Mark 8:23 kjv
And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.
Mark 8:23 nkjv
So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything.
Mark 8:23 niv
He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man's eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, "Do you see anything?"
Mark 8:23 esv
And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, "Do you see anything?"
Mark 8:23 nlt
Jesus took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. Then, spitting on the man's eyes, he laid his hands on him and asked, "Can you see anything now?"
Mark 8 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mk 7:32-35 | They brought to Him one who was deaf... And He took him aside... He spit... | Jesus using saliva and touch in healing, similar private approach. |
| Jn 9:6-7 | When He had said these things, He spit on the ground...anointed the eyes. | Jesus uses saliva and earth (clay) to heal a blind man, direct application. |
| Mk 6:56 | And wherever He entered... as many as touched Him were made well. | Jesus's power demonstrated through touch for healing. |
| Mk 1:40-41 | Now a leper came to Him... Jesus... stretched out His hand and touched him. | Jesus's compassionate and direct touch towards the outcasts. |
| Mk 5:41 | Then He took the child by the hand and said... "Little girl, I say to you, arise." | Jesus takes a hand, raises the dead, sign of personal connection and power. |
| Lk 4:18 | "To proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind." | Prophecy of Messiah's mission including healing of the blind (from Isa 61:1). |
| Isa 35:5-6 | Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped. | Messianic prophecy fulfilled by Jesus's miracles, specifically opening eyes. |
| Isa 42:7 | To open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the prison. | Messiah's role in bringing spiritual and physical sight. |
| Mt 15:14 | "They are blind leaders of the blind; and if the blind leads the blind..." | Contrast between spiritual blindness of leaders and physical blindness healed. |
| Jn 9:39-41 | "For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind." | Spiritual blindness of Pharisees contrasted with physical healing. |
| Mk 8:24-25 | The man looked up and said, "I see men like trees, walking."... then He put His hands on his eyes again... | The second stage of this specific healing, confirming the gradual nature. |
| Mk 8:14-21 | Disciples forgotten bread and are concerned about it... Jesus questions their hardened hearts and lack of understanding. | Disciples' spiritual dullness precedes and parallels this two-stage physical healing. |
| Mk 8:27-30 | Peter answers and says to Him, "You are the Christ." (Peter's confession) | Disciples gain partial spiritual sight (knowing Jesus is the Christ). |
| Mk 8:31-33 | He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things... Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. | Peter's continuing spiritual blindness to the nature of Christ's suffering, despite his confession. |
| Mk 9:32 | But they did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him. | Disciples' repeated struggle to grasp Jesus's teachings, mirroring the gradual sight. |
| Mk 10:32 | As they were on the road... and the disciples were afraid. | Disciples' continued lack of full understanding and fear. |
| Lk 10:13-16 | "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works...had been done in Tyre and Sidon..." | Jesus's condemnation of Bethsaida's unbelief; why Jesus led man out of village. |
| Mk 7:33 | He took him aside from the multitude... put His fingers in his ears... He spit. | Jesus often sought privacy for intimate healings, away from public display. |
| Mk 5:40 | He allowed no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John. | Jesus seeking privacy and intimacy in certain miracles, taking chosen few aside. |
| 2 Ki 5:10 | Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times..." | Healing sometimes involves specific, sometimes unusual, ritualistic actions. |
| Acts 9:17-18 | Ananias... "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus... has sent me that you may receive your sight"... immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales. | Another instance of sight restoration through human touch/prayer, emphasizing spiritual insight. |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. | Calls to spiritual light and understanding after being blind (spiritual). |
Mark 8 verses
Mark 8 23 Meaning
Mark 8:23 depicts Jesus taking a blind man by the hand, leading him away from the village of Bethsaida, and initiating his healing through a direct touch, applying saliva to his eyes, and laying hands on him. The immediate outcome is partial sight, which Jesus assesses with a question, signaling a two-stage process unique to this miracle. This demonstrates Jesus's compassionate and personal approach, setting the stage for a fuller restoration.
Mark 8 23 Context
Mark 8:23 is positioned uniquely within Mark's Gospel. It follows two significant events: Jesus's feeding of the four thousand (Mk 8:1-9) and a subsequent discussion where Jesus highlights the disciples' lack of understanding regarding His miraculous provisions (Mk 8:14-21), accusing them of having "eyes that cannot see" and "ears that cannot hear." Immediately after this gradual healing, Peter makes his pivotal confession of Jesus as the Christ (Mk 8:27-30), which is then followed by Peter's dramatic failure to grasp the necessity of Christ's suffering (Mk 8:31-33). Thus, this miracle acts as a profound illustration of the disciples' (and humanity's) gradual spiritual insight into Jesus's true identity and mission, paralleling the physical restoration of the blind man. Historically, Bethsaida was a Galilean fishing village where Jesus had performed many mighty works, yet it remained largely unrepentant, leading to His earlier condemnation (Lk 10:13-16). Jesus leading the man out of the village could subtly convey a judgment on that community's persistent unbelief, or simply prioritize a private, intimate miracle over a public spectacle in a hardened place.
