In the Gospel of Mark, the gospel is revealed with extraordinary lights and voices. But faith comes out of the responses to the revelation. Mark has various ‘verbs of seeing’ in his gospel. They include not only βλ?πω and its derivatives (διαβλ?πω, ?ναβλ?πω, ?μβλ?πω, π?βλ?πομαι) but also ?ρ?ω(??δον), θ?ωρ?ω, θ??ομαι, and δ??κνυω(δ??κνυμι). This study repeatedly finds the fact that Mark uses each of these verbs for different layers of meaning in different contexts and in different occasions.
The purpose of this study is to determine the exact meaning of each verb in the Gospel of Mark; to point out either wrong translations or those bearing unclear meaning in the Gospel of Mark of the New Korean Revised Version; and finally to suggest better translations of these verbs according to how Mark intended to use them in each verse.
Essential to this study is whether Mark has any ‘theology of seeing’ in his gospel or not. The answer is always positive. In his gospel, Mark developed theological insights of ‘light and voice’ and ‘seeing and hearing’ through the literary devices of parables and miracles of healing.
On the one hand, parables are ‘picture language’ full of symbols and poetic images. They are devices which create visual effects through audio effects. If one hears a parable from Jesus, one has some pictures in his or her mind even if the speech is over. Thus Jesus says, “Listen and look!” (Mark 4:3). He repeats, “Look what you hear” (Mark 4:24). On the other hand, Jesus articulates the reason to teach in parables that “they may be ever seeing but never truly seeing … otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!” (4:12). But an extremely critical question is directed to his disciples, “Don"t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable?” (4:13). They misunderstood one parable, and would thus misunderstand all other parables. Crucial to them, however, is the fact that Jesus “did not say anything to them without using a parable” (4:34). Jesus will soon rebuke his disciples, “Do you have eyes but fail to see…?” (8:18)
The stories of healing the blind are miracles which open the eyes of the blinds (8:22-26; 10:46-52). The story of the blind in Jericho (8:22-26) uses five verbs of seeing in just three verses, which are βλ?πω, ?ρ?ω, ?ναβλ?πω, and ?μβλ?πω Each verb has its own place in the hierarchy of meaning. The blind are healed to ‘look up’ (?ναβλ?πω) and to ‘look perfectly’ (?μβλ?πω). Ultimately the blind come to see the genuine characters of the gospel and the Kingdom of God, and they become true disciples of Jesus.
A good understanding of Mark’s ‘theology of seeing’ yields exact meaning of each verb of seeing in the gospel. Every verse which includes even a verb of seeing will be tested according to the former. All these observations and tests are suggestions for better translation of these verbs according to Mark’s intention for using them in each verse, especially in the New Korean Revised Version.