What Does John 9:1 Mean in the King James?

And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.

John 9:1 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

The gaze comes first: Jesus sees the person before the verse names his blindness.

THE MEANING

You can be seen even inside a condition you have carried from the beginning. The condition is named, but it does not erase the person: Jesus sees a man.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The lie that you become visible only after your condition changes.

THE ROOT

εἶδεν

eiden

GROWS FROM

εἰδ

See or perceive; in this Greek word family, seeing is closely joined to knowing.

Greek places seeing and knowing in one word family: ⁨εἶδεν⁩ means “saw,” while ⁨οἶδα⁩ is a related form used for “know.” The verse opens with more than eyesight, the man first appears as someone Jesus sees, and later speaks from his own knowing.

ALSO GROWS

oida: Know, perceive

οἶδα

This related form means “know”; in John 9:25, the man says ⁨οἶδα⁩, “I know,” joining the opening act of seeing with his later testimony.

eidos: Form, appearance; what is seen

εἶδος

This word for visible form shares the seeing-family root, echoing how Jesus sees the man himself before the verse names his condition.

THE PATTERN

Divine seeing meets a person before a condition or judgment can define them.

And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?

Genesis 16:13 · KJVHagar recognizes that she is seen in the very place where she feels exposed and alone.

But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

1 Samuel 16:7 · KJVThe verse distinguishes outward appearance from the inward person God sees.

And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.

Luke 7:13 · KJVJesus sees the grieving woman before responding to her sorrow.

THE THREAD

He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.

John 9:25 · KJV

The Greek word family behind “saw” in this verse is also present in the man’s “I know” here. The one first seen by Jesus later speaks from his own knowing.

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