Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 9:9
Some said, This is he: others [said,] He is like him: [but] he said, I am [he.]
9. Some said ] Or, Others said, making three groups of speakers in all.
He is like him ] The better reading is, No, but he is like him. The opening of his eyes would greatly change his look and manner: this added to the extreme improbability of a cure made them doubt his identity.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 9. Some said, This is he] This miracle was not wrought in private-nor before a few persons – nor was it lightly credited. Those who knew him before were divided in their opinion concerning him: not whether the man who sat there begging was blind before – for this was known to all; nor, whether the person now before them saw clearly – for this was now notorious; but whether this was the person who was born blind, and who used in a particular place to sit begging.
Others said, He is like him] This was very natural: for certainly the restoration of his sight must have given him a very different appearance to what he had before.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Some conclude it was he, others doubted, but did think he was like him: he puts it out of doubt, and saith that he was the man.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Some said, this is he,…. It is the same man that was blind, and begged:
others [said]; in one of Beza’s copies it is added “no”, and so read the Vulgate Latin, and all the Oriental versions; though they owned and said,
he is like him. This discourse of the neighbours concerning the blind man restored to sight, resembles the talk that generally is among relations, acquaintance, and neighbours, when anyone belonging to them is called by grace, and converted, saying, what is come to such an one? is he mad or melancholy? he is not the man he was: he is scarcely the same; is it he, or another? what is the matter with him?
[but] he said, I am [he]; and so put an end to the dispute between them, by his frank acknowledgment that he was the blind man, and the beggar they before knew as such: so persons enlightened by the Spirit of God, and effectually called by his grace, are very free and ready to acknowledge what they were before conversion, what poor, blind, and miserable, and contemptible creatures they were: Matthew owns himself to have been a publican; and Paul confesses he was a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an injurious person, and the chief of sinners.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Nay but he is like him (, ). Vigorous denial () and mere similarity suggested. Associative instrumental case after . The crowd is divided.
He said ( ). Emphatic demonstrative (as in John 9:11; John 9:12; John 9:25; John 9:36), “That one spake up.” He knew.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
He said [] . The strong demonstrative throws the man into strong relief as the central figure.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “Some said, This is he:- (alloi elegon hoti houtos estin) “Some affirmed this is he,” or that he is the one. Some of his neighbors, those who had known him for many years, Joh 9:1; Joh 9:8.
2) “Others said, He is like him: (alloi elegon ouchi alla homoios auto estin) “Others asserted, no, but he is like or similar in appearance to him,” or he surely looks like him. Apparently the cure had altered his appearance somewhat, Why not? He was changed from a groveling beggar by the wayside of life, a blind, unstable, staggering, beggar, to a well seeing free man, Joh 9:23.
3) “But he said, I am he.”(ekeinos elegen hoti ego eimi) “That one said, I am the one,” who was the blind beggar, who sat and begged, for so long a time, but now I can see. This frustrated and incensed the Pharisees, who were more blind than he, by the god of this world, Joh 9:15; Joh 9:17; Joh 9:25; 2Co 4:3-4.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(9)He is like him.The more probable reading is, No; but he is like him. It is not that these speakers agree with some hesitation with those who assert the identity. They oppose to it their own opinion, that it is a case of resemblance only. He himself sets the question at rest by declaring that he is the same person.
The verse, and indeed the whole narrative, is one of the many striking instances of the natural form which is taken by the narrative of one personally acquainted with all the facts. We may suppose that St. John recorded this from the lips of the man himself. We can still see the whole picture;the man returning, observed by one or two neighbours, who spread the story; the excitement of their curiosity; the question whether he is really the same; some struck by the points of identity in the features, and declaring that he is; others struck by the features of the opened eyes lighting up the whole face, and declaring that he is not; the simple declaration of the man himself, which is at once accepted as decisiveall this passes before us just as it occurred.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
9. Like him This was doubtless the desperate solution of some who, like certain modern would-be philosophers, adopt any supposition rather than admit a miracle.
He said, I am he A man is generally the best judge of his own identity.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Joh 9:9. Others said, He is like him: The circumstance of having received his sight, would give him an air of spirit and cheerfulness, which would render him something unlike what he was before, and might occasion a little doubt to those who were not well acquainted with him. But see the Inferences at the end of the chapter.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
9 Some said, This is he: others said , He is like him: but he said, I am he .
Ver. 9. I am he ] Thus their doubting (by divine disposition) made much for the manifestation of Christ’s power in the before mentioned miracle.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Joh 9:9 . “Others” but evidently of the same description “said, This is he”. Besides those who were doubtful and those who were certain of his identity there was a third opinion uttered: “He is like him”. Naturally the opened eyes would alter his appearance. The doubts as to his identity were scattered by the man’s decisive .
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Some. Greek. allos. App-124, as in next clause. others. See note above.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
[252]
Joh 9:9. [253] , like) Human reason invents and supposes anything, sooner than it will believe a miracle has been wrought: Joh 9:18, But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight; Act 2:13, Others mocking, said, These men are full of new wine. But on that account the more is the truth confirmed.
[253] Ver. 8, , neighbours) the miracle was manifest to all.-V. g.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Joh 9:9
Joh 9:9
Others said, It is he: others said, No, but he is like him. He said, I am he.-Some men are never certain of anything. They are vacillating in their minds and deficient in will power and are never positive as to anything; others reach positive and definite conclusions and can be relied on to be true to them. The healed man seems to have been of this character. Those who knew him best said, It is he. Those not knowing him so well, or not willing to appear or to be too bold, said, He is like him. But the blind man said, I am he. I am the same person who was born blind and sat and begged.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Reciprocal: 1Sa 10:11 – when all Joh 9:19 – Is this Act 9:21 – Is not
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
9
Some of the people seemed to be very certain of the man’s identity, while others professed only to see a resemblance. But the man settled the discussion by informing them that he was the man who had been blind.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Joh 9:9. Others said, It is he: others said, No, but he is like him. He said, I am he. The object of this verse and the last is to show how notorious the cure became, and how firmly the fact had been established.