What Does John 9:40 Mean?
Some of the separated ones who were with him heard these words, and said to him, Are we blind also?
Key words are shown with the Hebrew or Greek and what each word meant.
Selah Decoded Version The Selah Decoded Version renders what the Hebrew and Greek words meant to the people who first heard them.
King James wording
King James Version
And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?THE KEY
The question “Are we blind also?” shows that hearing blindness named is not the same as seeing it in yourself.
THE MEANING
When words about sight reach you, the question turns inward: could this name me too? Hearing the question is not yet seeing; the verse leaves open whether it becomes honest recognition or self-protection.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The lie is that being able to ask whether you are blind proves you can see.
THE ROOT
τυφλοί
typhloi
GROWS FROM
τυφλ-
typhl-
blind; unable to see
“blind” in this verse is typhloi. The word makes blindness a possibility the speakers must consider in themselves, not only a condition they can recognize in others. The next verse turns the question toward their claim “We see,” revealing the gap between naming sight and perceiving.
ALSO GROWS
typhloō: to blind, make blind
τυφλόω
This verb shows the same word-family describing sight being obstructed, connecting blindness with what a person cannot perceive.
typhlōsis: blindness
τύφλωσις
This noun names the condition in the same word-family, keeping the question focused on whether blindness applies to the speakers themselves.
THE PATTERN
A person can hear a call to perceive while remaining unable to recognize what is before them.
Hear and respond to this now, O foolish people, with no heart. You who have eyes and do not see, who have ears and do not hear.You see many things, but you do not keep watch. The ears open, but he does not hear and respond.Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember?THE THREAD
Jesus said to them, If you were blind, you would have no falling short. But now you say, We see; therefore your falling short remains.The Greek word τυφλοί (typhloi, “blind”) recurs in Jesus’ answer, carrying the question into a sharper distinction. The verse turns from wondering whether blindness applies to them to the claim “We see,” which leaves their missing unresolved.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us