Mark 8 24

Mark 8:24 kjv

And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.

Mark 8:24 nkjv

And he looked up and said, "I see men like trees, walking."

Mark 8:24 niv

He looked up and said, "I see people; they look like trees walking around."

Mark 8:24 esv

And he looked up and said, "I see people, but they look like trees, walking."

Mark 8:24 nlt

The man looked around. "Yes," he said, "I see people, but I can't see them very clearly. They look like trees walking around."

Mark 8 verses

Mark 8 24 Meaning

Mark 8:24 describes the initial, partial result of Jesus' healing of a blind man in Bethsaida. After Jesus first touched his eyes, the man could perceive people but saw them indistinctly, "like trees, walking." This verse highlights a crucial intermediate stage where physical vision is restored, but not yet perfectly, emphasizing a gradual process. It represents a state of semi-sight or blurry perception, foundational to his eventual full recovery.

Mark 8 24 Context

Mark chapter 8 unfolds a sequence of events highlighting a central theme: the difficulty of perceiving and understanding Jesus' true identity and mission. The chapter begins with the feeding of the four thousand, followed by the Pharisees' demand for a sign and Jesus' warning against their "leaven" and that of Herod. Immediately preceding this healing in Bethsaida, Jesus confronts the disciples for their inability to understand these signs and his words, asking, "Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?" (Mark 8:18). This two-stage healing of the blind man then serves as a vivid acted parable for the disciples' own spiritual journey and the often-gradual nature of spiritual perception. Bethsaida was a place Jesus had previously denounced for its unbelief, adding another layer to why this particular healing might be different from others often recorded as instantaneous. The account directly precedes Peter's confession of Jesus as the Christ and Jesus' subsequent revelation of His suffering, death, and resurrection, which the disciples, despite their "confession," failed to comprehend initially.

Mark 8 24 Word analysis

• And he looked up: (καὶ ἀναβλέψας - kai anablepsas)

  • ἀναβλέψας (anablepsas): From anablepō, meaning "to look up" or "to regain sight." Here, it primarily indicates the physical action of looking up by the now-seeing (albeit dimly) man. It carries a secondary connotation of "regaining sight" from his previous blindness. This verb itself points to a transition.
  • Significance: This implies an active effort on the man's part to use his newly restored, yet incomplete, vision. It is a visual struggle.

• and said: (εἶπεν - eipen)

  • Standard verb for speaking.
  • Significance: The man is given a voice, confirming his partial perception. His words become crucial evidence for the two-stage nature of this healing.

• I see men: (Βλέπω τοὺς ἀνθρώπους - Blepo tous anthrōpous)

  • Βλέπω (blepō): "I see," to discern with the eyes, perceive. Simple present tense, indicating what he is seeing at that moment.
  • ἀνθρώπους (anthrōpous): "men," or "people," referring to human beings generally.
  • Significance: He recognizes shapes as human figures, showing some level of visual discernment is present. This is a step beyond total blindness.

• as trees: (ὅτι ὡς δένδρα - hoti hōs dendra)

  • ὡς (hōs): "as," "like," "in the manner of." A comparative particle.
  • δένδρα (dendra): "trees," plural.
  • Significance: This simile is crucial. Trees are generally upright, roughly cylindrical, and can sway or appear to move from a distance or with wind, but lack clear, distinct features for identification. This indicates severe blurring and lack of detailed perception—like an outline or mass, but no defining features or individuality. It suggests objects are seen distorted and undifferentiated.

• walking: (περιπατοῦντας - peripatountas)

  • περιπατοῦντας (peripatountas): Present participle, "walking," "moving about." From peripateō, literally "to walk around."
  • Significance: The man perceives movement, suggesting he distinguishes objects from the static background, but still without clear form or detail. They are just moving shapes, confirming their "tree-like" appearance rather than distinct human forms.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "I see men as trees, walking": This phrase encapsulates the incomplete, indistinct nature of the healing. It's a perception of motion and form but without definition. The comparison to trees (upright, indistinct mass) coupled with movement ("walking") vividly conveys a blurry, confused, and distorted vision. This vision is profoundly unlike how clear human sight works, highlighting the "partial" aspect. The man is discerning life forms, but not yet their particularities or humanity.

Mark 8 24 Bonus section

• The geographical setting of Bethsaida, a city condemned by Jesus for its unbelief (Lk 10:13-16; Matt 11:21-22), is often cited as a possible reason for the uniqueness of this two-stage healing. Perhaps it indicates a need for deeper work, or it models God's patience with stiff-necked individuals.
• The detail of Jesus leading the blind man out of the village (Mark 8:23) before healing him implies a separation from the prevailing unbelief, providing a private setting for the transformative work. This withdrawal mirrors the need for individual encounter and often quiet introspection in spiritual growth, away from distracting worldly influences.
• This miracle serves as a turning point in Mark's Gospel. It happens immediately before Peter's confession and Jesus' subsequent prediction of His suffering, highlighting the persistent theme of disciples' misunderstanding despite profound revelation. The spiritual blindness that needs a "second touch" applies profoundly to the disciples who cannot fathom a suffering Messiah (Mk 8:32-33). This man's healing story functions as an object lesson for them and for future believers.

Mark 8 24 Commentary

Mark 8:24 presents a unique account of Jesus' healing, diverging from His typical instantaneous miracles. This two-stage restoration of sight in Bethsaida is a deliberate narrative choice by Mark, pregnant with theological and literary significance. The man's "tree-like" perception signifies a condition where basic forms and movements are discerned, but distinct features and clear identification are absent. It's not a failure on Jesus' part but potentially a purposeful demonstration.

Scholars suggest several interpretations for this gradual healing:

1. A teaching tool for the disciples: Occurring immediately after Jesus critiques their spiritual dullness (Mk 8:17-21), this physical healing mirrors the disciples' own struggle to "see" and "understand" who Jesus truly is (especially His suffering Messiahship, soon to be revealed). Like the blind man, they could see "men" (Jesus performing miracles, teaching) but not clearly "the Christ" in His true mission, their understanding being blurred, distorted, like "trees walking."
2. Accommodating to the man's faith or capacity: While Jesus' power is absolute, sometimes His miracles accommodate the recipient's initial faith or perhaps the spiritual "readiness" of the surrounding environment (Bethsaida was largely unreceptive). The gradual nature could imply that faith, too, can grow incrementally.
3. Emphasis on the process of spiritual insight: Just as physical sight can be progressively restored, spiritual revelation often unfolds gradually in believers' lives. One might first perceive spiritual truths dimly, but with further divine intervention (the "second touch" of Jesus), full clarity can be attained.

This episode subtly underscores that truly seeing Jesus means not just recognizing Him as a miracle-worker or prophet but fully grasping His divine nature, His purpose, and His path of suffering and glory. The path to spiritual clarity may sometimes involve stages of imperfect perception.

• Example for practical usage: A new believer might initially grasp basic Christian truths but struggle with deeper doctrines or the counter-cultural demands of discipleship, much like seeing men as trees. Continual engagement with God's Word, prayer, and community, alongside the Holy Spirit's ongoing work, leads to greater spiritual discernment and clear vision. Similarly, when facing a complex challenge or discerning God's will, initial insights might be vague, but perseverance and further seeking can bring perfect clarity.