What Can Jesus Do with Blindness, Dust and Some Spit?
5 While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.” 6 When He had said this, He spit on the ground, and made mud from the saliva, and applied the mud to his eyes, 7 and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam”, So he left and washed, and came back seeing.”— John 9:5-7
Recently, in a discussion with a brother, I wondered out loud, “if the man was born without eyes?” Mind you, I’ve never found anything remotely close to this possibility, but it did not keep me from looking and digging. I found nothing!
Our conversation took my mind down an old and bumpy road. It was so intense that I zoned out and started some notes and research on the spot. I had to apologize for checking out on him. His response was, “I figured you would want to look into it.”
John’s perspective of the event stated that Yeshua encountered “a man blind from birth” (John 9:1). The text repeatedly affirmed his blindness from birth, but it does not specify whether he had no eyes or simply non-functioning eyes.
Was what was about to take place a miracle, or healing?
In the mercy that is from His Father, Jesus will always approach us with that level of care. What follows that will be grace [kindness, the beauty of the ashes and compassion]. What is described next is Him making mud with saliva & dust, applying it to the man’s eyes, and instructing him to wash in the Pool of Siloam. After obeying, the man gained his sight.
This drives my thinking of … What?!
Here’s a detailed explanation, drawing from Biblical, linguistic, and cultural sources I found.
There is a word called “chomer” in the Hebrew tongue. It has been found to be the most common word for potter’s clay or mortar.
There is a word “spit” or “saliva” in English refers to the cultural word of roq, which is the actual act of SPITTING. It is almost never neutral in Hebrew Scripture, typically representing contempt, rejection, or humiliation.
NOTE: Let’s employ the symbolism of spit from Scripture’s culture. Spittle becomes a specific representation of scorn or shame hurled at another person (see Job 30:10, Isaiah 50:6). However, THIS is NOT that! Jesus is NOT spitting at another person. He is applying it to the dust of the earth.
NOTE: Here is some more cultural context, from the Biblically historical Semitic culture. Spitting on or toward a person was an unmistakable act of humiliation, because bodily fluids carried ritual connotations of purity or impurity, the gesture intensified the insult.
SEMITIC Meaning is…of, relating to, or constituting a subfamily of the Afro-Asiatic language family that includes Hebrew, Aramaic, Arabic, and Amharic.
EXAMPLE and usage – “If the man with the discharge spits on anyone who is clean, that person must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening.” (Leviticus 15:8).
The word and meaning for DUST IS aphar. It is the primary Hebrew word for “dust”; and it appears throughout the TANAKH (first 39 books) Bible and carries several meanings [dry earth, dust, powder, ashes, ground, mortar, rubbish, clay, and mud]. This is the same dust that the serpent is to lick for all its days (serpents don’t eat dust)—Genesis 3:14
NOTE: If you need more detail, dust is what remains when everything else has broken down. It is momentary, weightless, easily swept away, and symbolizes human frailty and humility. “…for dust you are, and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19). This is a definite reminder of our mortality.
Dust IS the raw material from which GOD creates ‘humans’, distinguishing us all from animals, who are formed from “the ground’ (land/soil). Humans are made from “adamah”—the dust of fertile soil.
NOTE: The ground and dust are not the same! According to Scripture, “ground” and “dust” are not the same word in Genesis, and they carry different symbolic meanings.
…and the way Genesis uses them together has to be seen as intentional and thoughtfully provoking.
Dust (afar) means loose, fine particles
the lowest, most fragile form of earth
easily scattered
symbol of mortality, humility, vulnerability
Ground (adamah) meaning soil, earth, fertile ground
the place of cultivation
the realm of life, growth, and fruitfulness
the covenantal land
Back to the spitting... As mentioned earlier, “this act could be a sign of contempt — but that is NOT what’s happening here. Yeshua is spitting in the dust” — and realizing and knowing that distinction it changes everything. It really does!
If He had spat at them, they would have accused Him of violating Torah. Instead, they fell back on something else. They accused Him of healing on the Sabbath — meaning they likely understood His action as healing, not insult. The spit is not contempt.
