Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus uses mud from spit and dirt, a substance that would blind a sighted person, to heal blindness. This wasn't just a random act; it was a deliberate, almost defiant, use of a common remedy of the day to show that divine power could work even through the seemingly ordinary or even inappropriate, drawing attention to His unique authority.
Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus had just responded to his disciples' question about why the man was born blind, stating it was so God's works could be displayed through him. He then immediately begins the healing process by mixing mud from dirt and his own saliva, an act that would have seemed strange and even potentially harmful to the man's eyes. This unconventional method is the first step in a remarkable demonstration of God's power, leading into the command to wash in the Pool of Siloam.
Jesus uses spit and dirt to heal blindness. Why these strange, even repulsive, ingredients?
Jesus intentionally used common materials—spit and dust—to create mud. This wasn't just a random act; it was a profound statement:
Jesus doesn't just heal; He instructs. What does the command to 'Go, wash' reveal about faith?
The act of anointing the eyes with mud was only the first step. Jesus then gives a specific command: 'Go, wash in the pool of Siloam.' This is a crucial part of the miracle:
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Understand the original words
eptusen · Greek Verb
To eject saliva from the mouth. In the ancient Near East, saliva was sometimes believed to have medicinal or ritual properties, though here it serves as an agent of Jesus' miraculous power.
pēlon · Greek Noun
Earthy material mixed with liquid. In Scripture, it often symbolizes human frailty or the dust from which humanity was created, yet here it becomes a medium for a creative miracle.
ptusmatos · Greek Noun
The clear liquid secreted by the glands in the mouth. In this context, it is the physical element used by Jesus to heal, demonstrating his authority over nature and the use of tangible means to accomplish divine purposes.
epechrisen · Greek Verb
To apply oil or another substance to a person or thing, usually in a religious or consecratory context. Here, it denotes the application of the healing agent to the man's eyes.
Jesus' use of spittle and mud, and the subsequent controversy over Sabbath-breaking, highlight the tension between His divine power and the rigid religious interpretations of His day.
c. 30 AD— this verse
Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind
Jesus encounters a man who has been blind from birth and performs a significant miracle by healing him. This event is the central focus of John chapter 9.
1st Century AD
Jewish Sabbath Regulations
Jewish leaders had strict interpretations of the Sabbath laws, prohibiting activities like healing or preparing medicine. Jesus' actions, particularly healing on the Sabbath, would be seen as a direct challenge to their authority and understanding of the Law.
1st Century AD
Popular Beliefs About Spittle and Mud
In the wider Greco-Roman and Jewish world, saliva (especially 'fasting saliva') and mud were sometimes believed to have medicinal properties for eye ailments. This context helps understand the materials Jesus used.
1st Century AD
The Pool of Siloam
The Pool of Siloam, a vital water source in Jerusalem, held symbolic importance and was a well-known public place. Jesus sending the man to wash there was a public act with potential symbolic meaning.
c. 90-100 AD
The Gospel of John is Written
The Gospel of John is composed, recording Jesus' life, teachings, and miracles, including the healing of the man born blind, for a later audience.
This passage speaks of God forming man from the dust of the earth, echoing the 'clay' Jesus uses, symbolizing God's creative power at work in healing.
Isaiah 8:6The prophet speaks of the 'waters of Shiloah' which flow gently, and Jesus sends the man to the pool of Siloam ('Sent'), suggesting a connection to God's provision and the Messiah.
Jesus uses spittle to heal a deaf man, showing a pattern of using physical means, even unconventional ones, to facilitate healing and demonstrate His power.
In this healing, Jesus spits on the man's eyes and asks him what he sees, again using a physical touch and then asking for a response, similar to the process in John 9.
2 Kings 4:29Elisha uses his staff in a symbolic act to heal a child, demonstrating that God often works through tangible, even peculiar, actions performed by His prophets and servants.
vincentJohn 9:6: "When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,"
On the ground (χαμαὶ)Only here and John 18:6.Anointed (ἐπέχρισε)Only here and John 9:11. 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 cradl…
ellicottJohn 9:6: "When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,"
(6) And he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. —The words “blind man” are omitted in some of the older MSS. The marginal rendering, and He spread the clay upon the eyes of the blind man (or, upon his eyes ) , is to be preferred. The details given in this and the next verse are evidently to be regarded as part of the sign. They impressed…
Jesus uses mud from spit and dirt, a substance that would blind a sighted person, to heal blindness. This wasn't just a random act; it was a deliberate, almost defiant, use of a common remedy of the day to show that divine power could work even through the seemingly ordinary or even inappropriate, drawing attention to His unique authority.
Jesus had just responded to his disciples' question about why the man was born blind, stating it was so God's works could be displayed through him. He then immediately begins the healing process by mixing mud from dirt and his own saliva, an act that would have seemed strange and even potentially harmful to the man's eyes. This unconventional method is the first step in a remarkable demonstration of God's power, leading into the command to wash in the Pool of Siloam.
Jesus had just responded to his disciples' question about why the man was born blind, stating it was so God's works could be displayed through him. He then immediately begins the healing process by mixing mud from dirt and his own saliva, an act that would have seemed strange and even potentially harmful to the man's eyes. This unconventional method is the first step in a remarkable demonstration of God's power, leading into the command to wash in the Pool of Siloam.
"Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud" — Jesus uses mud from spit and dirt, a substance that would blind a sighted person, to heal blindness. This wasn't just a random act; it was a deliberate, almost defiant, use of a common remedy of th…
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Last reviewed October 2026