Bartimaeus is a name found in the King James Bible, appearing 1 time in the text.
Who This Was
Bartimaeus was a blind beggar who lived near Jericho and is named in the Gospel of Mark. His condition left him unable to work, so he sat by the highway side outside the city, depending on the charity of passersby. He is described as “the son of Timaeus,” a detail that identifies him by his father and distinguishes him from others who might share his name. He appears in only one scene in Scripture, but it is a memorable one.
The setting is significant. Jesus was passing through Jericho with His disciples and a great crowd accompanying Him. As He went out of the city, Bartimaeus was sitting by the roadside, begging as usual. When he learned that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by, he cried out for mercy. The crowd rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he cried out all the more, refusing to let the opportunity pass. Jesus stopped and called for him, and Bartimaeus came to Him. Jesus asked what he wanted, and he answered that he wanted to receive his sight. Jesus told him that his faith had made him well, and he received his sight and followed Jesus.
Scripture presents Bartimaeus as persistent and earnest. Though others tried to silence him, he would not be deterred. His story is one of need meeting compassion, and of a man whose faith was met with healing.
The Name
The name Bartimaeus is Aramaic rather than Hebrew or Greek, and its meaning is generally understood from its components. “Bar” means “son of,” and “Timaeus” is the name of his father. The Gospel itself supplies this interpretation by calling him “Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus,” so the name is essentially a patronymic: “son of Timaeus.” The name Timaeus itself is sometimes connected with a Greek word meaning “honored” or “highly prized,” though this connection is not certain and should not be pressed. What is clear from the text is that Bartimaeus is identified by his father’s name, a common practice in the Gospels.
A Closing Thought
Bartimaeus had every reason to stay silent. He was blind, poor, and dismissed by the crowd. Yet he cried out anyway, and his persistence met the compassion of Jesus. His story reminds us that need is never an obstacle to Christ’s attention. The crowd tried to quiet him, but Jesus stopped for him. Whatever we carry, whatever others think of us, we are invited to call out in faith. Bartimaeus received his sight and followed Jesus on the road, a simple picture of what it means to be healed and to walk after Him.
At a Glance
- Gender: Male
- Testament: New
- Mentions in the KJV: 1
Where It Appears in Scripture
- Mark 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.