Matthew 20:29-30

Context

Two Blind Men Healed

20:29 As they were leaving Jericho,¹ a large crowd followed them. 20:30 Two² blind men were sitting by the road. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they shouted,³ “Have mercy⁴ on us, Lord, Son of David!”⁵

Mark 10:46-47

Context

Healing Blind Bartimaeus

10:46 They came to Jericho.⁶ As Jesus⁷ and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus the son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the road. 10:47 When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to shout,⁸ “Jesus, Son of David,⁹ have mercy¹⁰ on me!”

[20:29] ¹map For location see Map5 B2; Map6 E1; Map7 E1; Map8 E3; Map10 A2; Map11 A1.

[20:30] ²tn Grk “And behold.” The Greek word ἰδού (idou) has not been translated because it has no exact English equivalent here, but adds interest and emphasis (BDAG 468 s.v. 1).

[20:30] ³tn Grk “shouted, saying.” The participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant here in contemporary English and has not been translated.

[20:30] ⁴sn Have mercy on us is a request for healing. It is not owed to the men. They simply ask for God’s kind grace.

[20:30] ⁵sn There was a tradition in Judaism that the Son of David (Solomon) had great powers of healing (Josephus, Ant. 8.2.5 [8.42-49]).

[10:46] ⁶map For location see Map5 B2; Map6 E1; Map7 E1; Map8 E3; Map10 A2; Map11 A1.

[10:46] ⁷tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[10:47] ⁸tn Grk “to shout and to say.” The infinitive λέγειν (legein) is redundant here and has not been translated.

[10:47] ⁹sn Jesus was more than a Nazarene to this blind person, who saw quite well that Jesus was Son of David. There was a tradition in Judaism that the Son of David (Solomon) had great powers of healing (Josephus, Ant. 8.2.5 [8.42-49]).

[10:47] ¹⁰sn Have mercy on me is a request for healing. It is not owed the man. He simply asks for God’s kind grace.