The blind man Jesus healed says that he trusts Jesus, bowing to him. Of course, the "bowing" is translated as "worship" but that isn't what the word means.
John 9:39 For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind
John 9:39 For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.
For a decision, I myself show up into this society, this one here, so that the ones not watching might watch and the ones watching might become blind.
Being able to see is a choice. We may not want to see, but we should choose sight.
Jesus starts by saying that he came into this society so that we have a "choice." The choice is seeing or not seeing.
The humor here is that Jesus is comparing the blind man who he cured to his opponents who cannot look at him. The first part of the humor is lost because the negative isn't translated. It is a special negative used to mean "not thinking or wanting" so the people he is describing are those who don't think or want to see. He gives them the ability to see and something to see. The word translated as "see" here is different than the "see" in John 9:37 used to describe the seeing of the cured blind man. This see is not the most common word for "see" that is used to mean "understand." This verb means physically seeing.
In the next part of this verse, he is not referring to a different group of people who can see before, but those who can see because he enabled them to see. Those who didn't want to see can now see, but they might become blind. Blindness is still a choice for them. The "might" is untranslated but it is in the form of the verb.
- MW -- Missing Word -- The pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "I myself."
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "am" doesn't exist in the source.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "world" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "they" is not the common pronoun usually translated as "they."
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "which" doesn't exist in the source.
- WF - Wrong Form - The "see" is not an active verb but a participle, "seeing."
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "not" is the subjective negative of opinion with the sense of "not wanting," "not thinking" or not seeming when used with a non-opinion verb.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "be" doesn't exist in the source.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "that" doesn't exist in the source.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "they" is not the common pronoun usually translated as "they."
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "which" doesn't exist in the source.
- WF - Wrong Form - The "see" is not an active verb but a participle, "seeing."
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "be" doesn't exist in the source.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "made" should be something more like "become."
- MW -- Missing Word -- The pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "I myself."
- WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "have" indicates the past perfect tense, but the tense is something that happens at a specific point in time (past, present, or future).
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "world" is not shown in the English translation.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "blind" should be something more like "not wanting to see."
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "will" should be something more like "might."
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "who" doesn't exist in the source.
- WF - Wrong Form - The "see" is not an active verb but a participle, "seeing."
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "will" should be something more like "might."
For -- The word translated as "for" means "into" a place, "towards" as a direction, "in regards to" a subject, and "up to" limits in time and measure. This is the same word translated as "into" below.
judgment - - The Greek word translated as "judgment" is a "verdict," a "decree," or a "decision." It is also the announcement of a decision made by a leader. It is not the English virtue of "good judgment."
I -- The pronoun "I" is used here. Since, as the subject of the sentence, it is part of the verb, its explicit use accentuates who is speaking "I." Saying "I myself" captures this feeling in English.
missing "myself" -- (MW) The subjective pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "I myself."
am -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "am" in the Greek source. The verb is not passive or the present tense.
come -- The word translated as "come" primarily means "to start out" but Christ usually uses it to mean "come" but not always. It indicates movement, especially its beginning, without indicating a direction toward or away from anything, so it works either as "start," "come," or "go," but it is more like our phrase "being underway." Our English word "show up" captures both the "start" and "come" ideas. See this article for more.
into -- The word translated as "unto" means "into" a place, "towards" as a direction, "in regards to" a subject, and "up to" limits in time and measure.
this -- "This" is a demonstrative pronoun that means "this," "here," "the nearer," and "the familiar." It often stands apart from its noun, acting like a pronoun, "this one here" or "this here."
missing "the" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article,"the," which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more.
world, -- Jesus uses the word translated as "the world" to mean "the world order," and "civilization," specifically its "rulers," or its organization. Today, we use the word "society" or "regime" in this sense. More about this word in this article about related words.
that -- The word translated as "that" is an adverb "in that place," "there," "where," "when," or as a conjunction that starts a subordinate clause "that," "when," "in order that" or "because."
they -- (CW) The word translated as "they" is the Greek definite article, without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
which -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "which" in the Greek source. It was added because the next verb was translated as active rather than as a participle.
see --(WF) The verb translated as "see " means "to see," "to look to," "to look like," "to beware," and "to look for." It is the more tangible sense of seeing, such as seeing what is right in front of you rather than understanding so "watch" works better. "Look" does not work as well because it doesn't take a direct object and this word does.
not -- (CW) The negative used here is the Greek negative of a subjective opinion, commands, and requests. The sense is that "you don't want" or "think" something, not that it isn't done or thought. With the verb "to be," the sense is "doesn't seem." When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words. This is the negative used with commands or requests. Used with an imperative to express a will or wish. Used in negative "when" and "if" clauses.
might - This helping verb in English comes from the form of the Greek verb that indicates a possibility. We would usually say "might" or "should" in English.
see; -- The verb translated as "see " means "to see," "to look to," "to look like," "to beware," and "to look for." It is the more tangible sense of seeing, such as seeing what is right in front of you rather than understanding so "watch" works better. "Look" does not work as well because it doesn't take a direct object and this word does.
