New International VersionHe looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.”
New Living TranslationThe man looked around. “Yes,” he said, “I see people, but I can’t see them very clearly. They look like trees walking around.”
English Standard VersionAnd he looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.”
Berean Standard BibleThe man looked up and said, “I can see the people, but they look like trees walking around.”
Berean Literal BibleAnd having looked up, he was saying, "I see the men, for I see them as trees walking."
King James BibleAnd he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.
New King James VersionAnd he looked up and said, “I see men like trees, walking.”
New American Standard BibleAnd he looked up and said, “I see people, for I see them like trees, walking around.”
NASB 1995And he looked up and said, “I see men, for I see them like trees, walking around.”
NASB 1977And he looked up and said, “I see men, for I am seeing them like trees, walking about.”
Legacy Standard BibleAnd he looked up and was saying, “I see men, for I see them like trees, walking around.”
Amplified BibleAnd he looked up and said, “I see people, but [they look] like trees, walking around.”
Christian Standard BibleHe looked up and said, “I see people—they look like trees walking.”
Holman Christian Standard BibleHe looked up and said, “I see people—they look to me like trees walking.”
American Standard VersionAnd he looked up, and said, I see men; for I behold them as trees, walking.
Contemporary English VersionThe man looked up and said, "I see people, but they look like trees walking around."
English Revised VersionAnd he looked up, and said, I see men; for I behold them as trees, walking.
GOD'S WORD® TranslationThe man looked up and said, "I see people. They look like trees walking around."
Good News TranslationThe man looked up and said, "Yes, I can see people, but they look like trees walking around."
International Standard VersionThe man looked up and said, "I see people, but they look like trees walking around."
NET BibleRegaining his sight he said, "I see people, but they look like trees walking."
New Heart English BibleHe looked up, and said, "I see people; they look like trees walking."
Webster's Bible TranslationAnd he looked up, and said, I see men as trees walking.
Weymouth New TestamentHe looked up and said, "I can see the people: I see them like trees--only walking." Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThe man looked up and said, “I can see the people, but they look like trees walking around.”
World English BibleHe looked up, and said, “I see men, but I see them like walking trees.” Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand he, having looked up, said, “I behold men, as I see trees, walking.”
Berean Literal BibleAnd having looked up, he was saying, "I see the men, for I see them as trees walking."
Young's Literal Translation and he, having looked up, said, 'I behold men, as I see trees, walking.'
Smith's Literal TranslationAnd having looked up, he said, I see men that I see as trees, walking. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd looking up, he said: I see men as it were trees, walking.
Catholic Public Domain VersionAnd looking up, he said, “I see men but they are like walking trees.”
New American BibleLooking up he replied, “I see people looking like trees and walking.”
New Revised Standard VersionAnd the man looked up and said, “I can see people, but they look like trees, walking.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd he looked and said, I see men like trees, walking.
Aramaic Bible in Plain EnglishHe gazed and he said, “I see people like trees that are walking.” NT Translations Anderson New TestamentAnd he looked up and said: I see men, like trees, walking.
Godbey New TestamentAnd looking up he said, I see the men walking about like trees.
Haweis New TestamentAnd looking up, he said, I see men walking, as trees.
Mace New Testamentso looking up, he said, I see men; for by their walking I distinguish them from trees.
Weymouth New TestamentHe looked up and said, "I can see the people: I see them like trees--only walking."
Worrell New TestamentAnd, looking up, he said, "I behold men, because I see them as trees walking."
Worsley New TestamentAnd he looked up, and said, I see men (as it were trees) walking.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context The Blind Man at Bethsaida… 23So 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. 24The man looked upand said,“I can seethepeople,butthey lookliketreeswalking around.”25Once again Jesus placed His hands on the man’s eyes, and when he opened them his sight was restored, and he could see everything clearly.…
Cross References John 9:25He answered, “Whether He is a sinner I do not know. There is one thing I do know: I was blind, but now I see!”
Matthew 9:27-30As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” / After Jesus had entered the house, the blind men came to Him. “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” He asked. “Yes, Lord,” they answered. / Then He touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith will it be done to you.” ...
John 9:6-7When Jesus had said this, He spit on the ground, made some mud, and applied it to the man’s eyes. / Then He told him, “Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam” (which means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came back seeing.
Isaiah 35:5Then the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
Matthew 11:5The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.
Luke 18:41-43“What do you want Me to do for you?” “Lord,” he said, “let me see again.” / “Receive your sight!” Jesus replied. “Your faith has healed you.” / Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.
John 9:39Then Jesus declared, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind may see and those who see may become blind.”
Isaiah 42:7to open the eyes of the blind, to bring prisoners out of the dungeon and those sitting in darkness out from the prison house.
John 8:12Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”
2 Kings 6:17Then Elisha prayed, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw that the hills were full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
John 12:40“He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so that they cannot see with their eyes, and understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.”
Psalm 146:8the LORD opens the eyes of the blind, the LORD lifts those who are weighed down, the LORD loves the righteous.
Acts 26:18to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me.’
2 Kings 6:20When they had entered Samaria, Elisha said, “O LORD, open the eyes of these men that they may see.” Then the LORD opened their eyes, and they looked around and discovered that they were in Samaria.
Isaiah 29:18On that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll, and out of the deep darkness the eyes of the blind will see.
