) -- A primary particle, denoting a supposition, wish, possibility or uncertainty."></a> <a href="/greek/3756.htm" title="3756: ouk (Adv) -- No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not."></a> <a href="/greek/2192.htm" title="2192: eichete (V-IIA-2P) -- To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.">“you would not be</a> <a href="/greek/266.htm" title="266: hamartian (N-AFS) -- From hamartano; a sin.">guilty of sin.</a> <a href="/greek/1161.htm" title="1161: de (Conj) -- A primary particle; but, and, etc.">But</a> <a href="/greek/3568.htm" title="3568: nyn (Adv) -- A primary particle of present time; now; also as noun or adjective present or immediate.">since</a> <a href="/greek/3004.htm" title="3004: legete (V-PIA-2P) -- (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command. ">you claim</a> <a href="/greek/3754.htm" title="3754: hoti (Conj) -- Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because."></a> <a href="/greek/991.htm" title="991: Blepomen (V-PIA-1P) -- (primarily physical), I look, see, perceive, discern. A primary verb; to look at.">you can see,</a> <a href="/greek/4771.htm" title="4771: hymōn (PPro-G2P) -- You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.">your</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: hē (Art-NFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/266.htm" title="266: hamartia (N-NFS) -- From hamartano; a sin.">guilt</a> <a href="/greek/3306.htm" title="3306: menei (V-PIA-3S) -- To remain, abide, stay, wait; with acc: I wait for, await. A primary verb; to stay.">remains.” </a> <div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/matthew/13-13.htm">Matthew 13:13-15</a> This is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.’ / In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. / For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’ <a href="/isaiah/6-9.htm">Isaiah 6:9-10</a> And He replied: “Go and tell this people, ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ / Make the hearts of this people calloused; deafen their ears and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” <a href="/romans/1-20.htm">Romans 1:20-21</a> For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse. / For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. <a href="/1_john/1-8.htm">1 John 1:8-10</a> If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. / If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. / If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us. <a href="/proverbs/26-12.htm">Proverbs 26:12</a> Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. <a href="/matthew/15-14.htm">Matthew 15:14</a> Disregard them! They are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.” <a href="/2_corinthians/4-3.htm">2 Corinthians 4:3-4</a> And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. / The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. <a href="/jeremiah/5-21.htm">Jeremiah 5:21</a> “Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear. <a href="/luke/11-34.htm">Luke 11:34-36</a> Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body is full of darkness. / Be careful, then, that the light within you is not darkness. / So if your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, you will be radiant, as though a lamp were shining on you.” <a href="/ezekiel/12-2.htm">Ezekiel 12:2</a> “Son of man, you are living in a rebellious house. They have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious house. <a href="/john/3-19.htm">John 3:19-21</a> And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil. / Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. / But whoever practices the truth comes into the Light, so that it may be seen clearly that what he has done has been accomplished in God.” <a href="/matthew/23-16.htm">Matthew 23:16-17</a> Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ / You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes it sacred? <a href="/isaiah/42-18.htm">Isaiah 42:18-20</a> Listen, you deaf ones; look, you blind ones, that you may see! / Who is blind but My servant, or deaf like the messenger I am sending? Who is blind like My covenant partner, or blind like the servant of the LORD? / Though seeing many things, you do not keep watch. Though your ears are open, you do not hear.” <a href="/1_corinthians/2-14.htm">1 Corinthians 2:14</a> The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. <a href="/hosea/4-6.htm">Hosea 4:6</a> My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>Jesus said to them, If you were blind, you should have no sin: but now you say, We see; therefore your sin remains.If.<a href="/john/15-22.htm">John 15:22-24</a> If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin… <a href="/proverbs/26-12.htm">Proverbs 26:12</a> Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.<a href="/isaiah/5-21.htm">Isaiah 5:21</a> Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/john/9-40.htm">Blind</a> <a href="/luke/16-15.htm">Boast</a> <a href="/john/8-54.htm">Claim</a> <a href="/john/9-37.htm">Fact</a> <a href="/luke/23-22.htm">Guilt</a> <a href="/john/8-46.htm">Guilty</a> <a href="/john/9-39.htm">Jesus</a> <a href="/john/3-25.htm">Matter</a> <a href="/john/9-34.htm">Sin</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/john/10-21.htm">Blind</a> <a href="/romans/2-17.htm">Boast</a> <a href="/romans/2-17.htm">Claim</a> <a href="/john/10-5.htm">Fact</a> <a href="/john/16-8.htm">Guilt</a> <a href="/john/15-22.htm">Guilty</a> <a href="/john/10-6.htm">Jesus</a> <a href="/john/18-36.htm">Matter</a> <a href="/john/15-22.htm">Sin</a><div class="vheading2">John 9</div>1. <a href="/john/9-1.htm">The man born blind is restored to sight.</a> 8. <a href="/john/9-8.htm">He is brought to the Pharisees.</a> 13. <a href="/john/9-13.htm">They are offended at it;</a> 35. <a href="/john/9-35.htm">but he is received of Jesus, and confesses him.</a> 39. <a href="/john/9-39.htm">Who they are whom Jesus enlightens.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/john/9.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/john/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/john/9.