John 9:36
ESV
He answered, "And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?"
NIV
"Who is he, sir?" the man asked. "Tell me so that I may believe in him."
NASB
He answered by saying, 'And who is He, Sir, that I may believe in Him?'
CSB
"Who is he, Sir, that I may believe in him?" he asked.
NLT
The man answered, 'Who is he, sir? I want to believe in him.'
KJV
He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?
NKJV
He answered and said, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?”
What does John 9:36 mean?
Jesus was not there when a blind man completed His instructions (John 9:6–7) and obtained vision. All the newly-healed man knows is that someone—sent from God—has given him the sight he'd never had (John 9:1–2, 11). After being insulted and abused by local religious leaders, the man is found again by Jesus.Christ asked this formerly blind man if he believed in the Son of Man (John 9:35). This phrase is heavily tied to the Jewish concept of the Messiah (Daniel 7:13; 9:25). The now-seeing beggar has admitted that he knows very little about Jesus (John 9:25). Yet he certainly believes Jesus is operating on divine power (John 9:30–33).
Here, the man responds to Jesus' question with an admission of his own ignorance. This statement harmonizes with the cry of the father of a demon-possessed boy: "I believe; help my unbelief!" (Mark 9:24). Here, the healed man wants to follow the truth, but simply does not know how. This is a strong contrast to hard-headed scribes and Pharisees (John 5:39–40); they know more than enough about the Scriptures, but "refuse" to follow them by accepting Christ.
As promised (Matthew 7:7), Jesus will respond to sincere seeking, and give this man the wisdom he needs.