Treasury of Scripture And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. I see. Judges 9:36 And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come people down from the top of the mountains. And Zebul said unto him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains asif they were men. Isaiah 29:18 And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness. Isaiah 32:3 And the eyes of them that see shall not be dim, and the ears of them that hear shall hearken. Jump to Previous TreesWalkingJump to Next TreesWalkingMark 8 1.Jesus feeds the people miraculously;10.refuses to give a sign to the Pharisees;14.admonishes his disciples to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod;22.gives a blind man his sight;27.acknowledges that he is the Jesus who should suffer and rise again;34.and exhorts to patience in persecution for the profession of the gospel.The man looked upThis phrase indicates a physical action that also symbolizes a spiritual awakening or realization. In biblical narratives, looking up often signifies a change in perspective or the beginning of understanding. This moment is crucial as it marks the transition from blindness to sight, both physically and spiritually. In the context of Mark 8, Jesus is performing a miracle that serves as a metaphor for spiritual enlightenment. and said,
The act of speaking here is significant as it demonstrates the man's awareness and his ability to articulate his experience. In the Gospels, verbal confession often accompanies healing and faith. This moment of speech is a testimony to the gradual process of healing and understanding, reflecting the journey of faith that requires acknowledgment and confession. “I can see the people,
This partial sight represents an incomplete understanding or revelation. In the broader context of Mark's Gospel, this mirrors the disciples' gradual comprehension of Jesus' identity and mission. The man's initial ability to see people, albeit indistinctly, parallels the disciples' journey from misunderstanding to clarity about who Jesus is. but they look like trees
The imagery of people appearing as trees suggests a blurred vision, indicating that the healing is not yet complete. Trees in biblical literature often symbolize strength, growth, and life. This comparison may imply that the man perceives life and movement but lacks clarity. It serves as a metaphor for spiritual insight that is present but not fully developed. walking around.”
The movement of the trees suggests life and activity, reinforcing the idea that the man perceives something real but not yet distinct. This phrase highlights the process of healing and understanding as dynamic and ongoing. In the context ofMark 8, it underscores the theme of progressive revelation, where understanding Jesus' true nature and mission unfolds gradually, both for the man and for the disciples. Persons / Places / Events 1. JesusThe central figure in this passage, performing a miracle of healing. 2. The Blind ManThe recipient of Jesus' healing, initially seeing people as trees walking. 3. BethsaidaThe location where this miracle takes place, a town in Galilee. 4. DisciplesPresent with Jesus, witnessing the miracle and learning from His actions. 5. The Miracle of HealingA two-stage healing process that demonstrates Jesus' power and the gradual revelation of spiritual truth. Teaching Points Gradual RevelationJust as the blind man's sight was restored in stages, our spiritual understanding often grows gradually. We must be patient and persistent in seeking God's truth. Spiritual BlindnessThis miracle illustrates the condition of spiritual blindness. We may see partially, but need Jesus to fully open our eyes to His truth. Faith and TrustTrust in Jesus' process, even when we don't understand it fully. His ways are perfect, and He knows the best way to reveal Himself to us. The Role of CommunityThe disciples' presence highlights the importance of community in witnessing and supporting each other's spiritual journeys. Jesus' CompassionJesus' willingness to heal the blind man shows His compassion and desire for us to see clearly, both physically and spiritually. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from Mark 8
Do trees appear to be walking?
Do trees appear to be walking?
What makes a righteous man's prayer powerful and effective?
In Mark 8:22-26, why is the blind man's healing done in two stages instead of instantly if Jesus is all-powerful?(24) I see men as trees, walking.--The better MSS. give two words expressing different forms of perception, "I behold men, for I see them walking as trees." His sight was not yet clear, but he interpreted what it told him rightly. The naturalness of this description of the first impression of the restored sense strikes every reader. From the point of view which looks on our Lord's miracles as having a symbolic character, and being, as it were, acted parables, we may see in it that which represents an analogous stage in the spiritual growth of men, when truths for which before they had no faculty of vision are seen for the first time, but are not as yet apprehended in their full or definite proportions. They need a second touch of the Divine Hand, the passing away of another film of ignorance or prejudice, and then they too see all things clearly. Verse 24. - And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. He looked ups natural action. He instinctively looked in the direction of the source of light. The words in the Greek of the next clause are as follows: - βλέπω τοὺς ἀνθρώπους ὅτι ὡς δένδρα ὁρῶ περιπατοῦντας: I see men; for I behold them as trees, walking; that is, "I see something confusedly and obscurely, not clearly; for I see what I think must be men, and yet so dimly that they look to me like trees, only that I know that men move from their places, whereas trees do not." The word "walking" refers to the men, and not to the trees, as is evident from the Greek. This man, as yet partially blind, saw men as in shadow, magnified by the mist, looking much larger than they really were.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek [The man] looked upἀναβλέψας(anablepsas)Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 308:To look up, recover my sight. From ana and blepo; to look up; by implication, to recover sight.[and] said,ἔλεγεν(elegen)Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036:Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.“I can seeΒλέπω(Blepō)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 991:(primarily physical), I look, see, perceive, discern. A primary verb; to look at.theτοὺς(tous)Article - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.people,ἀνθρώπους(anthrōpous)Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 444:A man, one of the human race. From aner and ops; man-faced, i.e. A human being.[but]ὅτι(hoti)Conjunction
Strong's 3754:Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.they lookὁρῶ(horō)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 3708:Properly, to stare at, i.e. to discern clearly; by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear.likeὡς(hōs)Adverb
Strong's 5613:Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner.treesδένδρα(dendra)Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 1186:A tree. Probably from drus; a tree.walking around.”περιπατοῦντας(peripatountas)Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4043:From peri and pateo; to tread all around, i.e. Walk at large; figuratively, to live, deport oneself, follow.
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NT Gospels: Mark 8:24 He looked up and said I see (Mar Mk Mr) |
