Mark 8:22

¶ And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.

And {G2532} he cometh {G2064} to {G1519} Bethsaida {G966}; and {G2532} they bring {G5342} a blind man {G5185} unto him {G846}, and {G2532} besought {G3870} him {G846} to {G2443} touch {G680} him {G846}.

They came to Beit-Tzaidah. Some people brought him a blind man and begged Yeshua to touch him.

When they arrived at Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him.

And they come unto Bethsaida. And they bring to him a blind man, and beseech him to touch him.

Commentary

Context of Mark 8:22

Mark 8:22 introduces a pivotal moment in Jesus' ministry, as He arrives in Bethsaida, a fishing village on the northeastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. This city is notably one of the places Jesus had previously condemned for its unbelief, despite witnessing many miracles (Matthew 11:21; Luke 10:13). The passage immediately follows a significant discussion with His disciples about their spiritual blindness and lack of understanding concerning His identity and mission. The bringing of a physically blind man to Jesus thus serves as a powerful symbolic lead-in to the unique, two-stage healing miracle that follows.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Jesus' Compassion and Power: The act of bringing the blind man to Jesus highlights the prevailing belief in His ability to heal. Jesus' willingness to engage with those in need, even in a place of spiritual resistance like Bethsaida, underscores His boundless compassion and divine authority over infirmity.
  • Human Need and Intercession: The people's earnest plea, "besought him to touch him," demonstrates their faith in Jesus' healing touch. This emphasizes the importance of both recognizing human helplessness and having others intercede on behalf of the afflicted.
  • Physical and Spiritual Blindness: This miracle is unique in its two-stage healing process, which unfolds in the subsequent verses (Mark 8:23-25). Many commentators interpret this as a symbolic representation of the disciples' own gradual understanding of Jesus' identity and mission, moving from partial to full spiritual sight.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Bethsaida" (Greek: Bethsaïda, from Hebrew Beth-tsaida) literally means "house of fishing" or "house of hunting." This name reflects the city's historical economic activity and its location near the Sea of Galilee, a region where Jesus performed many miracles.
  • The phrase "besought him to touch him" (Greek: παρεκάλουν αὐτὸν ἵνα ἅψηται αὐτοῦ - parekaloun auton hina hapsētai autou) conveys an urgent and earnest request. It reflects the common understanding that Jesus' physical touch was often a conduit for His healing power, as seen in other miracles like the healing of the leper (Mark 1:41).

Practical Application

Mark 8:22 reminds us that Jesus is accessible to those in need, even in unexpected or spiritually challenging places. It encourages us to:

  1. Bring Others to Jesus: Just as the people brought the blind man, we are called to introduce others to Christ, trusting in His power to transform lives.
  2. Seek His Touch: Whether for physical healing or spiritual insight, we should earnestly seek Jesus' intervention in our lives, believing in His ability to overcome any form of "blindness."
  3. Embrace Progressive Understanding: The unique nature of this healing can teach us patience and trust in God's timing. Sometimes, spiritual understanding or personal transformation is a process that unfolds in stages, requiring continued reliance on Christ.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Matthew 11:21

    Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

  • Mark 6:45

    ¶ And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people.

  • Luke 10:13

    Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.

  • Matthew 8:15

    And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.

  • Mark 2:3

    And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.

  • John 1:44

    Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.

  • John 12:21

    The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.
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