John 9:8
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
The neighbors therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?
American King James Version (AKJV)
The neighbors therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?
American Standard Version (ASV)
The neighbors therefore, and they that saw him aforetime, that he was a beggar, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?
Basic English Translation (BBE)
Then the neighbours and others who had seen him before in the street, with his hand out for money, said, Is not this the man who got money from people?
Webster's Revision
The neighbors therefore, and they who before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?
World English Bible
The neighbors therefore, and those who saw that he was blind before, said, "Isn't this he who sat and begged?"
English Revised Version (ERV)
The neighbours therefore, and they which saw him aforetime, that he was a beggar, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?
Clarke's John 9:8 Bible Commentary
That he was blind - Ὁτι τυφλος ην: but, instead of this, προσαιτης, when he begged, or was a beggar, is the reading of ABC*DKL, seven others, both the Syriac, both the Arabic, later Persic, Coptic, Ethiopic, Armenian, Sahidic, Gothic, Slavonic, Vulgate, eight copies of the Itala, and some of the primitive fathers. This is in all probability the true reading, and is received by Griesbach into the text.
Beggars in all countries have a language peculiar to themselves. The language of the Jewish beggars was the following: זבי כי Deserve something by me - Give me something that God may reward you. רכי ני זכי גר מך O ye tender-hearted, do yourselves good by me. Another form, which seems to have been used by such as had formerly been in better circumstances, was this: סכי כי מה הוינא אסתכל בי מה אנא Look back and see what I have been; look upon me now, and see what I am. See Lightfoot.
Barnes's John 9:8 Bible Commentary
The neighbours ... - This man seems to have been one who attracted considerable attention. The number of persons totally blind in any community is very small, and it is possible that this was the only blind beggar in Jerusalem. The case was one, therefore, likely to attract attention, and one where there could be no imposture, as he was generally known.