Mark 8:23

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.

And {G2532} he took {G1949} the blind man {G5185} by the hand {G5495}, and led {G1806} him {G846} out of {G1854} the town {G2968}; and {G2532} when he had spit {G4429} on {G1519} his {G846} eyes {G3659}, and put {G2007} his hands {G5495} upon him {G846}, he asked {G1905} him {G846} if {G1536} he saw {G991} ought {G1536}.

Taking the blind man's hand, he led him outside the town. He spit in his eyes, put his hands on him and asked him, "Do you see anything?"

So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. Then He spit on the man’s eyes and placed His hands on him. “Can you see anything?” He asked.

And he took hold of the blind man by the hand, and brought him out of the village; and when he had spit on his eyes, and laid his hands upon him, he asked him, Seest thou aught?

Commentary

Mark 8:23 describes the initial phase of one of Jesus' most distinctive healing miracles: the restoration of sight to a blind man in Bethsaida. This verse highlights Jesus' compassionate, personal approach and introduces a unique, two-stage healing process.

Context of Mark 8:23

This event takes place in Bethsaida, a town located on the northeastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. Notably, Bethsaida was one of the cities Jesus had previously condemned for its impenitence despite witnessing many of His mighty works (see Matthew 11:21 and Luke 10:13). Jesus' decision to lead the blind man "out of the town" (Mark 8:22) before healing him may symbolize a separation from the prevailing unbelief or a private act of grace.

The miracle immediately follows a passage where Jesus rebukes His disciples for their spiritual dullness and inability to understand His teachings, despite having just witnessed the miraculous feeding of the four thousand (Mark 8:17-21). This sets up a powerful parallel between physical blindness and spiritual insight, a key theme throughout Mark's Gospel.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Jesus' Personal Compassion: Jesus doesn't just command healing from a distance; He takes the man "by the hand" and personally leads him. This demonstrates His intimate care and willingness to engage directly with suffering individuals.
  • Unusual Healing Methods: Jesus employs physical means—spitting on the man's eyes and laying His hands upon him. While seemingly unconventional, saliva was sometimes believed in ancient cultures to have medicinal properties. This reminds us that God can use various methods, even humble ones, to accomplish His divine will. Another instance of Jesus using saliva for healing is found in John 9:6.
  • Progressive Healing: Unlike most of Jesus' miracles, which are instantaneous, this healing unfolds in stages. After the initial touch and application, Jesus asks, "if he saw ought," implying the healing is not yet complete. This foreshadows the next verse (Mark 8:24) where the man's sight is only partially restored.
  • Symbolism of Spiritual Sight: Many commentators see this two-stage healing of physical blindness as a powerful metaphor for the disciples' (and our own) gradual spiritual understanding. Just as the blind man initially saw men like "trees, walking," the disciples were slowly coming to grips with Jesus' true identity and mission, particularly regarding His impending suffering and death (Mark 8:31).

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "saw ought" means "saw anything" or "saw clearly." The original Greek, eí ti blépeis (εἴ τι βλέπεις), literally asks "if you see anything." This direct question confirms that Jesus was testing the initial effectiveness of the healing and preparing for the subsequent full restoration.

Practical Application

This passage encourages us to recognize that God often works in ways we might not expect, and His timing is perfect. Spiritual growth and understanding are often progressive processes, not always immediate. We may experience moments of partial clarity before receiving full insight, much like the blind man. It also reassures us of Jesus' personal involvement and compassion in our lives, always ready to take our hand and lead us toward greater understanding and healing.

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

  • Mark 7:33

    And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue;

  • John 9:6

    When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,

  • John 9:7

    And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.

  • Acts 9:8

    And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought [him] into Damascus.

  • Mark 5:23

    And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: [I pray thee], come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.

  • Isaiah 44:2

    Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, [which] will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen.

  • Isaiah 51:18

    [There is] none to guide her among all the sons [whom] she hath brought forth; neither [is there any] that taketh her by the hand of all the sons [that] she hath brought up.
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