And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.

JOHN 9:38KJV
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John 9:38 (KJV)

What does John 9:38 mean?

John 9:38 describes the man who had been born blind declaring his faith in Jesus by saying, "Lord, I believe," and then worshipping Jesus. This verse shows the man's response after realizing who Jesus truly is.

The speaker is the man Jesus healed earlier in the chapter. After Jesus reveals himself as the Son of Man, the man expresses both belief and reverence. This moment marks a turning point, as the man moves from physical healing to spiritual understanding, responding with trust and worship.

The Greek behind John 9:38

  • κύριε (kurie): This word is translated "Lord" and can mean "sir," "master," or "Lord" in a divine sense. Here, it likely shows the man's recognition of Jesus' authority and possibly his divinity.
  • πιστεύω (pisteuō): This verb means "I believe." In this context, it expresses personal trust and acceptance, not just intellectual agreement.
  • προσεκύνησεν (prosekynēsen): This word means "he worshipped." In Greek, it often refers to bowing down or showing deep reverence, sometimes reserved for God. The use here highlights the man's deep respect and possibly his recognition of Jesus as more than a prophet.

Why John 9:38 matters

  • John 9:38 shows the healed man's journey from physical sight to spiritual insight, emphasizing that true understanding of Jesus leads to worship.
  • The verse highlights the theme of belief in John's Gospel, showing a personal and public confession of faith in Jesus.
  • This response sets the man apart from the religious leaders in the story, who questioned Jesus, by showing a heart open to recognizing and honoring him.

Where else these words appear

“worshipped” Greek G4352 · used in 54 verses

  • Matthew 2:2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
  • Luke 24:52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:
  • Revelation 9:20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:

“said” Greek G5346 · used in 57 verses

  • Matthew 4:7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
  • Luke 22:58 And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not.
  • Acts 23:17 Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell him.