John 9:36

Joh 9:36. Καὶ τίς, and who) καὶ τί, and what [has happened that]: ch. Joh 14:22, [How is it that.—Engl. Vers.] καὶ τίς, and who [is my neighbour?], Luk 10:29, Notes.[263]—ἵνα, that) This depends on Tell me, and the, Tell me, lies hid in the, Who is He?—πιστεύσω, I may believe) It was a step in faith, that he accounts Jesus as one whom he must believe, whatsoever He may say.

[263] Καὶ “approves of the speech that immediately precedes, and yet adds something to it,” (of an adversative kind; but who; but what).—E. and T.

Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament — English translation (T&T Clark, Edinburgh, 1860) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Joh 9:36 . The man’s answer shows that he was willing to believe in the Messiah if he could identify Him; and having already declared Jesus to be a prophet, he believed that He could tell him who the Messiah was. It may be taken for granted that although he had not seen Jesus since recovering his sight, he knew somehow that he was speaking to the person who had healed him; and was perhaps almost prepared for the great announcement (Joh 9:37 ): Καὶ ἑώρακας αὐτὸυ , “Thou hast both seen Him,” no doubt: with a reference to the blessing of restored eyesight; καὶ … ἐστιν . This direct revelation, similar to that given to the Samaritan woman (Joh 4:26 ), was elicited by the pitiable condition of the man as an outcast from the Jewish community, and by the perception that the man was ripe for faith.

The Expositor's Greek Testament, edited by W. Robertson Nicoll (1897–1910) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I may believe on him?--"His reply is affirmative, and believing by anticipation, promising faith as soon as Jesus shall say who He is" [STIER].

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

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's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

36. Who is he, Lord, that I may believe in him? From this reply of the blind man it is evident that, though he had not yet attained any clear or certain knowledge of Christ, still he was obedient and ready to receive instruction; for these words mean, “As soon as he is pointed out to me, I am ready to embrace him.” But it ought to be observed that the blind man desires to be instructed by Christ as a Prophet; for he was already convinced that Christ had been sent by God, and therefore he does not at random place reliance on his doctrine.

John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.

(36) Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?—For “Lord” it would be better to read Sir, as in Joh_4:11; Joh_4:19; Joh_5:7, et. al. The man does not express by it more than the reverence to a prophet or teacher. He recognises Him by the voice which he had heard before, and now for the first time sees Him. He is ready to believe on the Messiah whom all expected, and he feels that this prophet, who had opened his eyes, can tell him who the Messiah is. The form of the question, “Who is He?” suggests that he half expected that He, upon whom he looked, was more than a prophet, and was none other than the Messiah Himself. In the absence of any such thought, the question would have taken a vague form, such as “Where is He?” or “When shall He appear?” He asks as one who knows that the object of his faith is at hand.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

36. Who is he, Lord] We should perhaps insert ‘and’ or ‘then’ with some of the best MSS., and Who is He? or, Who is He then? This ‘and’ or ‘then’ has the effect of intensifying the question. Comp. ‘and who is my neighbour?’ (Luk_10:29); ‘Who then can be saved?’ (Joh_18:26); ‘Who is he then that maketh me glad?’ (2Co_2:2). ‘Lord’ should perhaps be ‘Sir’ as in Joh_4:11; Joh_4:15; Joh_4:19; Joh_4:49; Joh_5:7 (see on Joh_6:34): not until Joh_9:38 does he reach the point at which he would call Jesus ‘Lord.’ But it is the same Greek word in both cases, though the amount of reverence with which he uses it increases, as in the parallel case of the woman at the well.

that I might believe] Literally, in order that I may believe. S. John’s favourite construction again, as in Joh_9:2-3; Joh_9:22.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And Jesus said unto him,.... Giving him the tokens by which he might know him: thou hast both seen him; not that he had seen him before now, with his bodily eyes; for he was blind when Christ anointed him, and sent him to Siloam to wash; nor when he came back, since Jesus was gone, and he knew not where he was; but he had seen him, that is, he had perceived and felt the power of him in restoring him to sight; and now he had seen him bodily, and did at this present time: but as this was not sufficient to distinguish him from other persons in company, he adds,

and it is he that talketh with thee; in like manner he made himself known to the woman of Samaria, Joh 4:26.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

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

Ver. 36. Who is he, that I might believe on him?] A man of God, he held Christ, Joh 9:33. The Son of God he yet knew him not to be; but was willing to be further informed, as appeareth by this question. They that hold fast what they have already received till Christ come, shall have more light, Rev 2:25; and a little strength well improved, may have "a great door, and effectual, opened," Rev 3:8.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Who is he? - It is probable that the man did not know that he who now addressed him was the same who had healed him. He had not yet seen him Joh 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 Joh 4:11; Joh 20:15; Joh 12:21; Act 16:30; Mat 27:63. It should have been also here, and in many other places.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

