He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The man’s worship isn't just an expression of gratitude; it's a profound declaration that he now recognizes Jesus as divine. The Greek word used for "worship" here is the same one used for God alone, revealing that the formerly blind man has moved beyond seeing Jesus as merely a prophet to acknowledging Him as God. This act signifies the culmination of his journey from darkness to light, not just physically, but spiritually.
He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Just cast out of the synagogue by the religious leaders for daring to testify about Jesus, the man born blind is found by Jesus himself. Jesus challenges him to deepen his belief, asking if he trusts in the Son of God, prompting the man to confess his faith and worship Jesus as divine, marking a stark contrast to the Pharisees' proud blindness.
The words we use matter, especially when we talk about Jesus. This man's journey shows how a simple title can deepen into profound recognition.
In John 9:36, the man asks Jesus, 'Who is he, Lord, that I should believe in him?' Here, 'Lord' (Greek: kurios) is used as a respectful title, similar to 'Sir.' He didn't yet fully grasp who Jesus was.
But by verse 38, after Jesus revealed himself and healed him, the man declares, 'Lord, I believe.' Now, 'Lord' carries a much weightier meaning. It signifies his full conviction that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and worthy of worship. This shift from a respectful address to a title of divine recognition marks a huge leap in his understanding and faith.
When we truly encounter God, something amazing happens: we're compelled to respond with awe and adoration.
The culmination of the blind man's experience is his worship of Jesus. After Jesus reveals Himself as the one who enables seeing ('You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you'), the man's immediate response is powerful: 'Lord, I believe, and he worshiped him.'
This act of worship (Greek: proskyneō) isn't just a polite nod; it's a profound act of adoration. The Gospel of John uses this word specifically for the worship due to God alone. This tells us that the man, in his newfound sight, recognized Jesus' divine nature and offered him the highest form of reverence. It’s a beautiful picture of how encountering the divine naturally leads to worship.
Ask a follow-up
Can you believe in Jesus even if you don't have all the theological answers? This man's story says a resounding 'Yes!'
It's easy to think we need perfect knowledge before we can truly believe. But the blind man's story challenges that idea. He moved from seeing Jesus as just 'a man' (John 9:11) to acknowledging Him as 'a prophet' (John 9:17), then 'of God' (John 9:33), and finally confessing belief in Him as the Son of God.
While his faith in verse 38 is genuine and leads to worship, the commentators rightly note that he likely didn't grasp the full implications of believing in the Son of God. His faith was 'all that he had' at that moment – a precious, sincere gift offered to Jesus. God meets us in our honest, developing faith, even when it's not yet complete.
Understand the original words
kyrios · Greek Noun
A title expressing recognition of authority, ownership, and deity; used by believers to acknowledge Jesus as the sovereign ruler and God.
proskyneō · Greek Verb
To bow down before, serve, or show supreme reverence and honor to a person or deity; in the New Testament, it is an act of acknowledging Jesus's divine nature.
After the disciples see Jesus walking on water, they acknowledge him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." This echoes the blind man's confession of belief and worship upon realizing Jesus' divine nature.
John 4:26Jesus tells the Samaritan woman, 'I who speak to you am he.' This direct self-revelation allows for true worship, paralleling how Jesus reveals himself to the blind man, enabling his worship.
John 20:28Thomas, after seeing the resurrected Jesus, exclaims, 'My Lord and my God!' This profound confession and act of worship is similar to the blind man's immediate adoration upon recognizing Jesus' true identity.
Hebrews 1:6The passage states that God commands all his angels to worship his Son. This highlights the divine prerogative of receiving worship, which the formerly blind man now correctly bestows upon Jesus.
clarkeJohn 9:38: "And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him."
And he said, Lord, I believe - That is, I believe thou art the Messiah; and, to give the fullest proof of the sincerity of his faith, he fell down before and adored him. Never having seen Jesus before, but simply knowing that a person of that name had opened his eyes, he had only considered him as a holy man and a prophet; but now that he sees and hears him he is convinced of his divinity, and glorifies him as his Savior. We may…
ellicottJohn 9:38: "And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him."
(38) And he said, Lord, I believe. —The title is repeated, but now with the deeper meaning. His half-faith has passed into full conviction. The spiritual education has led him step by step from “the Man that is called Jesus” ( John 9:11 ) to the confession that He is “a prophet” ( John 9:17 ), and that He is “of God” ( John 9:33 ), to the belief that He is the Messiah. It is. the course of a plain man in the honesty of his heart…
The man’s worship isn't just an expression of gratitude; it's a profound declaration that he now recognizes Jesus as divine. The Greek word used for "worship" here is the same one used for God alone, revealing that the formerly blind man has moved beyond seeing Jesus as merely a prophet to acknowledging Him as God. This act signifies the culmination of his journey from darkness to light, not just physically, but spiritually.
Just cast out of the synagogue by the religious leaders for daring to testify about Jesus, the man born blind is found by Jesus himself. Jesus challenges him to deepen his belief, asking if he trusts in the Son of God, prompting the man to confess his faith and worship Jesus as divine, marking a stark contrast to the Pharisees' proud blindness.
Just cast out of the synagogue by the religious leaders for daring to testify about Jesus, the man born blind is found by Jesus himself. Jesus challenges him to deepen his belief, asking if he trusts in the Son of God, prompting the man to confess his faith and worship Jesus as divine, marking a stark contrast to the Pharisees' proud blindness.
"He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him." — The man’s worship isn't just an expression of gratitude; it's a profound declaration that he now recognizes Jesus as divine. The Greek word used for "worship" here is the same one used for God alone,…
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Last reviewed October 2026