John 9 · Verse 36

John 9:36

He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?
John 9:36, King James Version

John 9:36 in other translations

BSB“Who is He, Sir?” he replied. “Tell me so that I may believe in Him.”
WEBHe answered, “Who is he, Lord, that I may believe in him?”
ASVHe answered and said, And who is he, Lord, that I may believe on him?
YLThe answered and said, ‘Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?'
DARBYHe answered and said, And who is he, Lord, that I may believe on him?
BBEHe said in answer, And who is he, Lord? Say, so that I may have faith in him.
WebsterHe answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I may believe on him?

What does John 9:36 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 9:35-38

35-38. Jesus heard--that is, by intelligence brought Him. that they had cast him out; and when he had found him--by accident? Not very likely. Sympathy in that breast could not long keep aloof from its object. he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?--A question stretching purposely beyond his present attainments, in order the more quickly to lead him--in his present teachable frame--into the highest…

Read the full comment on John 9:35-38 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 36. Who is he? It is probable that the man did not know that ho who now addressed him was the same who had healed him. He had not yet seen him (Jn 9:7), but he was prepared to acknowledge him when he did see him. He inquired, therefore, who the person was, or wished that he might be pointed out to him, that he might see him. This passage shows that he was disposed to believe, and had a strong desire to see and hear the Son of God.

Lord. This word here, as in many other instances in the New Testament, means "Sir." It is clear that the man did not know that it was the Lord Jesus that addressed him, and he therefore replied to him in the common language of respect, and asked him to point out to him the Son of God. The word translated "Lord" here is rendered "Sir" in Jn 4:11 Jn 20:15, 12:21, Acts 16:30, Mt 27:63. It should have been also here, and in many other places.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 36 Who is he, Lord? - It is very likely that the blind man did not know that it was Jesus the Christ who now spoke to him; for it is evident he had never seen him before this time; and he might now see him without knowing that he was the person by whom he was cured, till our Lord made that discovery of himself, mentioned in the following verse.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 9:35-38

Christ owns those who own him and his truth and ways. There is particular notice taken of such a suffer in the cause of Christ, and for the testimony of a good conscience. Our Lord Jesus graciously reveals himself to the man. Now he was made sensible what an unspeakable mercy it was, to be cured of his blindness, that he might see the Son of God. None but God is to be worshipped; so that in worshipping Jesus, he…

Read the full comment on John 9:35-38 →

John 9:36 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἀπεκρίθηapekrithēAnsweredG611
ἐκεῖνοςekeinosheG1565
καὶkaiandG2532
εἶπεν·eipensaid;G2036
τίςtiswhoG5101
ἐστιν,estinis He,G1510
κύριε,kurielord,G2962
ἵναinathatG2443
πιστεύσωpisteusōI may believeG4100
εἰςeisinG1519
αὐτόν;autonHim?G846

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for John 9:36

  • Romans 10:14

    How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

  • Song of Solomon 5:9

    What is thy beloved more than another beloved, O thou fairest among women? what is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us?

  • Proverbs 30:3-4

    I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy. Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?

  • John 1:38

    Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?

  • Matthew 11:3

    And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Who.
1:38; Pr 30:3,4; So 5:9; Mt 11:3

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • John 9:35

    Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?

  • John 9:36

    He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?

  • John 9:37

    And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.

Read all of John 9

John 9:36 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Respondió él, y dijo: ¿Quién es, Señor, para que crea en él?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Il répondit et dit: Qui est-il, Seigneur, afin que je croie en lui?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Er antwortete und sprach: Und wer ist es, Herr, auf daß ich an ihn glaube?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Respondit ille, et dixit: Quis est, Domine, ut credam in eum?