Mark 10:46

KJV

¶ And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} they came {G2064} to {G1519} Jericho {G2410}: and {G2532} as he {G846} went {G1607} out of {G575} Jericho {G2410} with {G2532} his {G846} disciples {G3101} and {G2532} a great {G2425} number of people {G3793}, blind {G5185} Bartimaeus {G924}, the son {G5207} of Timaeus {G5090}, sat {G2521} by {G3844} the highway side {G3598} begging {G4319}.

Complete Jewish Bible

They came to Yericho; and as Yeshua was leaving Yericho with his talmidim and a great crowd, a blind beggar, Bar-Timai (son of Timai), was sitting by the side of the road.

Berean Standard Bible

Next, they came to Jericho. And as Jesus and His disciples were leaving Jericho with a large crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting beside the road.

American Standard Version

And they come to Jericho: and as he went out from Jericho, with his disciples and a great multitude, the son of Timæus, Bartimæus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the way side.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Mark 10:46 introduces the poignant encounter between Jesus and Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, as Jesus departs from Jericho on His final journey to Jerusalem. This verse meticulously sets the scene, highlighting Jesus' widespread popularity, the large crowd accompanying Him, and the desolate yet strategically chosen position of Bartimaeus, whose name and condition are specifically detailed, preparing the reader for a profound demonstration of faith, compassion, and miraculous healing.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically placed within Mark's Gospel as Jesus and His disciples are making their final, climactic journey from Galilee to Jerusalem, a path that will culminate in His crucifixion and resurrection. Immediately preceding this account, Jesus has just taught His disciples about true greatness through humble service and sacrifice, stating that the [Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many](/mark/10-45 "Mark 10:45 - Jesus' Purpose"). The healing of Bartimaeus thus serves as a powerful illustration of Jesus' compassionate service and His accessibility to the marginalized, even amidst the intensity of His impending passion. It also echoes earlier healings of the blind, such as the man in Bethsaida in [Mark 8:22-26](/mark/8-22-26 "Mark 8:22-26 - Healing of the Blind Man at Bethsaida"), creating a thematic parallel that emphasizes spiritual sight.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Jericho, often called the "City of Palms," was an ancient and significant city located in the Jordan Valley, serving as a bustling trade hub and a gateway to Jerusalem from the east. It was a common route for pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem for Passover, explaining the "great number of people" accompanying Jesus. In ancient Near Eastern society, blindness was a severe affliction, often leading to destitution as it rendered individuals incapable of most forms of labor. Blind beggars like Bartimaeus were common sights along major roads, relying entirely on the charity of passersby. His position "by the highway side" (Greek: _para ten hodon_) was a customary place for beggars to solicit alms, maximizing their exposure to travelers. The mention of his father, Timaeus, suggests a known lineage, perhaps indicating that Bartimaeus was a recognized figure in the community despite his marginalized status.
* **Key Themes:** This verse introduces several pivotal themes that resonate throughout the narrative and the broader Gospel. Firstly, it underscores **Divine Accessibility**, demonstrating that Jesus, despite His fame and the urgency of His mission, remains approachable to individuals in desperate need, particularly those on the fringes of society. Secondly, the focus on Bartimaeus highlights the theme of **The Marginalized Seen and Valued**. In a society that often overlooked or dismissed the disabled, Jesus actively engages with them, affirming their inherent dignity and worth. This aligns with Jesus' broader ministry to the poor, the sick, and the outcast, as prophesied in [Isaiah 61:1](/isaiah/61-1 "Isaiah 61:1 - The Spirit of the Lord is Upon Me"). Finally, the introduction of Bartimaeus sets the stage for a dramatic display of **Faith and Miraculous Transformation**. While only the setup, this verse anticipates the powerful interaction and subsequent healing that will unfold, serving as a testament to Jesus' power and willingness to respond to earnest cries for help, a theme consistent with other healing narratives in [Mark's Gospel](/mark/10 "Mark Chapter 10").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **blind (Greek, _typhlós'_):** This adjective describes Bartimaeus's physical condition, indicating a complete lack of sight. In a broader biblical sense, "blindness" can also signify spiritual ignorance or an inability to perceive divine truth, a theme often explored in the Gospels, particularly in contrast to those who, like Bartimaeus, gain physical sight and then demonstrate spiritual insight.
* **sat (Greek, _káthēmai'_):** This verb indicates Bartimaeus's static position, emphasizing his helplessness and dependence. He is not moving or working; he is fixed in a place of waiting and soliciting. Figuratively, it can suggest a state of being "stuck" or "residing" in a particular condition, underscoring his long-term suffering and marginalization.
* **begging (Greek, _prosaitéō'_):** This verb, derived from a word meaning "to ask repeatedly," highlights Bartimaeus's profession and his desperate state. It implies a continuous, habitual act of soliciting alms, underscoring his utter reliance on the charity of others for survival. This act of persistent asking will become crucial in the subsequent verses as he cries out to Jesus.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"¶ And they came to Jericho:"** This opening clause establishes the geographical setting for the narrative. Jericho, a significant city on the pilgrim route, marks Jesus' approach to Jerusalem, indicating the final leg of His earthly journey before the Passion. The "they" refers to Jesus and His disciples, indicating their collective movement.
* **"and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people,"** This clause specifies the exact moment of the encounter: as Jesus was _leaving_ Jericho. The detail of "a great number of people" emphasizes Jesus' popularity and the public nature of His ministry, setting a bustling backdrop against which the individual plight of Bartimaeus will stand out. It underscores the challenge Bartimaeus faced in getting Jesus' attention amidst such a crowd.
* **"blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging."** This final clause introduces the central figure of the narrative. His name, "Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus," is unusual for Mark's Gospel in its specificity, personalizing the account. His condition ("blind") and his occupation ("begging") immediately establish his vulnerability and marginalized status. His location ("by the highway side") signifies his customary place for soliciting alms, a place of both public visibility and profound desperation.

