Mark 10:51

KJV

And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} Jesus {G2424} answered {G611} and said {G3004} unto him {G846}, What {G5101} wilt {G2309} thou that I should do {G4160} unto thee {G4671}?{G1161} The blind man {G5185} said {G2036} unto him {G846}, Lord {G4462}, that {G2443} I might receive my sight {G308}.

Complete Jewish Bible

"What do you want me to do for you?" asked Yeshua. The blind man said to him, "Rabbi, let me be able to see again."

Berean Standard Bible

“What do you want Me to do for you?” Jesus asked. “Rabboni,” said the blind man, “let me see again.”

American Standard Version

And Jesus answered him, and said, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? And the blind man said unto him, Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Mark 10:51 captures a pivotal moment of direct interaction between Jesus and Bartimaeus, a blind beggar outside Jericho. Jesus, having been persistently called upon by Bartimaeus, stops amidst the crowd and compassionately asks the man to articulate his deepest desire. Bartimaeus's immediate and clear response, "Lord, that I might receive my sight," demonstrates profound faith and a specific petition, setting the stage for his miraculous physical and spiritual restoration.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is the climax of the healing of Bartimaeus, immediately following his persistent cries to Jesus as "Son of David" despite the crowd's attempts to silence him ([Mark 10:46-48](/mark/10-46-48 "Mark 10:46-48 - Bartimaeus Calls Out to Jesus")). Jesus's command to call Bartimaeus and his subsequent question in [Mark 10:49-51](/mark/10-49-51 "Mark 10:49-51 - Jesus Calls Bartimaeus") highlight Jesus' intentional engagement with the marginalized. The narrative concludes with Bartimaeus's immediate healing and his decision to follow Jesus on the way, underscoring the transformative power of faith and the cost of discipleship as Jesus journeys towards Jerusalem and His ultimate sacrifice, a theme woven throughout [Mark 8-10](/mark/8 "Mark 8-10 - The Journey to Jerusalem and Discipleship").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Blindness in ancient Israel was often seen as a consequence of sin or a sign of divine disfavor, leading to social ostracization and reliance on begging for survival. Jericho was a significant city, and Jesus's passage through it on His way to Jerusalem would have drawn large crowds, making Bartimaeus's persistent and loud cries particularly audacious. His address of Jesus as "Son of David" was a messianic title, indicating a deeper theological understanding of Jesus's identity than many in the crowd possessed, reflecting a common expectation among the Jewish people for a deliverer who would restore Israel, a hope often associated with the Davidic line.
* **Key Themes:** Mark 10:51 encapsulates several significant themes. It powerfully illustrates Jesus's **compassion and accessibility** to all, especially the marginalized, as He stops for an individual amidst a bustling crowd. It underscores the **power of faith** demonstrated by Bartimaeus's persistent and specific petition, contrasting his spiritual insight with the physical blindness he experiences. Furthermore, the interaction highlights Jesus's **messianic authority** as the "Son of David" capable of performing miraculous healing, connecting His identity to His divine power. This episode also serves as a model for **earnest prayer**, demonstrating that clear, heartfelt requests made in faith are heard and answered by the Lord.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **thélō (Greek, _thélō'_):** This word, translated "wilt thou," signifies a deliberate choice or preference stemming from subjective impulse. Jesus's question is not merely rhetorical; it is an invitation for Bartimaeus to articulate his specific, conscious desire. It emphasizes Jesus's respect for human agency and His desire for a clear, personal petition, rather than a generic request or an assumption of need.
* **rhabboní (Chaldee, _rhabboní'_):** Translated "Lord," this Aramaic term (related to the Hebrew "rabbi") is a respectful address, often used for a master or teacher. In this context, especially given Bartimaeus's earlier cry of "Son of David," it transcends a mere polite address. It conveys a profound acknowledgment of Jesus's authority, power, and perhaps even His divine nature, signifying a recognition of Him as one capable of performing the miraculous.
* **anablépō (Greek, _anablépō'_):** This verb, translated "receive my sight," literally means "to look up" or "to recover sight." The nuance of "recover" implies that Bartimaeus was not born blind but had lost his sight at some point. This detail emphasizes the restoration of a lost faculty, highlighting Jesus's power to reverse debilitating conditions and return individuals to a state of wholeness.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Jesus answered and said unto him, "What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?"":** This opening clause highlights Jesus's direct and personal engagement. Despite the noise and the crowd's attempts to silence Bartimaeus, Jesus hears his cry and initiates a one-on-one dialogue. His question is not born of ignorance but serves to elicit a clear, specific request from Bartimaeus, affirming his dignity and agency. It also sets a pattern for how Jesus often interacts with those seeking healing or help, requiring a clear articulation of need and desire.
* **"The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.":** Bartimaeus's response is immediate, focused, and profound. His address of Jesus as "Lord" (Rabboni) demonstrates his recognition of Jesus's authority and divine capacity. His request, "that I might receive my sight," is simple yet deeply significant, expressing his primary physical need while implicitly acknowledging Jesus's power to meet it. This directness and clarity are presented as exemplary faith.

