And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside.
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's striking here is that Mark names the blind man, Bartimaeus, and even his father, Timaeus, unlike the other Gospels. This detail suggests Bartimaeus was a well-known figure, making Jesus's compassion for him—a mere blind beggar—all the more remarkable.
And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside.
English Standard Version (ESV)
As Jesus and his disciples are leaving the city of Jericho, a significant crowd accompanies them. Amidst this departing procession, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus, is found by the roadside. This encounter happens as Jesus is exiting Jericho, contrasting with some accounts that place the healing at his entrance into the city.
Why does Mark give us Bartimaeus's name, and his father's too? It wasn't just random detail.
Mark's Gospel often highlights individual encounters with Jesus, bringing specific people into sharp focus. In this case, naming Bartimaeus (the son of Timaeus) does a few things:
Bartimaeus wasn't just blind; he was a beggar, stuck in a place of desperation. What does this posture reveal?
Bartimaeus is found "sitting by the roadside begging." This isn't just a description of his physical condition, but a picture of his life circumstances:
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A huge crowd was there, and they tried to silence Bartimaeus. Why didn't their 'shushing' work?
When Bartimaeus hears Jesus is passing, he starts shouting, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" The crowd, however, tries to shut him up. This scenario reveals:
c. 4 BC
Death of Herod the Great
Herod the Great, who had built a grand palace in Jericho, died around this time. His death led to political turmoil and the plundering of his palace, impacting the city's status.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Jesus' final journey to Jerusalem
Jesus makes His final journey towards Jerusalem for the Passover festival, passing through Jericho. This period is marked by increasing crowds and anticipation.
c. AD 30-33
Healing of Bartimaeus
As Jesus leaves Jericho, the blind beggar Bartimaeus cries out for mercy and is healed by Jesus, demonstrating His compassion and power.
This passage in Matthew parallels Mark's account, mentioning Jesus healing blind men as they left Jericho, highlighting the similar context and the crowd's initial attempt to silence the cry for mercy.
Luke 18:35Luke's account also places the healing of a blind man near Jericho, offering a slightly different perspective on the timing and potentially emphasizing the individual's persistence despite the crowd.
Isaiah 35:5This Old Testament prophecy speaks of a time when the eyes of the blind will be opened, directly foreshadowing the miraculous healing that Jesus performs for Bartimaeus.
John 9:1This account of Jesus healing a man blind from birth provides a strong thematic parallel, exploring the disciples' question about the cause of blindness and Jesus' power to restore sight.
Acts 3:1This passage shows Peter and John healing a lame man at the temple gate, demonstrating a similar pattern of significant miracles occurring in public spaces and leading people to God.
ellicottMark 10:46: "And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging."
(46-52) And they came to Jericho. —See Notes on Matthew 20:29-34 . St. Mark agrees with St. Matthew in placing the miracle as the disciples were leaving Jericho, and differs from him in speaking of one blind man only, and in giving his name. Blind Bartimæus.—Better, as giving the same order as the Greek, the…
calvinMark 10:46-52: "And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging."
- And while they were departing from Jericho, a great multitude followed him. 30. And, lo, two blind men sitting near the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried aloud, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. 31. And the multitude rebuked them, that they might be silent; but…
What's striking here is that Mark names the blind man, Bartimaeus, and even his father, Timaeus, unlike the other Gospels. This detail suggests Bartimaeus was a well-known figure, making Jesus's compassion for him—a mere blind beggar—all the more remarkable.
As Jesus and his disciples are leaving the city of Jericho, a significant crowd accompanies them. Amidst this departing procession, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus, is found by the roadside. This encounter happens as Jesus is exiting Jericho, contrasting with some accounts that place the healing at his entrance into the city.
As Jesus and his disciples are leaving the city of Jericho, a significant crowd accompanies them. Amidst this departing procession, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus, is found by the roadside. This encounter happens as Jesus is exiting Jericho, contrasting with some accounts that place the healing at his entrance into the city.
"And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside." — What's striking here is that Mark names the blind man, Bartimaeus, and even his father, Timaeus, unlike the other Gospels. This detail suggests Bartimaeus was a well-known figure, making Jesus's comp…
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Last reviewed October 2026