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>“If you were blind,” Jesus replied, In this context, Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees, who were religious leaders in Israel. The term "blind" here is metaphorical, referring to spiritual blindness or ignorance. In biblical times, blindness was often seen as a physical ailment that rendered a person helpless, symbolizing a lack of understanding or insight. Jesus uses this metaphor to address the Pharisees' inability to recognize Him as the Messiah. This echoes <a href="/isaiah/42-7.htm">Isaiah 42:7</a>, where the Messiah is prophesied to open the eyes of the blind, both physically and spiritually.“you would not be guilty of sin.” Here, Jesus suggests that if the Pharisees were truly ignorant of their spiritual state, they would not be held accountable for their sin. This reflects a biblical principle found in <a href="/leviticus/5-17.htm">Leviticus 5:17</a>, where unintentional sin is treated differently from willful disobedience. The concept of accountability is central in Scripture, as seen in <a href="/james/4-17.htm">James 4:17</a>, which states that knowing the right thing to do and failing to do it is sin.But since you claim you can see, The Pharisees prided themselves on their knowledge of the Law and their spiritual insight. Their claim to "see" indicates their self-righteousness and confidence in their own understanding. This is reminiscent of <a href="/proverbs/26-12.htm">Proverbs 26:12</a>, which warns about the danger of being wise in one's own eyes. The Pharisees' claim contrasts with the humility required to truly understand spiritual truths, as seen in <a href="/matthew/5-3.htm">Matthew 5:3</a>, where Jesus blesses the poor in spirit.your guilt remains.” Jesus concludes by stating that their guilt remains because they refuse to acknowledge their spiritual blindness. This is a direct indictment of their hypocrisy and rejection of Jesus as the Light of the World (<a href="/john/8-12.htm">John 8:12</a>). The concept of remaining in guilt is tied to the idea of unrepentance and hardness of heart, as seen in <a href="/hebrews/3-12.htm">Hebrews 3:12-13</a>. The Pharisees' persistent unbelief and rejection of Jesus' message leave them in a state of condemnation, as highlighted in <a href="/john/3-19.htm">John 3:19-20</a>, where people love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/j/jesus.htm">Jesus</a> The central figure in this passage, Jesus is addressing the Pharisees, challenging their spiritual blindness and self-righteousness. 2. <a href="/topical/p/pharisees.htm">Pharisees</a> A religious group known for strict adherence to the Law and traditions. They are often depicted as spiritually blind in the Gospels. 3. <a href="/topical/t/the_man_born_blind.htm">The Man Born Blind</a> Earlier in <a href="/bsb/john/9.htm">John 9</a>, Jesus heals a man who was blind from birth, which leads to a confrontation with the Pharisees. 4. <a href="/topical/j/jerusalem.htm">Jerusalem</a> The setting of this event, where Jesus often taught and performed miracles. 5. <a href="/topical/s/spiritual_blindness.htm">Spiritual Blindness</a> A metaphorical concept used by Jesus to describe the inability to recognize spiritual truth.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/s/spiritual_awareness_vs._self-deception.htm">Spiritual Awareness vs. Self-Deception</a> True spiritual insight requires humility and acknowledgment of one's own limitations and sins. <a href="/topical/t/the_danger_of_self-righteousness.htm">The Danger of Self-Righteousness</a> Claiming spiritual sight while being blind to one's own sin leads to greater guilt and separation from God. <a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_jesus_as_the_light.htm">The Role of Jesus as the Light</a> Jesus is the light of the world, and only through Him can true spiritual sight be gained. <a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_humility.htm">The Importance of Humility</a> Recognizing our own spiritual blindness is the first step toward receiving God's grace and forgiveness. <a href="/topical/t/the_call_to_self-examination.htm">The Call to Self-Examination</a> Regularly examine your heart and actions to ensure you are not blind to your own faults and sins.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_john_9.htm">Top 10 Lessons from John 9</a> <a href="/q/what_constitutes_willful_sin.htm">What constitutes willful sin?</a> <a href="/q/does_god_judge_our_response_to_light.htm">Does God judge us by our response to received light?</a> <a href="/q/what_does_spiritual_blindness_mean.htm">What does spiritual blindness mean?</a> <a href="/q/why_harsh_reaction_in_john_9_13-16.htm">In John 9:13-16, why would the Pharisees react so harshly if this account were verifiable?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/john/9.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(41) If ye were blind, ye should have no sin.--His answer is that He does not place them among those who are in this second sense blind. If they were among those "which see not" they would be conscious of their blindness, and would seek for spiritual light. They would ask, "Who is He, Lord, that we may believe on Him?" and would not ask in vain. In that case their present rejection of Him would arise from ignorance willing to be overcome, and this ignorance, not being wilful, would not be sin. Conscious ignorance would be the first step towards knowledge.But now ye say, We see.--Their true place is among those who were spiritually blind, and were unconscious of it, "they which see," they which think they see." For them the first step towards true spiritual light must be a consciousness of blindness. As it is, as long as they think that they see, there is no ground for hope. (Comp. <a href="/context/matthew/9-12.htm" title="But when Jesus heard that, he said to them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.">Matthew 9:12-13</a>.)Therefore your sin remaineth.