John 9:20His parents answered them, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind;
The setting
Jerusalem, ~30 AD. The parents are carefully answering, knowing their son could be excommunicated. They confirm only what they're absolutely certain about — his identity and birth condition.
The emotion here: terrified but determined to protect their son
The original word
oidamen (οἴδαμεν) — we know with absolute certainty, not opinion
Why it matters
Excommunication meant losing livelihood, social connections, and religious identity
Read with care
What most readers miss in John 9:20
They use the strongest possible word for 'know' — they're being legally precise under pressure
Common misconceptionPeople think the parents were cowardly, but they were strategically protecting their adult son while still telling the truth.
The thread continues
Verses that echo John 9:20
Bible Genome reading
John 9:20 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
John 9:20 comes from the book of John, written during the gospel period. The setting is the Temple. These words are attributed to parents. The dominant emotion in this verse is anxious, with a comfort power of 20% and a tone that is reflective. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include testimony, parenthood. Notable phrases: We know that this is our son; born blind.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same anxious
“And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light.”
— 2 Corinthians 11:14
“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”
— 2 Timothy 3:12
“The evil spirit answered, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?"”
— Acts 19:15
“I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?'”
— Acts 22:7
“When we had all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is har…”
— Acts 26:14
Your reflection
What does John 9:20 mean to you, today?
A short note. A question. A prayer. Saved privately to your Soul Garden, dated, and tied to this verse forever.
Speak your heart →Get 3 verses for "anxious"
Delivered to your inbox right now. Free.