John 9:6 KJV

The Pulpit Commentary - John 9:1-41

The passage of a soul from darkness into light. This graphic and dramatic narrative begins with the healing of a bodily privation by the exercise el Christ's miraculous power. But its chief interest lies in the spiritual process which it unfolds. It relates how a young man, poor and blind, but intelligent, candid, and brave, received spiritual as well as bodily illumination, and how he displayed insight in apprehending Christ's character, courage in resisting Christ's adversaries, and ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 9:6

When he had said these things, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and with the £ clay thereof anointed his (the) eyes (of the blind man). The precise meaning and motive of the process here described has been a source of great perplexity to the commentators. We see that, on other occasions, our Lord used his own saliva as a means of cure. Theme finds in the spittle the symbol of the impurity of the man thus dealt with ( Isaiah 1:5 , Isaiah 1:6 ), but somewhat... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - John 9:6

And made clay ... - Two reasons may be assigned for making this clay, and anointing the eyes with it. One is, that the Jews regarded spittle as medicinal to the eyes when diseased, and that they forbade the use of medicines on the Sabbath. They regarded the Sabbath so strictly that they considered the preparation and use of medicines as contrary to the law. Especially it was particularly forbidden among them to use spittle on that day to heal diseased eyes. See instances in Lightfoot. Jesus,... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - John 9:6-7

John 9:6-7. When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, &c. He did the things here mentioned, that he might exercise the faith and obedience of the patient, and show that he could command efficacy from whatever means he should please to use; could work without means, or even by such as seemed evidently calculated to produce an effect contrary to that intended. The clay, here put on the eyes of the blind man, might almost have blinded a person that had sight. But what could it do... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - John 9:1-41

92. Dispute concerning a blind man (John 9:1-41)Some Jews believed that diseases and physical disabilities were the result of either a person’s own sins or the sins of the person’s parents. When Jesus met a blind man, his disciples asked him which was the most likely cause of the man’s blindness (John 9:1-2).Jesus was not interested in discussing theoretical questions just to satisfy people’s curiosity. He was more concerned with healing the man, and in this way he would bring glory to God. His... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - John 9:6

spat , &c. For the signification, see App-176 . ground . Greek. chamai. Occurs only here and in John 18:6 . clay . Greek. pelos. Occurs only here and in verses: John 9:11 , John 9:14 , John 9:15 , and Romans 9:21 . anointed the eyes , &c = applied the clay to (Greek. epi. App-104 .) the eyes. Occurs only here and in John 9:11 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - John 9:6

When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground and made clay of the spittle, and anointed his eyes with the clay.Why did Jesus do this? We may never know, but it might have been to emphasize his humility. He did not affect any professional airs, mutter mysterious words, or pass his hands over the man's eyes; and, by the use of a means so simple, he forever removed the idea that he might have used some powerful medicine. The anointing with clay also had the function of emphasizing the blind... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - John 9:6

John 9:6. He spat on the ground, &c.— We are not to imagine that he did this, because it any way contributed towards the cure. Like the other external actions which accompanied his miracles, it was designed to signify to the blind man, that his sight was coming to him, not by accident, but by the gift of the Person who spake to him. The general reason which Cyril has assigned for Christ's touching the lepers, his taking hold of the dead, his breathing on the apostles, when he communicated... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - John 9:6

6, 7. he spat on the ground, and made clay . . . and he anointed the eyes of the blind man—These operations were not so incongruous in their nature as might appear, though it were absurd to imagine that they contributed in the least degree to the effect which followed. (See :- and see on John 7:33.) read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - John 9:1-12

The healing of the Man 9:1-12The exact time of this miracle and Jesus’ resultant discourse is unclear. Evidently these events transpired sometime between the feast of Tabernacles (John 7:2; John 7:10; September 10-17, A.D. 32.) and the feast of Dedication (John 10:22-39; December 18, A.D. 32.). [Note: Hoehner, p. 143; cf. Brown, 1:388-90.] This sixth of John’s seven select signs shows Jesus’ power over misfortune. [Note: Tenney, John: The Gospel . . ., p. 312.] read more