Βαρτιμαῖος (Bartimaios)
Bartimaios
Bartimaeus
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The name Bartimaeus appears only once in the New Testament, recorded in Mark 10:46 as the identifier for a blind beggar near Jericho. It is not a common personal name but rather a patronymic, meaning "son of Timaeus." This single occurrence anchors the story of Jesus restoring sight to a man who had been marginalized by society.
The name itself carries Aramaic roots, combining the word for "son" with "Timaeus," which likely refers to his father. By using this specific identifier, the Gospel writer distinguishes him from other blind figures in the narrative, such as the man healed at the Pool of Bethesda or the disciple born blind. The brevity of the reference highlights that his identity is defined by his relationship to his father and his immediate encounter with Jesus.
Translators consistently render this name as Bartimaeus, preserving its historical specificity. The text does not provide further biographical details about Timaeus, focusing instead on the beggar’s own faith and cry for mercy. This unique usage in Mark serves to personalize the miracle, grounding a theological event in the life of a specific individual known by his lineage.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Bartimaeus appears only once in Scripture, marking a blind beggar who sat by the roadside near Jericho. His identity is rooted in his lineage as the son of Timaeus, yet his story becomes one of the most vivid encounters with Jesus in the Gospels. This single mention reminds us that God notices those whom society often overlooks, seeing value in people defined by their need rather than their status.
When Bartimaeus called out to Jesus, he did not wait for an invitation; he simply cried for mercy. His faith moved him to leave his cloak and approach the Lord, trusting that healing was possible. This moment encourages believers that no circumstance is too distant from God’s attention. You are known by name, just as Bartimaeus was known as the son of Timaeus, and your cries for help are heard with care.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Bartimaeus,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- Βαρτιμαῖος,1×
Key Verses
-
Mark 10:46
They came to Jericho. As he went out from Jericho with his disciples and a great multitude, the son of Timaeus, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the road.
This verse introduces Bartimaeus by name and lineage, grounding the miracle in a specific historical moment rather than a generic account.