Mark 8 23 Word analysis
So He took (καὶ ἐπιλαμβάνεται - kai epilambanetai): The verb epilambanetai denotes a firm grasping or taking hold, indicating Jesus's compassionate and personal involvement. It highlights a deliberate, direct engagement rather than a casual gesture.
the blind man (τοῦ τυφλοῦ - tou typhlou): Specifies the man's immediate affliction, setting the stage for the miraculous healing.
by the hand (τῆς χειρὸς - tēs cheiros): This act of taking the man's hand is tender and direct. It signifies guidance, personal care, and closeness, a common means for Jesus to establish an intimate connection before a healing.
and led him out (καὶ ἐξήγαγεν - kai exēgagen): Exēgagen signifies Jesus actively leading the man away. This act of deliberate separation may indicate a desire for privacy, to avoid sensation or a crowd, or to make a subtle point about the village's spiritual unreceptiveness (as He had pronounced woe on Bethsaida, Lk 10:13-16).
of the village (ἔξω τῆς κώμης - exō tēs kōmēs): The action occurs "outside" of kōmē, a small town or village. This emphasizes the intentional removal of the man from that specific locale before the miracle commences, potentially linking to the village's unrepentance.
And when He had spit (καὶ πτύσας - kai ptysas): Ptysas refers to spitting. In the ancient world, saliva was sometimes considered to have medicinal properties or symbolic power. For Jesus, this raw, direct act underscores His physical involvement and humility, indicating that divine power can operate through the simplest and most human means. It highlights an unadorned conduit for the miraculous.
on his eyes (εἰς τὰ ὄμματα αὐτοῦ - eis ta ommata autou): The direct focus of the physical application, aligning the healing action with the specific ailment.
and put His hands on him (ἐπιθεὶς τὰς χεῖρας αὐτῷ - epitheis tas cheiras autō): Laying on of hands is a prevalent biblical method for conveying blessing, impartation of the Holy Spirit, or healing power. It signifies a transfer of authority, power, or presence.
He asked him (ἐπηρώτα αὐτόν - epērōta auton): Epērōta denotes questioning, here signaling an assessment or a check of the initial result. This query highlights the unique, two-stage nature of this healing.
if he saw anything (εἴ τι βλέπεις - ei ti blepeis): A direct inquiry designed to gauge the extent of the initial restoration, confirming that the healing was not yet complete. This unusual question sets the stage for the man's partial, metaphorical vision of "men like trees."
So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village: This phrase demonstrates Jesus's compassionate and intimate involvement. By physically guiding the man, Jesus performs a tender act of care, setting him apart from the crowd and the locale. This separation can be seen as an act of grace towards the man or as a symbolic distancing from a faithless Bethsaida.
And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him: The combination of these actions indicates Jesus's unique healing method. The saliva highlights a deeply personal, almost primal connection, using an ordinary bodily fluid in an extraordinary way. The laying on of hands represents a conventional transfer of power or blessing. Together, they demonstrate Jesus's multi-faceted engagement with the man's affliction, encompassing both raw physicality and authoritative spiritual power.
He asked him if he saw anything: This question is critical as it reveals the distinctive, progressive nature of this miracle. Unlike most of Jesus's instantaneous healings, this one unfolds in stages. Jesus's inquiry serves as an immediate evaluation, allowing the man to describe his initial, partial recovery, which prepares for the second touch and full restoration. This serves as a striking parable for spiritual understanding that develops in stages.
Mark 8 23 Bonus section
- This two-stage healing is unparalleled in Jesus's recorded miracles in the Gospels, emphasizing a process of transformation rather than an instantaneous event.
- The progression from no sight to seeing "men like trees, walking" to full clarity vividly portrays a spiritual awakening often depicted in scripture as moving from darkness (blindness) to light (clear sight).
- The Messianic significance of healing the blind (as prophesied in Isa 35:5-6; 42:7) is fully evident in Jesus's ministry, yet this particular account adds a layer of pedagogical meaning for His disciples' journey of faith.
- The detail of leading the man outside the village could subtly connect to Bethsaida's resistance to Jesus's ministry, indicating that those who refuse to receive Christ publicly may miss out on His mighty works within their community.
Mark 8 23 Commentary
Mark 8:23 captures the profound depth of Jesus's compassion and the nuanced character of His miraculous works. His personal act of leading the blind man by the hand, separating him from the village of Bethsaida, highlights His intentionality and tender care, perhaps also a quiet judgment on that unrepentant town. The use of saliva, alongside the familiar laying on of hands, underscores Jesus's unique methods – whether a symbolic act of creative power, an ordinary element infused with divine authority, or a humble identification with humanity. The most striking element is Jesus's immediate question, revealing a partial, not complete, restoration of sight. This gradual healing is a key element of Mark's narrative at this point, often interpreted as a visual parable for the disciples' own journey toward spiritual understanding, which similarly progresses from dullness to partial insight and then to a deeper comprehension of Jesus's Messiahship, including His call to suffering. This miracle, therefore, becomes a powerful illustration of how God often works in stages, bringing us from darkness into light, both physically and spiritually.