Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

John 9:29

λελάληκεν. Hath spoken, i.e. that Moses received a revelation which still remains. This is a frequent meaning of the perfect tense—to express the permanent result of a past action. Thus the frequent formula γέγραπται is strictly ‘it has been written,’ or ‘it stands written:’ i.e. it once was written, and the writing still remains. But as there are cases where the Greek aorist is best represented by the English perfect (John 8:10; John 8:29), so there are cases where the Greek perfect is best represented by the English aorist; and this perhaps is one. The meaning is, Moses had a mission plainly declared by God.

οὐκ οἴδ. πόθεν. We know neither His mission, nor who sent Him. In a different sense they declared the very opposite, John 7:27. Comp. Pilate’s question (John 19:9), and Christ’s declaration (John 8:14). As at Capernaum (John 6:31-32), He is compared unfavourably with Moses.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

John 9:29

Old Testament

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