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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work.

Context of John 9:4

2His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it 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 4:34“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.
• John 5:19Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.
• John 10:32but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”
• John 17:4I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.
• Luke 13:32He replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’
• Acts 4:20As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
• John 11:9Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light.
• John 12:35Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going.
• Ecclesiastes 9:10Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.
• Isaiah 38:18For the grave cannot praise you, death cannot sing your praise; those who go down to the pit cannot hope for your faithfulness.
• Ephesians 5:16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
• Colossians 4:5Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.

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