Luke 18:38 Meaning and Explanation
“And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The blind man cries out: Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.
What Does Luke 18:38 Mean?
The crowd said 'Jesus of Nazareth'; the blind man answers with 'son of David' — the title of the promised King from David's line, heir of the everlasting covenant. Sightless, he has seen what the crowd has not: the one passing on this road is the long-awaited Anointed of God.
His prayer is the publican's prayer from earlier in this chapter — have mercy on me — need calling out to majesty, with no credentials attached. It remains among the simplest and surest prayers a person can make. The whole chapter has been building to this: the persistent cry of the helpless does not bounce off the sky; it stops the Son of David in the road.
Luke 18:38 in the Original Language
eleeo (ἐλεέω), 'have mercy' -- to show compassion that moves to help.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 18:38
What does Luke 18:38 mean?
The blind man cries out: Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.