Keraia
Mark 10

Mark 10:47

Jesus Heals Bartimaeus · Mark 10:46–52
Read Mark 10

Translations

Modern
When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Traditional
And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
Literal
And having heard that it is Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and to say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Latin
Qui cum audisset quia Jesus Nazarenus est, cœpit clamare, et dicere: Jesu fili David, miserere mei.

Interlinear

Greek
English
When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Notes

Mark 10:47–48

  • When he heard: News of Jesus had reached Jericho, just as it had spread into Gentile regions (3:8).

  • Jesus, Son of David: Mark does not explain how Bartimaeus knew that Jesus was a descendant of David. He may have believed that Jesus was the Messiah. However, Bartimaeus did not connect this title with political or military hopes, as many people in that time did.

    Instead, he understood that Jesus cared for the poor, disabled, lame, and blind. So he asked Jesus for mercy and healing (10:51). This matched how Jesus understood his own mission (compare Luke 4:18–19).

Mark 10:46–52

The healing of blind Bartimaeus is the last healing miracle in the Gospel of Mark. This event and the healing of the blind man in 8:22–26 frame this section (see Mark Book Introduction, “Literary Features”).

It also connects this story to the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem as Israel’s Messiah (the Christ, God's chosen king) in 11:1–11. Bartimaeus’ cry for help (Jesus, Son of David) prepares Mark's audience for the confession of the people upon the arrival of Jesus in Jerusalem (11:10).

Theme notes and profiles

David

Events

Parallels

Matthew 20:29–34 Luke 18:35–43

People

David: Anointed king of Israel, ancestor of Jesus Christ Jesus: The Son of God and Savior of the world

Places

Nazareth: The hometown of Jesus in Galilee

Glossary

Bartimaeus Beggar Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Blindness Heal, Healing Mark, Gospel of Messiah Nazarene Nazareth

Topics

Bartimeus (Bartimaeus): A Blind Man Blindness: The Miraculous Healing of Bartimaeus David: King of Israel: Jesus Called Son of Faith: Faith in Christ: Blind Bartimaeus and a Fellow Blind Man Jesus, the Christ: Heals Two Blind Men (At Jericho) Jesus, the Christ: Miracles of Two Blind Men Cured Near Jericho Miracles of Jesus, in Chronological Order: Restores Sight to Two Blind Men Near Jericho Nazareth: Jesus From Thankfulness: To God: Blind Bartimaeus The Human Nature of Christ was of the Seed of David