John 9:2

King James Version (KJV)

And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

Translations

John 9:2 - Amplified Bible

His disciples asked Him, Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he should be born blind?

John 9:2 - American Standard Version

And his disciples asked him, saying, Rabbi, who sinned, this man, or his parents, that he should be born blind?

John 9:2 - Bible in Basic English

And his disciples put a question to him, saying, Master, was it because of this man's sin, or the sin of his father and mother, that he has been blind from birth?

John 9:2 - Darby Bible

And his disciples asked him, saying, Rabbi, who sinned, this [man] or his parents, that he should be born blind?

John 9:2 - English Standard Version

And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"

John 9:2 - King James Version

And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

John 9:2 - La Biblia de las Americas

Y sus discìpulos le preguntaron, diciendo: Rabì, ¿quién pecò, éste o sus padres, para que naciera ciego?

John 9:2 - The Message

John 9:2 - New American Standard Bible

And His disciples asked Him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?"

John 9:2 - Nueva Biblia Latinoamericana de Hoy

Y Sus discìpulos Le preguntaron: "Rabì (Maestro), ¿quién pecò, éste o sus padres, para que naciera ciego?"

John 9:2 - World English Bible

His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"

John 9:2 - Young's Living Translation

and his disciples asked him, saying, `Rabbi, who did sin, this one or his parents, that he should be born blind?`

John 9:2 - Additional Comments

Note that even though the Pharisees sought to kill Jesus, His disciples continued with Him. They didn't avoid Him out of fear of the Pharisees, or even to try to get on their good side. They must have seen the weakness and fallacy in the Pharisees, and truth in Jesus. And we see Jesus verify these truths again in this chapter.
It's interesting that the disciples followed Jesus through thick and thin for 3 years, seeing Him as in control and the conqueror. So, once they saw Him having lost control (i.e. at His trial and crucifixion), they became confused and did not stay with Him. (They did stay nearby.) We need to be confident that no matter what the challenge, whether easy (U.S.) or difficult (Middle Eastern countries), we need to always be by the side of Jesus.
How did the disciples know that the man had been blind since birth? Probably Jesus told them, or they may have known the man, or he may have had some markings or dress that indicated as such.
Note that the disciples weren't moved to request Jesus to heal the man, they were more curious about his current position. Again, it appears Jesus saw the man as he could be, and the disciples did not.
It appears this view that all sickness was a result of sin may have been a Jewish teaching or simply a general viewpoint of the Jews, for we also see this question in Luke 13:1-5. And, Jesus answered the same, then, but says sin can lead to death. And we do know that sin can cause sickness - James 5:16, 1 John 5:16.
Do you find this question strange? Yet, we sometimes see people today looking at those suffering calamity and wondering what they did to deserve it. God's view is not our view. Notice how this was so God could be revealed. All of life is God's continuing effort to draw us to Him, and reveal Himself to those who can see.
Jesus' disciples should have been reminded of Job, and how his calamity was not the result of sin, but an attempt to draw Job, and millions of others, to Him in the midst of calamity.
But calamity may be a result of sin, so overall we need to be careful about determining for others how God is operating in their lives. Therefore, whether from sin or circumstance or pruning, the critical issue is how the person responds to God. Calamity tends to push people to make a decision to trust or draw away from God. How do you react in calamity? Is it "Why me!?" or a look with anticipation of how God will work?
They also should have been reminded how Scripture tells us that anything can happen to anyone (Eccl 9:2).
We also need to be careful to condemn people because they are in the darkness, and expect them to act like they are in the light. A non-Christian does not need to be good, a non-Christian needs Jesus. Everything else is vanity. They are blind -- why should they act as if they can see?
Note the disciples in the question make a major statement, that the sickness is from sin. We need to be careful to let God reveal truth to us without forcing certain truths in our questions! That's like asking, "Does your mother know you smoke?"
What was the purpose of this question? Could this be a form of gossip? It seems the disciples were not concerned about the man, merely inquisitive. To be fair, maybe they were simply asking it as a theological question.
Some people at that time believed in the Pythagorean notion of the pre-existence of souls, and their transmigration from one body to another. Was this manoul condemned to the dungeon of this blind body to punish it for some great sin committed in a former body?
Even though the disciples had a mislead assumption (that all those born blind were so because of their sin or their parents sin), God does say that parents need to beware that sin in their lives will affect the next 3 generations of their children (Exodus 34:7). Picture any sin that you struggle with, your children and theirs will get involved in the same sin -- there's some motivation to listen to God! With His power you can stop the chain.

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