#### Literary Devices
The passage employs several potent literary devices. **Interrogation** is central, as Jesus's direct question "What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?" serves not only to elicit Bartimaeus's request but also to highlight Jesus's compassion and willingness to engage personally. This leads to a powerful **Dialogue**, a direct exchange between the divine healer and the desperate supplicant, which underscores the immediacy and intimacy of the encounter. There is also a strong element of **Contrast** between Bartimaeus's physical blindness and his spiritual insight, as he is the one who correctly identifies Jesus as "Son of David" and "Lord," while many with physical sight remain spiritually blind to Jesus's true identity. Finally, the narrative carries a subtle **Foreshadowing** of Jesus's ultimate mission: just as He restores physical sight, He will restore spiritual sight to all who believe, leading them to follow Him on the path of discipleship, even to the cross.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This interaction profoundly illustrates God's attentiveness to the cries of the marginalized and His desire for us to articulate our needs with clarity and faith. Jesus's question, "What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?", is a powerful invitation to bring our specific burdens and desires before Him, trusting in His compassion and power. It highlights that while God knows our needs, He desires our active participation in prayer, fostering a deeper relationship built on trust and open communication. Bartimaeus's immediate and focused response serves as a model for how believers should approach God in prayer: with boldness, sincerity, and a clear understanding of what they are asking for, rooted in a recognition of Jesus's divine authority and ability to act.
* [Psalm 145:18](/psalms/145-18 "Psalm 145:18 - The Lord is near to all who call on Him")
* [Philippians 4:6](/philippians/4-6 "Philippians 4:6 - Do not be anxious about anything")
* [Matthew 7:7](/matthew/7-7 "Matthew 7:7 - Ask, and it will be given to you")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Mark 10:51 challenges us to examine the clarity and depth of our own petitions to God. In a world full of distractions and vague desires, Jesus's direct question to Bartimaeus calls us to pinpoint our deepest longings and present them to Him with unwavering faith. Are we as direct and persistent as Bartimaeus in our prayers, or do we often make general requests without truly articulating what we believe Jesus can and will do? This verse reminds us that Jesus is not distant or indifferent; He stops, He listens, and He invites us into a personal dialogue. It encourages us to shed any spiritual timidity and approach Him with the confidence that He cares about our individual needs, both physical and spiritual. Just as Bartimaeus's faith led to immediate sight, our clear, faith-filled prayers can open the way for God's transformative power in our lives, leading us to follow Him more closely.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What is the deepest, most specific desire of your heart that you need to bring before Jesus?**
* **In what areas of your life are you spiritually blind, and how can you ask Jesus to grant you sight?**
* **How does Bartimaeus's persistence and clarity challenge your own prayer life?**

### FAQ
**Why did Jesus ask Bartimaeus what he wanted if He already knew he was blind?**
Answer: Jesus's question, "What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?", was not born of ignorance but served multiple profound purposes. Firstly, it affirmed Bartimaeus's dignity and agency, allowing him to articulate his own need rather than being passively healed. It was an invitation for a personal, specific petition, demonstrating that God desires our active participation and clear communication in prayer. Secondly, it served as a public declaration of faith from Bartimaeus, solidifying his trust in Jesus before the crowd. This direct engagement also highlights Jesus's compassionate and relational approach to ministry, always seeking to connect with individuals on a personal level, as seen in other healing accounts like the woman with the issue of blood in [Mark 5:34](/mark/5-34 "Mark 5:34 - Jesus Heals the Woman with a Hemorrhage").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The encounter with Bartimaeus in [Mark 10:51](/mark/10-51 "Mark 10:51 - Jesus Heals Bartimaeus") is a powerful foreshadowing of Christ's ultimate mission to bring spiritual sight to a spiritually blind humanity. Just as Bartimaeus cried out for physical sight and received it through faith in Jesus, so too does humanity, spiritually blind due to sin, need the illuminating power of Christ. Jesus, the true "Son of David" and "Lord," came not only to heal physical infirmities but primarily to open the eyes of those who are spiritually lost, enabling them to perceive the truth of God's kingdom and His saving grace. His question, "What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?", echoes through the ages as an invitation for all to acknowledge their spiritual need and cry out to Him for salvation. Through His death and resurrection, Christ provides the ultimate "sight"—the ability to see God, understand His will, and walk in His light ([2 Corinthians 4:6](/2_corinthians/4-6 "2 Corinthians 4:6 - God's Light in Our Hearts")). Bartimaeus's immediate decision to follow Jesus after receiving his sight symbolizes the new life of discipleship that begins when Christ opens our spiritual eyes, leading us to walk with Him on His path, even to the cross and beyond ([Ephesians 1:18](/ephesians/1-18 "Ephesians 1:18 - Enlightenment of the Heart")).

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 18:41

Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.

Luke 18:43

And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw [it], gave praise unto God.

Matthew 7:7

¶ Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

Mark 10:36

And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?

2 Chronicles 1:7

In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee.

Philippians 4:6

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Matthew 6:8

Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.