Mark 8:24
New International Version
He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.”

New Living Translation
The 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 Version
And he looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.”

Berean Standard Bible
The man looked up and said, “I can see the people, but they look like trees walking around.”

Berean Literal Bible
And having looked up, he was saying, "I see the men, for I see them as trees walking."

King James Bible
And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.

New King James Version
And he looked up and said, “I see men like trees, walking.”

New American Standard Bible
And he looked up and said, “I see people, for I see them like trees, walking around.”

NASB 1995
And he looked up and said, “I see men, for I see them like trees, walking around.”

NASB 1977
And he looked up and said, “I see men, for I am seeing them like trees, walking about.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And he looked up and was saying, “I see men, for I see them like trees, walking around.”

Amplified Bible
And he looked up and said, “I see people, but [they look] like trees, walking around.”

Christian Standard Bible
He looked up and said, “I see people—they look like trees walking.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He looked up and said, “I see people—they look to me like trees walking.”

American Standard Version
And he looked up, and said, I see men; for I behold them as trees, walking.

Contemporary English Version
The man looked up and said, "I see people, but they look like trees walking around."

English Revised Version
And he looked up, and said, I see men; for I behold them as trees, walking.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The man looked up and said, "I see people. They look like trees walking around."

Good News Translation
The man looked up and said, "Yes, I can see people, but they look like trees walking around."

International Standard Version
The man looked up and said, "I see people, but they look like trees walking around."

Majority Standard Bible
The man looked up and said, ?I can see the people, but they look like trees walking around.?

NET Bible
Regaining his sight he said, "I see people, but they look like trees walking."

New Heart English Bible
He looked up, and said, "I see people; they look like trees walking."

Webster's Bible Translation
And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees walking.

Weymouth New Testament
He looked up and said, "I can see the people: I see them like trees--only walking."

World English Bible
He looked up, and said, “I see men, but I see them like walking trees.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and he, having looked up, said, “I behold men, as I see trees, walking.”

Berean Literal Bible
And 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 Translation
And having looked up, he said, I see men that I see as trees, walking.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And looking up, he said: I see men as it were trees, walking.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And looking up, he said, “I see men but they are like walking trees.”

New American Bible
Looking up he replied, “I see people looking like trees and walking.”

New Revised Standard Version
And the man looked up and said, “I can see people, but they look like trees, walking.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he looked and said, I see men like trees, walking.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
He gazed and he said, “I see people like trees that are walking.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And he looked up and said: I see men, like trees, walking.

Godbey New Testament
And looking up he said, I see the men walking about like trees.

Haweis New Testament
And looking up, he said, I see men walking, as trees.

Mace New Testament
so looking up, he said, I see men; for by their walking I distinguish them from trees.

Weymouth New Testament
He looked up and said, "I can see the people: I see them like trees--only walking."

Worrell New Testament
And, looking up, he said, "I behold men, because I see them as trees walking."

Worsley New Testament
And 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. 24 The man looked up and said, “I can see the people, but they look like trees walking 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 9:25
He 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 9:27-30
As 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 9:6-7
When 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 35:5
Then the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.

Matthew 11:5
The 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 9:39
Then Jesus declared, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind may see and those who see may become blind.”

Isaiah 42:7
to open the eyes of the blind, to bring prisoners out of the dungeon and those sitting in darkness out from the prison house.

John 8:12
Once 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 6:17
Then 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 146:8
the LORD opens the eyes of the blind, the LORD lifts those who are weighed down, the LORD loves the righteous.

Acts 26:18
to 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 6:20
When 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 29:18
On 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 as if 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.

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Trees Walking
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Trees Walking
Mark 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 up
This 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 of Mark 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. Jesus
The central figure in this passage, performing a miracle of healing.

2. The Blind Man
The recipient of Jesus' healing, initially seeing people as trees walking.

3. Bethsaida
The location where this miracle takes place, a town in Galilee.

4. Disciples
Present with Jesus, witnessing the miracle and learning from His actions.

5. The Miracle of Healing
A two-stage healing process that demonstrates Jesus' power and the gradual revelation of spiritual truth.
Teaching Points
Gradual Revelation
Just 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 Blindness
This miracle illustrates the condition of spiritual blindness. We may see partially, but need Jesus to fully open our eyes to His truth.

Faith and Trust
Trust 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 Community
The disciples' presence highlights the importance of community in witnessing and supporting each other's spiritual journeys.

Jesus' Compassion
Jesus' willingness to heal the blind man shows His compassion and desire for us to see clearly, both physically and spiritually.(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 up
ἀναβλέψας (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 see
Βλέπω (Blepō)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 991: (primarily physical), I look, see, perceive, discern. A primary verb; to look at.

the
τοὺς (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 look
ὁρῶ (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.

like
ὡς (hōs)
Adverb
Strong's 5613: Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner.

trees
δένδρα (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)
Mark 8:23
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