Blaze
The Term 'Blaze' in Scripture
The English word 'blaze,' as used in the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible, carries the specific meaning 'to publish' or 'to proclaim widely.' It is a translation of the Greek verb diaphemizein, which means to spread news or a report abroad. This term appears only once in the KJV, in Mark 1:45, where it describes the actions of a man healed of leprosy.
The Narrative in Mark 1:45
The context is Jesus's healing of a man with leprosy (Mark 1:40-44). After healing him, Jesus sternly warns the man not to tell anyone but to show himself to the priest and offer the sacrifices commanded by Moses. However, the man disobeys: "But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter" (KJV). The man's proclamation, despite Jesus's command for silence, resulted in Jesus being unable to enter towns openly due to the crowds, forcing him to stay in solitary places.
Translation and Meaning
Modern translations, like the ESV and NIV, render diaphemizein as 'spread the news' or 'talk freely.' The KJV's use of 'blaze' is an example of Early Modern English, where the word could mean to proclaim as if by trumpet blast. This same Greek word is used in Matthew 9:31 (where healed blind men spread news of Jesus) and Matthew 28:15 (regarding the false story spread about the disciples stealing Jesus's body). In each case, it denotes the rapid, widespread dissemination of information.
Significance in Jesus's Ministry
This 'blazing' of news presented a recurring challenge in Jesus's early ministry, often called the 'Messianic Secret.' Jesus frequently instructed those he healed not to publicize the miracles (Mark 1:34, 3:12, 7:36). The disobedience of the healed leper in Mark 1:45 typifies how human enthusiasm often complicated Jesus's mission, drawing overwhelming crowds that hindered his movement and teaching, and sometimes inflamed opposition from religious authorities prematurely.
Biblical Context
The term 'blaze' appears only in the King James Version translation of Mark 1:45. The underlying Greek verb diaphemizein appears in three key narratives: Mark 1:45 (the healed leper), Matthew 9:31 (healed blind men), and Matthew 28:15 (the guards spreading the false report about Jesus's resurrection). In each instance, it describes the rapid, widespread proclamation of news, sometimes in obedience to Jesus, often in disobedience, and once in deliberate deception.
Theological Significance
The concept highlights a tension in Jesus's ministry: the conflict between human testimony and divine timing. The healed individuals' desire to 'blaze' the news reveals authentic gratitude and witness, yet it often contravened Jesus's instructions for gradual revelation of his identity. This illustrates the 'Messianic Secret' theme in Mark's Gospel, where Jesus's true mission and identity were to be understood fully only in light of the cross and resurrection. It teaches that human zeal, even for good news, must be tempered by obedience to God's wisdom and timing.
Historical Background
The Greek word diaphemizein was a common term in Koine Greek for spreading news or a report. In the first-century cultural context, news traveled primarily by word of mouth. A miraculous healing, especially of a socially ostracized condition like leprosy, would be sensational and spread rapidly through communities, potentially causing disruptive crowds. Jesus's commands for silence may have been a practical measure to manage his ministry's pace and avoid premature political misunderstanding of his kingship as merely a revolutionary or earthly deliverer.