New Living Translation
Mark 8:23
23Jesus 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 in other versions
- King James Version (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.
- New International Version (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?”
- English Standard Version (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?"
- New King James Version (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.
Context of Mark 8:23
21“Don’t you understand yet?” he asked them. 22When they arrived at Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man to Jesus, and they begged him to touch the man and heal him. 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?” 24The man looked around. “Yes,” he said, “I see people, but I can’t see them very clearly. They look like trees walking around.” 25Then Jesus placed his hands on the man’s eyes again, and his eyes were opened. His sight was completely restored, and he could see everything clearly.
Read all of Mark 8Mark 8:23 word by word
καὶ ἐπιλαβόμενος τῆς χειρὸς τοῦ τυφλοῦ ἐξήνεγκεν αὐτὸν ἔξω τῆς κώμης, καὶ πτύσας εἰς τὰ ὄμματα αὐτοῦ, ἐπιθεὶς τὰς χεῖρας αὐτῷ ἐπηρώτα αὐτόν· εἴ τι βλέπεις;Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- he tookἐπιλαμβάνωepilambanomai · to catchG1949
- the blind manτυφλόςtuphlos · blindG5185
- by the handχείρcheir · handG5495
- and ledἐξάγωexagō · to lead outG1806
- himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- out ofἔξωexō · out/outside(r)G1854
- the townκώμηkōmē · villageG2968
- when he had spitπτύωptuō · to spitG4429
- onεἰςeis · towardG1519
- eyesὄμμαomma · eyeG3659
- and putἐπιτίθημιepitithēmi · to put/lay onG2007
- he askedἐπερωτάωeperōtaō · to questionG1905
- ifεἰei · if: is(QUESTION)G1487
- he sawβλέπωblepō · to seeG991
- oughtτιςtis · oneG5100
Cross-references for Mark 8:23
- Isaiah 51:18Not one of your children is left alive to take your hand and guide you.
- Jeremiah 31:32This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt. They broke that covenant, though I loved them as a husband loves his wife,” says the Lord.
- Acts 9:8Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was blind. So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus.
- Hebrews 8:9This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and led them out of the land of Egypt. They did not remain faithful to my covenant, so I turned my back on them, says the Lord.
- Mark 7:33Jesus led him away from the crowd so they could be alone. He put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then, spitting on his own fingers, he touched the man’s tongue.
- Isaiah 44:2The Lord who made you and helps you says: Do not be afraid, O Jacob, my servant, O dear Israel, my chosen one.
- John 9:6Then he spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and spread the mud over the blind man’s eyes.
- Revelation 3:18So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see.
Commentaries on Mark 8:23
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23And he took the blind man by the hand - Giving him a proof of his readiness to help him, and thus preparing him for the cure which he was about to work. Led him out of the town - Thus showing the inhabitants that he considered them unworthy of having another miracle wrought among them. He had already deeply deplored their ingratitude and obstinacy: see on Matthew 11:21; (note). When a people do not make a proper improvement of the light and grace which…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23Led him out of the town - Why this was done the sacred writers have not told us. It might have been to avoid the collecting of a multitude, and thus to have escaped the designs of the Pharisees who were attempting to take his life, and chiefly on a charge of sedition and of exciting the people. On this account Jesus chose to perform the miracle alone, thus showing that while he did good, he desired to do it in such a way as to avoid the “appearance” of…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 22-26Verses 22-26 Here is a blind man brought to Christ by his friends. Therein appeared the faith of those that brought him. If those who are spiritually blind, do not pray for themselves, yet their friends and relations should pray for them, that Christ would be pleased to touch them. The cure was wrought gradually, which was not usual in our Lord's miracles. Christ showed in what method those commonly are healed by his grace, who by nature are spiritually…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 23He spit on the man’s eyes (see 7:33; compare with John 9:6–7): We do not know exactly what eye problem the man had. Any attempt to identify it is only a guess and can distract from the miracle.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2323. And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town--Of the deaf and dumb man it is merely said that "He took him aside" (Mr 7:33); but this blind man He led by the hand out of the town, doing it Himself rather than employing another--great humility, exclaims Bengel--that He might gain his confidence and raise his expectation. and when he had spit on his eyes--the organ affected--See on Mr 7:33. and put his hands upon him, he asked him…Read the comment
Topics related to Mark 8:23
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Mark 8
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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