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also."
that -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "that" in the Greek source.
they -- (CW) The word translated as "they" is the Greek definite article, without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
which -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "which" in the Greek source. It was added because the next verb was translated as active rather than as a participle.
see --(WF) The verb translated as "see " means "to see," "to look to," "to look like," "to beware," and "to look for." It is the more tangible sense of seeing, such as seeing what is right in front of you rather than understanding so "watch" works better. "Look" does not work as well because it doesn't take a direct object and this word does.
might - This helping verb in English comes from the form of the Greek verb that indicates a possibility. We would usually say "might" or "should" in English.
be -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "be" in the Greek source. The verb is not passive but in the middle voice, the subject acting on themselves.
made -- (WW) The word translated as "made" means "to become," that is, to enter into a new state. In Greek, especially as used by Jesus, it is the opposite of "being," which is existence in the current state.
blind -- "Blind" is a word that means both physically and mentally blind. It also means all things that are obscure. It has no article "the" before it.
For -- The word translated as "for" means "into" a place, "towards" as a direction, "in regards to" a subject, and "up to" limits in time and measure. This is the same word translated as "into" below.
judgment - - The Greek word translated as "judgment" is a "verdict," a "decree," or a "decision." It is also the announcement of a decision made by a leader. It is not the English virtue of "good judgment."
I -- The pronoun "I" is used here. Since, as the subject of the sentence, it is part of the verb, its explicit use accentuates who is speaking "I." Saying "I myself" captures this feeling in English.
missing "myself" -- (MW) The subjective pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "I myself."
have -- (WT) This helping verb "have" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past. This is not the tense of the verb here.
come -- The word translated as "come" primarily means "to start out" but Christ usually uses it to mean "come" but not always. It indicates movement, especially its beginning, without indicating a direction toward or away from anything, so it works either as "start," "come," or "go," but it is more like our phrase "being underway." Our English word "show up" captures both the "start" and "come" ideas. See this article for more.
into -- The word translated as "unto" means "into" a place, "towards" as a direction, "in regards to" a subject, and "up to" limits in time and measure.
this -- "This" is a demonstrative pronoun that means "this," "here," "the nearer," and "the familiar." It often stands apart from its noun, acting like a pronoun, "this one here" or "this here."
missing "the" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article,"the," which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more.
world, -- Jesus uses the word translated as "the world" to mean "the world order," and "civilization," specifically its "rulers," or its organization. Today, we use the word "society" or "regime" in this sense. More about this word in this article about related words.
so that -- The word translated as "so that" is an adverb "in that place," "there," "where," "when," or as a conjunction that starts a subordinate clause "that," "when," "in order that" or "because."
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more. Here the sense is "the ones" or "those."
blind -- (WW) The two Greeks words here mean "not wanting to see," which is not the same thing as being blind. The negative used here is the Greek negative of a subjective opinion, commands, and requests. The sense is that "you don't want" or "think" something, not that it isn't done or thought. The verb translated as "see " means "to see," "to look to," "to look like," "to beware," and "to look for." It is the more tangible sense of seeing, such as seeing what is right in front of you rather than understanding so "watch" works better. "Look" does not work as well because it doesn't take a direct object and this word does. The form is a participle, so "seeing," but with the negative, the sense is "not wanting to see."
will - (WW) This helping verb in English comes from the form of the Greek verb that indicates a possibility. We would usually say "might" or "should" in English. It is not the future tense.
see; -- The verb translated as "see " means "to see," "to look to," "to look like," "to beware," and "to look for." It is the more tangible sense of seeing, such as seeing what is right in front of you rather than understanding so "watch" works better. "Look" does not work as well because it doesn't take a direct object and this word does.
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also."
those -- The word translated as "those" is the Greek definite article, without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
those who see blind.
who -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "which" in the Greek source. It was added because the next verb was translated as active rather than as a participle.
see --(WF) The verb translated as "see " means "to see," "to look to," "to look like," "to beware," and "to look for." It is the more tangible sense of seeing, such as seeing what is right in front of you rather than understanding so "watch" works better. "Look" does not work as well because it doesn't take a direct object and this word does.
will - (WW) This helping verb in English comes from the form of the Greek verb that indicates a possibility. We would usually say "might" or "should" in English.
become -- The word translated as "become" means "to become," that is, to enter into a new state. In Greek, especially as used by Jesus, it is the opposite of "being," which is existence in the current state.
blind -- "Blind" is a word that means both physically and mentally blind. It also means all things that are obscure. It has no article "the" before it.
