Mark 8:23

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.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Jesus is in Bethsaida with a blind man brought by others. He takes the man by the hand, leads him outside the village, and asks if he can see anything.

The words — ἐπιλαβόμενος (epilabomenos) means "having taken hold of," describing Jesus physically grasping the blind man’s hand before leading him out. ἐξήνεγκεν (exēnenken) translates to "he brought out," indicating the movement from the village boundary to a private space.

The thread — This physical method parallels Jesus spitting and touching ears in Mark 7:33, applying mud made from spit in John 9:6, and requesting hand placement in Mark 5:23.

Why it lands — The text records Jesus using tactile and saliva-based actions to initiate healing, followed by a direct question about the man’s vision. It requires the reader to observe that restoration here occurs in stages rather than through a single command.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Mark 7:33 So Jesus took him aside privately, away from the crowd, and put His fingers into the man’s ears. Then He spit and touched the man’s tongue.
John 9:6 When Jesus had said this, He spit on the ground, made some mud, and applied it to the man’s eyes.
Mark 5:23 and pleaded with Him urgently, “My little daughter is near death. Please come and place Your hands on her, so that she will be healed and live.”
Acts 9:8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could not see a thing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus.
Isaiah 44:2 This is the word of the LORD, your Maker, who formed you from the womb and who will help you: “Do not be afraid, O Jacob My servant, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
Isaiah 51:18 Among all the sons she bore, there is no one to guide her; among all the sons she brought up, there is no one to take her hand.
Jeremiah 31:32 It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant they broke, though I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD.
Hebrews 8:9 It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, because they did not abide by My covenant, and I disregarded them, declares the Lord.
Revelation 3:18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, white garments so that you may be clothed and your shameful nakedness not exposed, and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.