John 9:31 Meaning and Explanation
“Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →He argues from a principle everyone in the room holds: God does not lend his power to defiant impostors, but hears the devout who do his will.
What Does John 9:31 Mean?
The man reasons from the shared faith of Israel: God does not answer those who cling to evil and defy him — "if I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me" (Psalm 66:18; cf. Isaiah 1:15) — but the godly who do his will are heard. The premise comes from his judges' own teaching.
His logic is closing in: a healing like this is heaven's answer to Jesus, and heaven does not answer frauds. The principle concerns God's endorsement, not his compassion — Scripture is equally clear that the penitent sinner's cry reaches God at once (Luke 18:13-14). The point stands where the man plants it: the works of Jesus are the Father's own witness to him (John 5:36), and that witness cannot be filed away.
John 9:31 in the Original Language
theosebes (θεοσεβής), 'a worshipper of God' -- one who reveres God; the word occurs only here in the New Testament.
Frequently Asked Questions About John 9:31
What does John 9:31 mean?
He argues from a principle everyone in the room holds: God does not lend his power to defiant impostors, but hears the devout who do his will.