John 9:37 Meaning: The Man Who Saw Jesus Before He Knew Him
Jesus said to him, “You have both seen him, and it is he who speaks with you.”
And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.
Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and he it is that speaketh with thee.
And Jesus said to him, `Thou hast both seen him, and he who is speaking with thee is he;'
And Jesus said to him, Thou hast both seen him, and he that speaks with thee is he.
Meaning in one sentence
After healing a blind man, Jesus reveals He is the Son of God the man has longed to see. The verse shows Jesus as the answer to genuine seeking.
Context
The Gospel of John tells the story of a man born blind whom Jesus healed by making mud and sending him to wash in the pool of Siloam. The miracle caused a stir. The Pharisees interrogated the man, then threw him out of the synagogue for defending Jesus. Jesus heard about this and went looking for him. In the conversation that follows, Jesus asks the man if he believes in the Son of God. The man does not yet know who that is. He asks to be told. Jesus gives him the answer directly, and the man worships. This verse sits at the turning point where the man moves from the One who healed him to the One who saves him.
Key Words
Two verbs do the heavy lifting here. The first is horaō, the Greek verb for “see.” But John uses it in a way that means more than eyesight. It means to perceive, to know, to experience. The blind man had already seen Jesus’ power at work in his healing. Now he sees Jesus standing in front of him. The same word covers both kinds of seeing. The second verb is laleō, “to speak.” This is not simply making sounds. It carries a sense of personal conversation, one person turning to another. Added to that is the little word meta, “with.” The One speaking was not at a distance. He was right there, talking with the man face to face. The same Jesus who gave him sight now gives him Himself.
How Christians Read This Verse
Reformed theologian John Calvin observed that Jesus’ words here offer a “small and cold portion of faith” compared to the full knowledge of Christ’s work, yet he saw it as a starting point that would lead the man forward. Anglican scholars in the Cambridge Bible note that this spontaneous revelation to an outcast from the synagogue has its only parallel in Jesus’ words to the Samaritan woman at the well. Baptist commentator John Gill pointed out that the man had already perceived Jesus’ power before this moment, and now he sees Him with his eyes. Across these traditions, readers agree: Jesus does not reveal Himself to the self-righteous, but to the humble and searching heart.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers assume the blind man already knew that Jesus was the Son of God before this moment. After all, he had defended Jesus to the Pharisees. In fact, the man’s question in verse 36, “Who is he, Lord?”, shows he did not yet know Jesus’ true identity. Jesus’ words here are not a reminder of what the man already believed. They are a revelation, the first time the man hears clearly who Jesus really is.
Living This Out
You may feel like the blind man at times, defending Jesus without fully knowing Him, or longing for a clearer sense of His presence. This verse offers a quiet hope. Jesus does not wait for you to have perfect theology. He meets you in your seeking. This week, when you read Scripture or pray, listen for His voice as if hearing Him speak directly to you. The same Jesus who spoke to the blind man speaks to you through His Word. Ask Him to open your eyes to see what you have already seen but not yet recognized. He is closer than your next question.
Main takeaway: Jesus personally reveals Himself to those who earnestly seek Him, and He is closer than we realize.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Jesus healed a blind man. The man couldn’t see Jesus at first, but after he washed his eyes, he could see. Later Jesus found him and said, “You have seen me.” The man saw Jesus with his heart and believed. You can see Jesus with your heart too when you trust Him.
For ages 9, 12
The blind man had been healed by Jesus, but he didn’t know who Jesus really was. The Pharisees questioned him and then kicked him out of the synagogue. But Jesus came and found him. Jesus told him, “You have seen me, and I am the one talking to you.” The man understood that Jesus was the Son of God, and he worshipped Him. It is like when you stand up for what is right and then find that Jesus is with you in a new way. He wants you to know Him personally, not just as a story from long ago.
Questions People Ask
Why does Jesus say the blind man has ‘seen him’ when the man had been blind when Jesus first met him?
The man had been blind, but after Jesus healed him, he could see with his eyes. Also, the Greek word for 'see' here (horaō) can mean to perceive or know. The man had already seen Jesus’ power through his healing, and now he sees Jesus physically. Jesus’ words cover both kinds of sight.
How is this verse similar to the conversation with the Samaritan woman in John 4?
Both are personal revelations of Jesus to people who were outcasts. In John 4, Jesus told the Samaritan woman, 'I am he, the one who speaks to you.' Here He tells the blind man, 'He who speaks with you is he.' In both cases, Jesus reveals His identity directly, showing His willingness to meet people where they are.
What did the blind man do after hearing Jesus say this?
He said, 'Lord, I believe!' and worshipped Jesus. That is the only place in John’s Gospel where someone is said to worship Jesus. His response shows that he understood Jesus’ words as a call to faith and devotion.
Why did Jesus find the blind man after he was thrown out of the synagogue?
Jesus showed compassion on the man who had been persecuted for defending Him. He did not abandon him. By revealing Himself, Jesus confirmed the man’s faith and gave him a deeper understanding: not just a healer, but the Son of God to be worshipped.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study