#### Literary Devices
Mark employs several key literary devices in this verse to establish the scene and introduce Bartimaeus. The specific naming of **Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus**, is a notable use of a **Patronymic Naming Convention**. Unlike many unnamed individuals in healing accounts, Mark's inclusion of his full name elevates Bartimaeus from an anonymous figure to a distinct individual whose story is significant. This personalization enhances the reader's empathy and makes the subsequent miracle more impactful. There is also a subtle use of **Contrast** between the large, moving crowd accompanying Jesus and the single, stationary, and marginalized figure of Bartimaeus. This highlights Jesus' ability to perceive and respond to individual need even amidst overwhelming numbers. Furthermore, the description of Bartimaeus's state – "blind" and "begging" – immediately evokes **Pathos**, drawing the reader's sympathy and setting the stage for a dramatic transformation from destitution to wholeness.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Mark 10:46 serves as a powerful theological statement about God's compassion for the marginalized and Jesus' active pursuit of those in need, regardless of their social standing or physical limitations. It underscores the theme that true spiritual sight often begins with a recognition of one's own profound need and a willingness to cry out to Jesus. Bartimaeus, though physically blind, is about to demonstrate a profound spiritual insight that many of those with physical sight, including perhaps some of Jesus' own disciples, still lacked. This encounter on the road to Jerusalem also reinforces the idea that Jesus' journey to the cross is not merely a theological concept but is punctuated by acts of mercy and liberation, demonstrating the practical outworking of His kingdom.

* [Matthew 20:29-34](/matthew/20-29-34 "Matthew 20:29-34 - Two Blind Men Healed at Jericho")
* [Luke 18:35-43](/luke/18-35-43 "Luke 18:35-43 - The Blind Man Healed Near Jericho")
* [Isaiah 35:5-6](/isaiah/35-5-6 "Isaiah 35:5-6 - Prophecy of Healing and Restoration")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Mark 10:46 invites us to consider our own spiritual posture in relation to Jesus. Like Bartimaeus, we may find ourselves in situations of spiritual or emotional "blindness," feeling marginalized, overlooked, or stuck in a place of helplessness, "sitting by the highway side" of life. Yet, Jesus, despite His busyness and the demands of the crowd, is always attentive to the individual cry for help. This verse challenges us to cultivate a humble awareness of our need and to position ourselves where we can encounter Him – whether through diligent engagement with Scripture, earnest prayer, or active participation in the community of faith. It reminds us that true faith is not about our perceived worthiness or social status, but about our desperate longing for Jesus and our willingness to call out to Him. The story encourages us to recognize that even in our most vulnerable states, Jesus sees us, knows our name, and is ready to respond to our sincere appeals.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life do you feel "blind" or "begging," dependent on something outside yourself?**
* **How does the image of Jesus being attentive to Bartimaeus amidst a "great number of people" speak to your sense of individual worth and God's care?**
* **What "highway side" might you be sitting on, waiting for an encounter with Jesus, and what might it mean to call out to Him from that place?**

### FAQ
**Why is Bartimaeus's name specifically mentioned, unlike many other individuals Jesus healed?**

Answer: Mark's Gospel often leaves individuals unnamed, but the specific mention of "blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus" in [Mark 10:46](/mark/10-46 "Mark 10:46 - Blind Bartimaeus Introduced") is significant. It personalizes the account, elevating Bartimaeus from an anonymous figure to a memorable individual whose story is worth recounting. This specificity may indicate that he was a known figure in the early Christian community, or it serves to emphasize the profound personal transformation he experienced. By giving him a name, Mark underscores the individual nature of Jesus' compassion and the dignity He bestows upon those often overlooked by society. It also highlights that Jesus' miracles were real events involving real people, making the narrative more impactful and relatable.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Mark 10:46, though merely setting the scene, profoundly points to Christ's ultimate mission and identity. Bartimaeus, blind and begging by the roadside, embodies humanity's spiritual condition apart from Christ: sightless, dependent, and marginalized from God's presence. Jesus, as He "went out of Jericho" on His way to Jerusalem, was not just passing through a city, but moving purposefully towards His destiny as the [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God") who would take away the sin of the world. His encounter with Bartimaeus foreshadows His greater work of opening the eyes of the spiritually blind, fulfilling prophecies such as [Isaiah 42:7](/isaiah/42-7 "Isaiah 42:7 - Opening Blind Eyes"). Jesus is the true Light of the World, as He declared in [John 8:12](/john/8-12 "John 8:12 - Jesus, the Light of the World"), and His coming was precisely to bring sight to those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, as celebrated in [Luke 1:79](/luke/1-79 "Luke 1:79 - To Give Light to Those Who Sit in Darkness"). Bartimaeus's physical blindness and subsequent healing are a powerful allegory for the spiritual transformation that occurs when individuals recognize their need for Christ and cry out to Him, receiving not just physical restoration but eternal spiritual sight through faith in the One who came to serve and give His life as a ransom for many, as articulated in [Mark 10:45](/mark/10-45 "Mark 10:45 - Jesus' Purpose").

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Luke 18:35

¶ And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:

Luke 19:1

¶ And [Jesus] entered and passed through Jericho.

Matthew 20:29

¶ And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.

Matthew 20:34

So Jesus had compassion [on them], and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.

John 9:8

¶ The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?

Luke 16:22

And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

Luke 16:20

And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,