1. Healing (9:1-12)

It is stressed that the man in question was congenitally blind. This heightened appreciation for the significance of the miracle (cf. 9:32). To first-century Jews, including the disciples (v.2), it also implied some antenatal sin either on the part of the parents or of the unborn child. Jesus saw things differently: this blindness was not the specific result of some sin, but its healing would bring glory to God (v.3; cf. 11:4). Healing was part of the work of God, and by doing it Jesus brought light to the world (vv.4-5).

Saliva was thought by the ancients to have curative properties (v.6; cf. Mk 7:33; 8:23). Siloam (9:7; cf. Ne 3:15; Isa 8:6; 22:9, 11) was built during the reign of Hezekiah (2Ch 32:30) and provided Jerusalem with a supply of water within the walls. The translation of its name recalls the theme of sentness prominent in John (cf. 20:21 and elsewhere). With 9:12 cf. 5:12-13.