John 9:7
and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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John the Evangelist highlights the pool's name, "Sent," not just as a geographical detail, but as a theological pointer. By sending the man to Siloam, Jesus subtly connects the healing act to His own identity as the One sent by God, the true source of spiritual sight.
Jesus has just miraculously healed a man born blind by anointing his eyes with a mud mixture. He then commands the man to go wash in the Pool of Siloam, a name interpreted as "Sent," before the man experiences full sight. This encounter immediately follows Jesus' discourse about being the Light of the world, and the healing itself serves as a powerful demonstration of that claim, sparking debate and disbelief among onlookers.
Jesus gives a blind man a strange instruction, seemingly with no inherent power. Why such a specific, earthly command?
Jesus' command to wash in the pool of Siloam wasn't about the water's magical properties. Instead, it was a profound test of the man's faith and obedience.
A Test of Trust
The pool's name, 'Siloam,' means 'Sent.' This isn't a coincidence; it points directly to the identity and mission of Jesus.
The name Siloam, meaning 'Sent,' is a deliberate choice by John to highlight Jesus' own identity.
Jesus: The Ultimate Sending
Imagine seeing for the first time after a lifetime of darkness. What does this physical healing reveal about spiritual transformation?
The miracle isn't just about restoring physical sight; it's a powerful picture of spiritual awakening.
Understand the original words
kolumbēthran · Greek Noun
A reservoir or body of water collected for a specific purpose. Biblically, pools are often sites of healing or purification; Siloam specifically relates to the "sending" of the water from the Gihon spring.
apestalmenos · Greek Verb/Adjective
A term meaning "sent." In the context of the Gospel of John, it serves as a christological typology, as Jesus is the one "sent" by the Father to bring light and healing to the world.
The name 'Siloam' itself, meaning 'Sent,' carries profound weight. It points to the divine mission of Jesus, who, as the Sent One of God, brings spiritual sight to those blinded by sin, mirroring the physical healing He performed at this significant Jerusalem water source.
c. 8th century BC
Hezekiah's Tunnel Completed
King Hezekiah constructed a tunnel to bring water from the Gihon Spring to the Pool of Siloam, securing Jerusalem's water supply during a siege. This feat of engineering likely solidified the Pool of Siloam's importance.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem
The Assyrian army under Sennacherib besieged Jerusalem. While the city ultimately survived, the event highlighted the critical need for reliable water sources like the Pool of Siloam.
c. 586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem
The Babylonian Empire conquered Jerusalem and destroyed the First Temple. The Pool of Siloam, though damaged, likely remained a vital water source for the remaining inhabitants and later for those returning from exile.
c. 516 BC
Second Temple Dedicated
After the return from Babylonian exile, the Second Temple was dedicated. The Pool of Siloam continued to serve the city and its religious life, potentially associated with Temple rituals.
This passage parallels the command given to Naaman the Syrian to wash in the Jordan River to be healed, highlighting Jesus' use of seemingly simple actions to test and exercise faith, just as Elisha did.
Isaiah 8:6The verse mentions the waters of 'Siloah that flow gently,' connecting the pool's name to a divine provision, echoing how the pool of Siloam itself was seen as a divinely 'Sent' resource for the city.
John 7:37-39Jesus declared, 'If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink,' and linked this to the promise of living water, drawing a parallel between the physical water from Siloam and the spiritual 'sending' of the Holy Spirit that brings new life.
Isaiah 42:7This prophetic passage speaks of God opening the eyes of the blind, a direct foreshadowing of Jesus' miracle in John 9, reinforcing the identity of Jesus as the One 'Sent' to bring spiritual and physical sight.
Genesis 49:10Though debated by some scholars, the name 'Shiloh' (similar to Siloam) refers to the Messiah, the 'Sent One' of God. John's emphasis on Siloam being 'Sent' invites reflection on Jesus as the ultimate fulfillment of this messianic hope.
clarkeJohn 9:7: "And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing."
Siloam - Called also Shiloah, Silos, or Siloa, was a fountain under the walls of Jerusalem, towards the east, between the city and the brook Kidron. Calmet thinks that this was the same with En-rogel, or the fuller's fountain, which is mentioned in Joshua 15:7 ; Joshua 18:16 ; in 2 Samuel 17:17 ; and in 1 Kings 1:9 . Its waters were collected…
ellicottJohn 9:7: "And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing."
(7) Go, wash in the pool of Siloam. —Comp. Notes on John 5:2 (“Bethesda”), and on Luke 13:4 (“the tower in Siloam”). The locality is almost without doubt that now known by the Arabic form of the same name, the Birket Silwân, which is in the lower Tyropæon valley, between the Temple mountain and Mount Zion. It is about a quarter of a mile from…
John the Evangelist highlights the pool's name, "Sent," not just as a geographical detail, but as a theological pointer. By sending the man to Siloam, Jesus subtly connects the healing act to His own identity as the One sent by God, the true source of spiritual sight.
Jesus has just miraculously healed a man born blind by anointing his eyes with a mud mixture. He then commands the man to go wash in the Pool of Siloam, a name interpreted as "Sent," before the man experiences full sight. This encounter immediately follows Jesus' discourse about being the Light of the world, and the healing itself serves as a powerful demonstration of that claim, sparking debate and disbelief among onlookers.
Jesus has just miraculously healed a man born blind by anointing his eyes with a mud mixture. He then commands the man to go wash in the Pool of Siloam, a name interpreted as "Sent," before the man experiences full sight. This encounter immediately follows Jesus' discourse about being the Light of the world, and the healing itself serves as a powerful demonstration of that claim, sparking debate and disbelief among onlookers.
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A New Vision
c. 3rd century BC
Greek Translation of Old Testament
The Hebrew scriptures were translated into Greek (the Septuagint). The translation rendered the Hebrew name for the pool as 'Siloam,' standardizing its name for Greek-speaking Jews and setting the stage for John's use of the name.
c. AD 20-30— this verse
Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind
During Jesus' ministry, likely near the Feast of Tabernacles, He encountered a man blind from birth. Jesus miraculously gave him sight after commanding him to wash in the Pool of Siloam.
c. AD 66-70
First Jewish-Roman War
The First Jewish-Roman War led to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Second Temple. The Pool of Siloam, a significant landmark, would have been impacted by the conflict and subsequent Roman control.
"and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing." — John the Evangelist highlights the pool's name, "Sent," not just as a geographical detail, but as a theological pointer. By sending the man to Siloam, Jesus subtly connects the healing act to His own…
