John 9 35

John 9:35 kjv

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 9:35 nkjv

Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, "Do you believe in the Son of God?"

John 9:35 niv

Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?"

John 9:35 esv

Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?"

John 9:35 nlt

When Jesus heard what had happened, he found the man and asked, "Do you believe in the Son of Man? "

John 9 verses

John 9 35 Meaning

This verse marks a critical juncture in the narrative, revealing Jesus' divine compassion and the man born blind's journey from physical sight to spiritual insight. Having been excommunicated by the Jewish authorities for testifying about his healing, the man is sought out by Jesus. Jesus directly questions him, "Dost thou believe on the Son of God?", initiating a deeper, spiritual encounter that culminates in the man's confession of faith in Jesus' divine identity. This moment starkly contrasts the physical healing that restored sight with the spiritual healing that opens the eyes of faith.

John 9 35 Context

John chapter 9 narrates Jesus' healing of a man born blind on the Sabbath, provoking intense controversy with the Pharisees. The healing is immediate, visible, and undeniable, yet the religious authorities refuse to acknowledge its divine source. They question the man, his parents, and him again, relentlessly trying to discredit Jesus. Their spiritual blindness contrasts sharply with the blind man's progressive insight. He moves from recognizing Jesus as "the man called Jesus" (v. 11), to "a prophet" (v. 17), to someone "from God" (v. 33). His simple, honest testimony, "If this man were not from God, he could do nothing" (v. 33), enrages the Pharisees, who then "cast him out" of the synagogue (v. 34). This excommunication signifies social, religious, and economic ostracism. Immediately following this expulsion, Jesus actively seeks out the now-ostracized man. This verse bridges the physical healing and the ensuing conflict with the Pharisees, culminating in the ultimate revelation of Jesus' identity and the man's personal spiritual salvation.

John 9 35 Word analysis

• Jesus (Ἰησοῦς - Iēsoūs): The specific mention of Jesus highlights His divine initiative. He is the active agent who seeks out the ostracized, demonstrating intentional care and compassion, counter to the harsh judgment of the religious authorities. This is a deliberate, personal intervention.

• heard (ἤκουσεν - ēkousen): This indicates Jesus received information or was informed about the man's expulsion. While He possessed divine knowledge, His engagement often involved responding to human events, highlighting His true humanity intertwined with His deity. It shows Jesus' immediate awareness and responsiveness to injustice.

• that they had cast him out (ὅτι ἐξέβαλον αὐτόν - hoti exeballon auton):

  • ἐξέβαλον (exeballon): From the verb ekballō, meaning "to cast out, throw out, expel." The word carries a forceful, even violent, connotation, mirroring the harshness of the excommunication.
  • Cast him out: This refers to the man being made aposynagōgos, meaning "put out of the synagogue." This was a severe punishment in Jewish society, resulting in social disgrace, religious alienation, and loss of community support. It often meant exclusion from worship, education, and social interaction, rendering a person an outcast. This highlights the severity of the rejection by the established religious order.

• and when he had found him (καὶ εὑρὼν αὐτόν - kai heurōn auton):

  • εὑρὼν (heurōn): From the verb heuriskō, meaning "to find, discover, meet." This verb implies a deliberate, searching action, not an accidental encounter. Jesus actively sought the man. This act parallels the imagery of the Good Shepherd seeking out lost sheep (Lk 15:4-7), demonstrating Jesus' pastoral heart and concern for those marginalized or rejected by others. It directly contrasts the Pharisees who "cast him out."

• he said unto him (εἶπεν αὐτῷ - eipen autō): A direct, personal address from Jesus, indicating the importance of the forthcoming spiritual dialogue. Jesus does not delegate; He personally engages.

• Dost thou believe (σὺ πιστεύεις - sy pisteueis):

  • σὺ (sy): The pronoun "you" is emphatic, indicating a direct, personal inquiry aimed at the man's inner conviction. It makes faith a personal response to Jesus.
  • πιστεύεις (pisteueis): From pisteuō, meaning "to believe, trust, have faith." It signifies a profound, active commitment and trust, not merely intellectual assent to a proposition. This question is pivotal, moving beyond the physical healing to challenge the man concerning his spiritual perception and ultimate allegiance. It points to the core requirement of salvation.

• on the Son of God (εἰς τὸν Υἱὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ - eis ton Hyion tou Theou):

  • Υἱὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ (Hyion tou Theou): This is a paramount Christological title affirming Jesus' unique, divine relationship with God the Father. It signifies Jesus' divine nature, pre-existence, equality with the Father, and ultimate authority. This title demands more than recognition of a prophet; it calls for acknowledging God in human form. It represents the highest revelation of Jesus' identity offered to the man in the chapter, signifying the pinnacle of his developing faith. While some manuscripts present "Son of Man," "Son of God" provides a stronger and clearer direct assertion of Jesus' divinity in this immediate revelatory context.

• Word Groups / Phrases:

  • "Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him...": This entire phrase highlights Jesus' divine omniscience and compassionate intervention. The phrase emphasizes the sequence of rejection by man followed by acceptance by God, showing Jesus as the true seeker and redeemer of the lost. His immediate action underscores His authority and lovingkindness.

  • "Dost thou believe on the Son of God?": This question is a deliberate invitation to a deeper spiritual reality. It represents the crucial step from receiving a physical miracle to acknowledging and trusting Jesus' divine identity. This question transforms a physical healing into an opportunity for spiritual salvation, highlighting the purpose of all signs and miracles in John's Gospel.

John 9 35 Bonus section

• Progressive Revelation of Jesus: The blind man's journey of understanding Jesus unfolds throughout Chapter 9:

  1. A man called Jesus (v. 11)
  2. A prophet (v. 17)
  3. A man from God (v. 33)
  4. The Son of God (v. 35) and Lord (v. 38).This progression mirrors a journey of increasing spiritual perception, culminating in personal faith.

• Exclusion vs. Inclusion: This verse starkly portrays the counter-cultural nature of Jesus' kingdom. While the religious authorities practiced exclusion and condemnation, Jesus extends grace, compassion, and inclusion to those marginalized, demonstrating that true spirituality transcends institutional boundaries.

• New Community: The man's excommunication from the synagogue ironically leads him into a deeper relationship with Jesus, suggesting that true community and belonging are found in Christ, not solely in earthly religious institutions. He loses one community but gains entrance into the divine fellowship with the Son of God.

• Christological Significance of "Son of God": In John's Gospel, "Son of God" is not merely a title of honor but a declaration of Jesus' unique, essential deity and His intimate relationship with the Father. To believe on the Son of God is to believe in His divine nature and His absolute authority. This makes the man's confession incredibly profound.

John 9 35 Commentary

John 9:35 captures the heart of Jesus' ministry: actively pursuing and saving those whom religious systems reject. The man born blind had just faced profound social and religious expulsion for simply speaking the truth about his healing. In this vulnerable state, Jesus, the true shepherd, "found" him. This was no accidental meeting but a purposeful seeking, demonstrating Jesus' unparalleled compassion and His nature as the gatherer of the outcast. The critical question, "Dost thou believe on the Son of God?" moves beyond intellectual understanding to demand personal faith and commitment. It represents the culmination of the man's journey from physical darkness to spiritual light, challenging him to accept Jesus' divine authority and identity. His affirmative response (in v. 38) symbolizes true spiritual sight, contrasting with the Pharisees who, despite physical vision, remained willfully blind to the Light of the World. This encounter reveals that being cast out by men for Christ's sake is a pathway to being found and embraced by God Himself.