What is it then? That brother I mentioned earlier thought all of this to possibly be an ode to creation. I could not run from that thought. Actually, it was those words that caused me to stare off into space and wonder about his eyes and sockets.
What I found out as I put an excavator to this, was that his thought was accurate. Tying this act (all phases) is nothing short of creation “language”. GOD (His Son and the Spirit were there) once formed humanity from dust. …and now, the Son of GOD RE-forms a man’s eyes from dust.
What a moment that was! It’s a deliberate Genesis resonance (replay), to show the man, the watchers, His followers and the Pharisees that He has just repeated what He has already accomplished. …and they KNEW IT!
Now, let’s talk about CLAY, but we will yet again, use the tongue of the people of GOD. In Hebrew, clay (dust and water/spit) is referred to as “tit”. This indicates wet clay, mud, or mire. It is the "thick mud" formed when earth and water mingle.
It refers to "reddish clay" and is often used metaphorically for human frailty.
I really like word-pictures associated with the language of these people. In ancient Hebrew thought, ṭit is chaotic earth. This dusty material would be without form, a place where movement is hindered. It’s the opposite of stability. You can see and recall that GOD forms humans from dust but rescues them from mud. One at a time.
When we are blind, broken and in need of a cure, fix, restoration or something of the like, this is what He does with the body of dust.
Clay is associated with creation and human frailty. By using these materials again, Jesus signals His identity as the Creator. Maybe this fella’s eyes were never fully formed, though the text itself does not confirm this detail.
So…, is it miracle, healing or restoration? It is seen as a sign of new creation. Yeshua uses the same materials (dust and saliva) that GOD used to create humanity, suggesting a restoration or completion of what was absent from birth.
“While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.”
I can feel the understanding that He is telling them, ‘I am going to show you the manner in which to see and have hope.’
In this context “light” isn’t just illumination. It also means the following:
Revelation — the ability to see what’s real and what’s false
Life — the bring to life Presence that awakens the human spirit
Judgment — not condemnation, but exposure; light reveals what darkness hides
Guidance — the path becomes visible only when light is present
NOTE: in Hebrew thought, light is tied to GOD’s face, GOD’s Presence, GOD’s blessing.
NOTE: Step over the line to look at this from another perspective. The healing of the man born blind is not just a physical transaction; it’s a living parable about spiritual sight and blindness. Yeshua uses THIS moment to teach that He is the “Light of the World,” bringing illumination to those living in darkness—both bodily and spiritually.
This man’s condition symbolizes humanity’s spiritual darkness before encountering the Messiah. His journey from blindness to sight mirrors the spiritual awakening the Savior offers.
NOTE: Check out this progression and journey from darkness to light…
…from knowing Jesus as “a man,” to recognizing Him as a prophet, and finally worshipping Him as Lord. It is a wonderful illustration of how spiritual sight develops gradually through faith and encounter with the Messiah. You and I can see in Jesus’ statement, “I am the Light of the World,” points out His role in dispelling spiritual darkness and guiding people to true understanding.
It is sadly apparent the Pharisees’ reaction to the miracle highlights spiritual blindness. Despite witnessing an undeniable transformation, they refuse to acknowledge Yeshua as the Messiah, clinging to their own practices and confidence.
NOTE: Isn’t it curious how their inability to see the truth is distinguished with the healed man’s growing faith? This entire storyline shows that spiritual blindness is often more debilitating than physical blindness. It’s not just about lacking physical sight, but about being unable to perceive and accept spiritual truth.
Alright now. If you have mud on your eyes, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam”, and come back seeing clearer, as only He enables. This act of washing is symbolic of spiritual cleansing and transformation, not just physical healing.
The Pool of Siloam’s name (“Sent”) connects to Jesus, Who is “sent” by GOD. The act of washing in “Sent” signifies faith-obedience and points to the Source of true healing and life—the Christ Himself.
NOTE: The pool was used for ritual purification and during the Feast of Tabernacles, priests drew water from it for temple ceremonies, symbolizing GOD’s provision and blessing.
FINAL NOTE: The healing at Siloam fulfills Messianic prophecies about the Messiah opening the eyes of the blind (Isaiah 29:18; 35:5 & 42:7)