Devine Scripture

Mark 8:23

What does Mark 8:23 mean?

A plain-English look at Mark 8:23 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Mark 8:23 means

Jesus took the blind man by the hand, leading him out of the village. He then spat on the man’s eyes and laid His hands on him, asking if he could see anything. The unusual method and the two-stage healing process are notable. Leading him out of the village might symbolize separating him from a place of spiritual darkness, while the initial partial healing sets up the unique progression of his restoration.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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?

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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?

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And he took the blind man by the hand, and went with him out of the town; and when he had put water from his mouth on his eyes, and put his hands on him, he said, Do you see anything?

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and having taken the hand of the blind man, he led him forth without the village, and having spit on his eyes, having put <FI>his<Fi> hands on him, he was questioning him if he doth behold anything:

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And taking the blind man by the hand, he led him out of the town. And spitting upon his eyes, laying his hands on him, he asked him if he saw any thing.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And taking hold of the hand of the blind man he led him forth out of the village, and having spit upon his eyes, he laid his hands upon him, and asked him if he beheld anything.

Context

This verse details the initial steps of a unique two-stage healing process. It immediately follows the blind man being brought to Jesus and directly precedes the man's initial, partial description of what he sees, emphasizing the gradual nature of this particular miracle.

v.22And they come unto Bethsaida. And they bring to him a blind man, and beseech him to touch him.

v.23This passage

v.24And he looked up, and said, I see men; for I behold them as trees, walking.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Mark 5:23

    and beseecheth him much, saying, My little daughter is at the point of death: I pray thee, that thou come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be made whole, and live.

  • Jeremiah 31:32

    not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was a husband unto them, saith Jehovah.

  • 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 among all the sons that she hath brought up.

  • John 9:6

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

  • Mark 7:33

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

  • Hebrews 8:9

    Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers In the day that I took them by the hand to lead them forth out of the land of Egypt; For they continued not in my covenant, And I regarded them not, saith the Lord.

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