Εἰς [325 verses](prep) "For" is eis, which means "into (of place)," "up to (of time)," "until (of time)," "as much as (of measure or limit)," "as far as (of measure or limit)," "towards (to express relation)," "in regard to (to express relation)," "of an end or limit," and "for (of purpose or object)."
κρίμα [5 verses](noun sg neut acc) "Judgment" is krima, which means "decision", "judgment", "decree", "verdict," "resolution," and a "legal decision."
ἐγὼ [162 verses](pron 1st sg masc nom) "I" is ego, which is the first-person singular pronoun meaning "I." It also means "I at least," "for my part," "indeed," and for myself.
εἰς [325 verses](prep) "Into" is eis, which means "into (of place)," "up to (of time)," "until (of time)," "as much as (of measure or limit)," "as far as (of measure or limit)," "towards (to express relation)," "in regard to (to express relation)," "of an end or limit," and "for (of purpose or object)."
τὸν [821 verses](article sg masc acc) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). -
κόσμον [63 verses](noun sg masc acc) "World" is kosmos, which mean "order," "good order," "ruler," "civilization," "world order," "universe," and "the world of men." It is a form of the is verb kosmeô, which means "to order," "to arrange," "to rule," "to adorn" (especially women), and "to equip." It especially means controlling and arranging an army.
τοῦτον, [51 verses](adj sg masc acc) "This" is toutos, which is a demonstrative pronoun that means "this," "here," "the nearer," and "the familiar."
ἦλθον, [198 verses](1st sg aor ind act) "Am come" is erchomai, which means "to start," "to set out," "to come," "to go," and any kind of motion. It means both "to go" on a journey and "to arrive" at a place.
ἵνα [134 verses](adv/conj) "That" is hina, which means "in that place," "there," "where," "when," but when beginning a phrase "that," "in order that," "when," and "because."
οἱ [821 verses](article sg masc nom) "They" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
μὴ [447 verses](conj) "Not" is me , which is the negative used in prohibitions and expressions of doubt meaning "not" and "no." As οὐ (ou) negates fact and statement; μή rejects, οὐ denies; μή is relative, οὐ absolute; μή subjective, οὐ objective. With pres. or aor. subj. used in a warning or statement of fear, "take care" It can be the conjunction "lest" or "for fear that." Used before tis with an imperative to express a will or wish for something in independent sentences and, with subjunctives, to express prohibitions.
βλέποντες [46 verses](part pl pres act masc nom) "Which see" is from of blepo, which means "to look," "to see," "to look to," "to look like," "to rely on," "to look longingly," "to propose," "to beware," "to behold," and "to look for."
βλέπωσιν [46 verses](verb 3rd pl pres subj act) "Might see" is from of blepo, which means "to look," "to see," "to look to," "to look like," "to rely on," "to look longingly," "to propose," "to beware," "to behold," and "to look for."
The Greek source at Perseus shows the following in John 9:40 but it appears in John 9:39 in other Greek sources.
καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "also." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also." Also used to give emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."
οἱ [821 verses](article sg masc nom) "They" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
βλέποντες[46 verses](part pl pres act masc nom) "Which see" is from of blepo, which means "to look," "to see," "to look to," "to look like," "to rely on," "to look longingly," "to propose," "to beware," "to behold," and "to look for." -- The verb translated as "see ye" means "to see," "to look to," "to look like," "to beware," and "to look for." It is the more tangible sense of seeing, such as seeing what is right in front of you rather than understanding so "watch" works better. "Look" does not work as well because it doesn't take a direct object and this word does.
τυφλοὶ [15 verses](adj pl masc nom) "Blind" is typhlos, which means "blind," "lacking vision of the future," "dark," "dim," "obscure," "hidden," and "no outlet (of passages)."
γένωνται. [117 verses](verb 3rd pl aor subj mid) "Might be made" is ginomai, which means "to become," "to come into being," "to happen," of things "to be produced," of events "happen," "take place," "come to pass," "to be engaged in," math "to be multiplied into," "become one of," "turn into."and "to be." It means changing into a new state of being. When the participle takes a predicate, the sense is "coming into" something. It is the complementary opposite of the verb "to be" (eimi) which indicates existence in the same state.