Luk 18:38-39 | NETfull | STEP | So he called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Luke 18:38-39

38 So ^{▼▼ Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the blind man learning that Jesus was nearby.} he called out, ^{▼▼ Grk “called out, saying.” The participle λέγων (legōn) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.} “Jesus, Son of David, ^{▼▼ Jesus was more than a Nazarene to this blind person, who saw quite well that Jesus was Son of David. He understood what Luke 7:22–23 affirms. There was a tradition in Judaism that the Son of David (Solomon) had great powers of healing (Josephus, Ant. 8.2.5 [8.42–49]).} have mercy ^{▼▼ Have mercy on me is a request for healing (cf. 17:13). It is not owed the man. He simply asks for God’s kind grace.} on me!” 39 And those who were in front ^{▼▼ That is, those who were at the front of the procession.} scolded ^{▼▼ Or “rebuked.” The crowd’s view was that surely Jesus would not be bothered with someone as unimportant as a blind beggar.} him to get him to be quiet, but he shouted ^{▼▼ Public opinion would not sway the blind man from getting Jesus’ attention. The term shouted is strong as it can be used of animal cries.} even more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”