John 9:4

John 9:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
• New International Version (NIV)As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.
• English Standard Version (ESV)We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.
• New King James Version (NKJV)I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.

Context of John 9:4

2His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi (Teacher), who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?” 3Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but it was so that the works of God might be displayed and illustrated in him. We must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. 5As long as I am in the world, I am the Light of the world [giving guidance through My word and works].” 6When He had said this, He spat on the ground and made mud with His saliva, and He spread the mud [like an ointment] on the man’s eyes.

John 9:4 word by word

ἡμᾶς δεῖ ἐργάζεσθαι τὰ ἔργα τοῦ πέμψαντός με ἕως ἡμέρα ἐστίν· ἔρχεται νύξ, ὅτε οὐδεὶς δύναται ἐργάζεσθαι.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Iἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• mustδεῖdei · be necessaryG1163
• workἐργάζομαιergazomai · to workG2038
• the worksὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the worksἔργονergon · workG2041
• of him that sentπέμπωpempō · to sendG3992
• whileἕωςheōs · untilG2193
• it isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• dayἡμέραhēmera · dayG2250
• the nightνύξnux · nightG3571
• comethἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
• whenὅτεhote ho te hē te tō te · whenG3753
• no manοὐδείςoudeis · noneG3762
• canδύναμαιdunamai · be ableG1410

Cross-references for John 9:4

• John 4:34Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to completely finish His work.
• John 5:19So Jesus answered them by saying, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself [of His own accord], unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever things the Father does, the Son [in His turn] also does in the same way.
• John 10:32Jesus answered them, “I showed you many good works [and many acts of mercy] from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?”
• John 17:4I have glorified You [down here] on the earth by completing the work that You gave Me to do.
• Luke 13:32And He said to them, “Go and tell that fox [that sly, cowardly man], ‘Listen carefully: I cast out demons and perform healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I reach My goal.’
• Acts 4:20for we, on our part, cannot stop telling [people] about what we have seen and heard.”
• John 11:9Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours [of light] in the day? Anyone who walks in the daytime does not stumble, because he sees [by] the light of this world.
• John 12:35So Jesus said to them, “The Light is among you [only] a little while longer. Walk while you have the Light [keep on living by it], so that darkness will not overtake you. He who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going [he is drifting aimlessly].
• Ecclesiastes 9:10Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) where you are going.
• Isaiah 38:18For Sheol cannot praise or thank You, Death cannot praise You and rejoice in You; Those who go down to the pit cannot hope for Your faithfulness.
• Ephesians 5:16making the very most of your time [on earth, recognizing and taking advantage of each opportunity and using it with wisdom and diligence], because the days are [filled with] evil.
• Colossians 4:5Conduct yourself with wisdom in your interactions with outsiders (non-believers), make the most of each opportunity [treating it as something precious].

Commentaries on John 9:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4While it is day - Though I plainly perceive that the cure of this man will draw down upon me the malice of the Jewish rulers, yet I must accomplish the work for which I came into the world whole it is day - while the term of this life of mine shall last. It was about six months after this that our Lord was crucified. It is very likely that the day was now declining, and night coming on; and he took occasion from this circumstance to introduce the elegant…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4The works of him … - The works of beneficence and mercy which God has commissioned me to do, and which are expressive of his goodness and power. This was on the Sabbath day John 9:14; and though Jesus had endangered his life (Ecclesiastes 9:10; “there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave.” From this we may learn: 1.that it is our duty to employ all our time in doing the will of God. 2.that we should seek for opportunities of…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-41At the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus claimed to be the light of the world (chapters 7–8; see 8:12). Now John tells about Jesus giving light, both physically and spiritually, to a blind man who lived in darkness (see 9:5). The story ends with a surprising reversal (a complete change) of roles: The man who had been blind was assumed to live in spiritual darkness. Yet he came to see and accept God’s light. The Pharisees could see with their physical eyes…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-411-5. as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from birth--and who "sat begging" (Joh 9:8).Read the comment

Topics related to John 9:4

• Blindness
• Death
• Diligence
• Jesus Continued
• Night
• Obedience
• Sabbath
• Siloam
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Agree
• Anoint
• Ask
• Covenant
• Beg; Beggar; Begging
• Day
• Eschatology of the New Testament
• Jesus Christ
• John, Gospel of
• Night

Commentaries on John 9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings