SEV Biblia, Chapter 9:6
Esto dicho, escupi en tierra, e hizo lodo con la saliva, y unt el lodo sobre los ojos del ciego,
Clarke's Bible Commentary - John 9:6
Verse 6. Anointed the eyes of the blind man] It would be difficult to find out the reason which induced our Lord to act thus. It is certain, this procedure can never be supposed to have been any likely medical means to restore sight to a man who was born blind; this action, therefore, had no tendency to assist the miracle. If his eye-lids had been only so gummed together that they needed nothing but to be suppled and well washed, it is not likely that this could possibly have been omitted from his birth until now. The Jews believed that there was some virtue in spittle to cure the diseases of the eye; but then they always accompanied this with some charm. Our Lord might make clay with the spittle to show that no charms or spells were used, and to draw their attention more particularly to the miracle which he was about to work. Perhaps the best lesson we can learn from this is: That God will do his own work in his own way; and, to hide pride from man, will often accomplish the most beneficial ends by means not only simple or despicable in themselves, but by such also as appear entirely contrary, in their nature and operation, to the end proposed to be effected by them.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 6. And when he had thus spoken , etc.] In answer to the disciples question, and declaring his own work and office in the world, and the necessity he was under of performing it: he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle ; the Misnic doctors speak of qwrn jyj , clay that is spitted, or spittle clay, which their commentators say was a weak, thin clay, like spittle or water; but this here was properly spittle clay, or clay made of spittle, for want of water; or it may be rather, through choice Christ spat upon the dust of the earth, and worked it together into a consistence, like clay: and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay ; however, spittle, especially fasting spittle, might be thought proper in some disorder of the eyes, to be used, as it was by the Jews; (see Gill on John 9:16); yet clay was a most unlikely means of restoring sight to a man that was born blind, which might be thought rather a means of making a man blind that could see. This may be an emblem of the word of God, the eye salve of the Gospel; which is a very unlikely means in the opinion of a natural man, who counts it foolishness, of enlightening and saving sinners; and yet by this foolishness of preaching God does save those that believe.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-7 - Christ cured many who were blind by disease or accident; here he cure one born blind. Thus he showed his power to help in the most desperat cases, and the work of his grace upon the souls of sinners, which give sight to those blind by nature. This poor man could not see Christ, but Christ saw him. And if we know or apprehend anything of Christ, it is because we were first known of him. Christ says of uncommon calamities that they are not always to be looked on as special punishments of sin sometimes they are for the glory of God, and to manifest his works. Ou life is our day, in which it concerns us to do the work of the day. We must be busy, and not waste day-time; it will be time to rest when ou day is done, for it is but a day. The approach of death should quicke us to improve all our opportunities of doing and getting good. What good we have an opportunity to do, we should do quickly. And he tha will never do a good work till there is nothing to be objected against will leave many a good work for ever undone, Ec 11:4. Christ magnifie his power, in making a blind man to see, doing that which one woul think more likely to make a seeing man blind. Human reason cannot judg of the Lord's methods; he uses means and instruments that men despise Those that would be healed by Christ must be ruled by him. He came bac from the pool wondering and wondered at; he came seeing. Thi represents the benefits in attending on ordinances of Christ' appointment; souls go weak, and come away strengthened; go doubting and come away satisfied; go mourning, and come away rejoicing; go blind, and come away seeing.
Greek Textus Receptus
ταυτα 5023 D-APN ειπων 2036 5631 V-2AAP-NSM επτυσεν 4429 5656 V-AAI-3S χαμαι 5476 ADV και 2532 CONJ εποιησεν 4160 5656 V-AAI-3S πηλον 4081 N-ASM εκ 1537 PREP του 3588 T-GSN πτυσματος 4427 N-GSN και 2532 CONJ επεχρισεν 2025 5656 V-AAI-3S τον 3588 T-ASM πηλον 4081 N-ASM επι 1909 PREP τους 3588 T-APM οφθαλμους 3788 N-APM του 3588 T-GSM τυφλου 5185 A-GSM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
6. On the ground (camai). Only here and xviii. 6. Anointed (epecrise). Only here and ver. 11. The spittle was regarded as having a peculiar virtue, not only as a remedy for diseases of the eye, but generally as a charm, so that it was employed in incantations. Persius, describing an old crone handling an infant, says: "She takes the babe from the cradle, and with her middle finger moistens its forehead and lips with spittle to keep away the evil eye" ("Sat.," 2, 32, 33). Tacitus relates how one of the common people of Alexandria importuned Vespasian for a remedy for his blindness, and prayed him to sprinkle his cheeks and the balls of his eyes with the secretion of his mouth ("History," 4, 81). Pliny says: "We are to believe that by continually anointing each morning with fasting saliva (i.e., before eating), inflammations of the eyes are prevented" ("Natural History," 28, 7). Some editors read here ejpeqhken, put upon, for ejpecrisen, anointed.Of the blind man. Omit, and read as Rev., his eyes.