It is as much as if he had said, Lord! How should I believe on him, of whom I have not heard? (So the disciples answered Paul, asking them whether they had received the Holy Ghost, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost, Act 19:2). But, saith he, Lord, I am ready to believe on him, may I but know who he is. Our Lord had prepared this poor man’s heart for the receiving of him; there wanted now nothing but the due revelation of the Messiah unto him. This our Saviour giveth him.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

36. Who is he—What it is to be the Son of God, the man knows not; but whatever Jesus shall affirm, that it is. And to whom belongs this title he knows not; but to whom Jesus assigns that high title, to him it belongs. So faith may lie in the heart, the spirit, and the will, long before it is completely defined in the head. See notes on Joh_9:8-12.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

He answered and said, And who is he, that (ina) I may believe on him? The conjunction adds much to the eagerness of the reply. His faith was ready for full expression. He half suspected, as the Samaritan (Joh_4:25) did, that Jesus was pointing to himself. The tiv ; rather than ti ; ("who?" rather than "what?") shows the intensity of the man"s desire to find and hail and trust "the Son of God." The disposition, the posture, of his mind is that of faith. The adequate object for that faith has not been revealed to him. Apt symbol of many in their passage from darkness to light. When receptive, susceptible, conscious of need, with some notion, though an obscure one, of whom and of what they most of all need, many are disposed even now to utter the same importunate request.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Who is he, that I may believe? - This implies some degree of faith already. He was ready to receive whatever Jesus said.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

36. Insert καὶ before τίς. Confusion with κύριε may have caused the omission. ΚΑΙ and Κ̅Ε̅ (= ΚΥΡΙΕ) are easily confounded, and κε τις εστιν κε would seem to have a superfluous κύριε.

CHRIST THE SOURCE OF TRUTH AND LIGHT ILLUSTRATED BY A SIGN

Light is given to the eyes of the man born blind and the Truth is revealed to His soul. The Jews who cast Him out for accepting the Truth rejected by themselves are left in their blindness, the faith of those who began to believe on Him (Joh 8:30) having failed under the test applied by Jesus (Joh 8:31-59).

36. ἐκεῖνος. See on Joh 9:11.

καὶ τίς ἐστιν. And who is he? or, Who is he then? The καὶ intensifies the question. Winer, p. 545. Comp. καὶ τίς ἐστί μου πλησίον; (Luk 10:29); καὶ τὶς δύναται σωθήναι; (Joh 18:26); καὶ τὶς ὁ εὑφραίνων με; (2Co 2:2). Κύριε should perhaps be rendered ‘Sir,’ as in Joh 4:11; Joh 4:15; Joh 4:19; Joh 4:49, Joh 5:7: see on Joh 4:11 and Joh 6:34. But the man’s reverence increases, like that of the woman at the well.

ἵνα πιστ. He asks, not from curiosity, but in order to find the object of faith mentioned. He has faith, and more is given to him; he seeks and finds. Winer, p. 774.

Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges (Cambridge University Press, 1896; 21 vols, various authors incl. Carr, Maclear, Plummer, Farrar, Lumby, Moule, M. R. James, Simcox) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

36.] This υἱὸς τ. θεοῦ surpasses his present comprehension: and therefore, true to his simple and guileless character, he asks for further information about Him.

καὶ τίς] See reff. and Mar 10:26.

Henry Alford, The Greek Testament (1849–1861) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

36. ἀπεκρίθη ἐκεῖνος καὶ εἶπεν καὶ τίς ἐστιν, κύριε; For this BW have the shorter form καὶ τίς ἐστιν, ἔφη, κύριε;

The man had accepted Jesus as a prophet (v. 17), and so he was ready to act on whatever Jesus bade him. He will put his trust in the “Son of Man” if he is told who He is, and where he may find Him.

καὶ τίς ἐστιν; “Who then is He?” For the initial καὶ, cf. καὶ τίς δύναται σωθῆναι; (Mar 10:26, Luk 18:26) and καὶ τίς ἐστίν μου πλησίον; (Luk 10:29). Cf. also 14:22.

He addresses Jesus with respect: κύριε, “sir” (see on 12:21). κύριε generally comes at the beginning of the sentence, but here and at v. 38 it comes at the end.

ἵνα πιστεύσω εἰς αὐτόν, taking up the words of Jesus in the preceding verse. There is an ellipsis before ἵνα, which has full telic force. “Who is He?” for I want to know in order that I may put my trust in Him.” Cf., for a similar constr., 1:22.

International Critical Commentary — older volumes (1896–1929), various authors — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Who is He? The best texts insert kai, and; and who is he? which imparts an air of eagerness to the question.

Marvin R. Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament (1887–1900) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.