--The word "therefore" should probably be omitted. The words "Your sin remaineth," or better, Your sin abideth (comp. Note on <a href="/john/3-36.htm" title="He that believes on the Son has everlasting life: and he that believes not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God stays on him.">John 3:36</a>), stand alone in their awful solemnity. They stand side by side with "Ye say, We see." The two states are one. The assertion of spiritual knowledge and independence was the original cause of sin (<a href="/genesis/3-4.htm" title="And the serpent said to the woman, You shall not surely die:">Genesis 3:4</a>), and while spiritual pride exists sin cannot cease.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/john/9.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 41. - The reply of our Lord is not meant to be a crushing and final retort, condemning them to hopeless night, but was obviously intended to show them that they are not yet free from sin, that they are only partially appreciating the light which shines upon them. If ye were blind - incapable of sight; if ye had all along been deprived of the faculty of perceiving the true Light that shineth in the darkness (a condition of things which would have emancipated them from responsibility, and which Christ would not admit to be the case); perhaps more, if ye had been utterly blind to the light which is shining upon you now, which, however, is not true - ye would not have sin. This is akin to the solemn language of <a href="/john/15-22.htm">John 15:22-24</a>. They did not themselves admit that there was any congenital blindness about them. They did not pretend or expect to ride off on such a πρόφασις, such an excuse. Could they be, judicially or naturally, blind? The very idea was an absurdity, and so Jesus added, But now ye say, We see. You even boast that you are "instructors of the ignorant, and leaders of the blind; a light to those who sit in darkness, having the form of knowledge and truth in the Law" (<a href="/romans/2-17.htm">Romans 2:17-21</a>). You are the very opposite of the "not-seeing" (μὴ βλέποντες); you are self-satisfied; you will not come to the Light. What is the issue? The Lord seems to pause before his answer (the οϋν, "therefore," is rejected by the best manuscripts and critics): Your sin abideth; or, remaineth. It will remain until you fully admit the great principle and reason, the motive and characteristics, of my mission. The very facility you profess, the intimacy you claim with the Law and its founder, and your partial knowledge of my claim, take away your excuse. The discourse which follows shows how entire must be the submission to Christ, how complete the union with him, of those who say, "We see." <a href="/commentaries/john/9-41.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>“If Εἰ (Ei) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_1487.htm">Strong's 1487: </a> If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc. you were ἦτε (ēte) Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_1510.htm">Strong's 1510: </a> I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist. blind,” τυφλοὶ (typhloi) Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_5185.htm">Strong's 5185: </a> Blind, physically or mentally. From, tuphoo; opaque, i.e. blind. Jesus Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous) Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2424.htm">Strong's 2424: </a> Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites. replied, Εἶπεν (Eipen) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2036.htm">Strong's 2036: </a> Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say. “you would not be εἴχετε (eichete) Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_2192.htm">Strong's 2192: </a> To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold. guilty of sin. ἁμαρτίαν (hamartian) Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_266.htm">Strong's 266: </a> From hamartano; a sin. But δὲ (de) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_1161.htm">Strong's 1161: </a> A primary particle; but, and, etc. since νῦν (nyn) Adverb <a href="/greek/strongs_3568.htm">Strong's 3568: </a> A primary particle of present time; 'now'; also as noun or adjective present or immediate. you claim λέγετε (legete) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3004.htm">Strong's 3004: </a> (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command. [you] can see, Βλέπομεν (Blepomen) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_991.htm">Strong's 991: </a> (primarily physical), I look, see, perceive, discern. A primary verb; to look at. your ὑμῶν (hymōn) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_4771.htm">Strong's 4771: </a> You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou. guilt ἁμαρτία (hamartia) Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_266.htm">Strong's 266: </a> From hamartano; a sin. remains.” μένει (menei) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3306.htm">Strong's 3306: </a> To remain, abide, stay, wait; with acc: I wait for, await. A primary verb; to stay. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/john/9-41.htm">John 9:41 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/john/9-41.htm">John 9:41 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/john/9-41.htm">John 9:41 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/john/9-41.htm">John 9:41 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/john/9-41.htm">John 9:41 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/john/9-41.htm">John 9:41 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/john/9-41.htm">John 9:41 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/john/9-41.htm">John 9:41 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/john/9-41.htm">John 9:41 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/john/9-41.htm">John 9:41 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/john/9-41.htm">NT Gospels: John 9:41 Jesus said to them If you were (Jhn Jo Jn) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/john/9-40.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="John 9:40"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="John 9:40" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/john/10-1.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="John 10:1"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="John 10:1" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>