New King James Version
John 9:4
4I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.
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 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
2And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. 5As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay.
Read all of John 9John 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 finish His work.
- John 5:19Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.
- John 10:32Jesus answered them, “Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?”
- John 17:4I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.
- Luke 13:32And He said to them, “Go, tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.’
- Acts 4:20For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”
- John 11:9Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.
- John 12:35Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going.
- Ecclesiastes 9:10Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.
- Isaiah 38:18For Sheol cannot thank You, Death cannot praise You; Those who go down to the pit cannot hope for Your truth.
- Ephesians 5:16redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
- Colossians 4:5Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.
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
In the dictionaries
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries