Mark 8 22

Mark 8:22 kjv

And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.

Mark 8:22 nkjv

Then He came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to Him, and begged Him to touch him.

Mark 8:22 niv

They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him.

Mark 8:22 esv

And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him.

Mark 8:22 nlt

When they arrived at Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man to Jesus, and they begged him to touch the man and heal him.

Mark 8 verses

Mark 8 22 Meaning

Mark 8:22 describes Jesus' arrival with His disciples in Bethsaida, where a group of people brought a blind man to Him, urgently imploring Him to touch the man so he might be healed. This verse sets the stage for a unique miracle, Jesus' only two-stage physical healing recorded in the Gospels. It underscores the community's intercession for the afflicted and their faith in Jesus' power to heal through touch, while also serving as a literary bridge within Mark's narrative about spiritual insight.

Mark 8 22 Context

Mark 8:22 stands at a pivotal point in Mark's Gospel. It follows two significant events: the feeding of the four thousand, where Jesus had to explicitly ask the disciples about their lack of understanding regarding loaves (Mk 8:14-21), and Jesus' subsequent rebuke of their "blindness" to His identity and purpose. The miracle in Bethsaida immediately precedes Peter's confession of Jesus as the Christ (Mk 8:27-30) and the first prediction of Jesus' suffering and death (Mk 8:31).

Historically and culturally, healing was a deeply significant act. In Jewish tradition, the ability to restore sight was often seen as a sign of God's direct intervention and a characteristic of the coming Messiah, fulfilling prophecies from Isaiah. Bethsaida itself was a fishing village, the home of some apostles (Peter, Andrew, Philip), yet Jesus had earlier pronounced woes upon it for its general unbelief despite many mighty works performed there. This healing sets a unique stage for understanding, both literally for the blind man and figuratively for the disciples, whose spiritual understanding of Jesus was still blurry and developing, much like the blind man's initial partial sight.

Mark 8 22 Word Analysis

• And (καὶ - kai): A simple conjunction. In Greek narratives, kai often signifies continuation, introducing the next event in a series without strong emphasis. It smoothly links the previous discussion (about spiritual dullness) to the next demonstration of Jesus' power.
• they came (ἔρχονται - erchontai): Historical present tense, making the action feel immediate and vivid. "They" refers to Jesus and His disciples, who have just crossed the Sea of Galilee. Their arrival in Bethsaida marks a specific geographical and narrative transition.
• to Bethsaida (εἰς Βηθσαϊδάν - eis Bēthsaïdan): A town on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee. Its name means "House of the Fisher." This location is significant due to Jesus' earlier denouncement of it (Lk 10:13, Mt 11:21) for its impenitence despite seeing His miracles. The choice to heal a blind man here may subtly underscore the spiritual "blindness" of its inhabitants.
• And some people brought (καὶ φέρουσιν - kai pherousin): Another historical present, highlighting the active and communal effort. It's not the blind man himself who seeks Jesus out initially, but "some people," indicating a supportive community taking initiative and acting on the blind man's behalf. This mirrors similar instances where friends bring the paralytic or others to Jesus.
• to him (αὐτῷ - autō): Refers directly to Jesus, establishing Him as the recipient of the blind man and the focal point of the petition.
• a blind man (τυφλὸν - typhlon): Describes the man's physical condition. In the Gospel of Mark, blindness frequently serves as a powerful metaphor for spiritual lack of understanding or discernment, particularly concerning the disciples (Mk 8:17-21). This healing becomes a literal illustration of gaining spiritual insight.
• and begged him (καὶ παρεκάλουν αὐτὸν - kai parekaloun auton): Parekaloun (imperfect tense) signifies an ongoing, persistent, or repeated pleading, a strong earnest request. It conveys urgency and humility, suggesting their deep need and belief in Jesus' power to intervene. It’s a common posture of those seeking divine help.
• to touch him (ἵνα ἅψηται αὐτοῦ - hina hapsētai autou): A specific request for a particular mode of healing. Touch was often associated with transference of power and healing in the ancient world. People knew Jesus had healed through touch (e.g., Mk 1:41, Mk 5:28, Mk 6:56), indicating a recognition of His unique authority and healing power that could be conveyed physically. This implies the people understood a channel through which His divine power operated.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• And they came to Bethsaida: Highlights the intentional movement of Jesus and His disciples to a specific, and often resistant, location. This sets the immediate scene for a significant event, emphasizing the continuation of their journey and ministry.
• And some people brought to him a blind man: Underscores communal care and intercession. The collective action of "some people" reflects faith in Jesus' abilities and a desire to see a life transformed. It positions Jesus as the central figure of healing and hope.
• and begged him to touch him: Shows the profound faith and desperation of those advocating for the blind man. The specific request for "touch" points to the common understanding of how Jesus' power was often conveyed, through a direct and intimate physical connection.

Mark 8 22 Bonus section

The detailed accounts of blindness and sight in Mark 8 are critical for understanding the overall literary and theological flow of the Gospel. Mark pairs this two-stage healing (physical blindness) directly with Peter’s confession of Jesus’ identity and the disciples’ subsequent failure to grasp Jesus’ messianic destiny (spiritual blindness). This strategic placement emphasizes that spiritual understanding, for both the disciples and perhaps for early believers, was often a process of progressive revelation rather than an instant awakening. Bethsaida's status as a place Jesus had cursed (Lk 10:13) also makes this miracle there noteworthy; despite its rejection, Jesus continued to demonstrate His compassionate power, showing His grace even to those who resisted His message. The instruction for the healed man not to go into the village (v. 26) reinforces its spiritual unresponsiveness, perhaps as a judgment on its continued unbelief.

Mark 8 22 Commentary

Mark 8:22 serves as the prelude to a pivotal miracle in Jesus' ministry, not just for its direct impact on a blind man, but for its profound symbolic significance within Mark’s Gospel. The act of bringing a blind man to Jesus in Bethsaida, a city previously condemned for its unbelief, provides a stark contrast between spiritual blindness and physical affliction. The crowd's persistent begging for Jesus to heal through touch indicates their simple yet strong faith in His power.

This healing is uniquely recorded by Mark as happening in two stages (vv. 23-26), where the man initially sees people like "trees walking" before his sight is fully restored. This unique process is not random; it acts as a striking allegory for the disciples' own spiritual journey. Just as the blind man initially has blurry vision, the disciples, despite witnessing many miracles, still struggled to fully grasp Jesus’ identity and the true nature of His Messiahship (evidenced by the preceding discussion in 8:14-21 and Peter's confession immediately following). Their understanding was gradually dawning, needing repeated interactions and further revelation. The healing in Bethsaida, therefore, illustrates that spiritual sight, like physical sight, may not always be instantaneous but can be a progressive unveiling.

Practical usage:

• This verse highlights the importance of intercession: just as people brought the blind man to Jesus, we are called to bring others in need before Him in prayer.
• It underscores that God often uses human agency in His work; these "some people" were instrumental in initiating the miracle.
• The request for "touch" shows that believers instinctively sought intimate contact with Jesus’ power, even understanding that He often healed through physical means.