Mark 7 34

Mark 7:34 kjv

And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.

Mark 7:34 nkjv

Then, looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said to him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened."

Mark 7:34 niv

He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, "Ephphatha!" (which means "Be opened!").

Mark 7:34 esv

And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened."

Mark 7:34 nlt

Looking up to heaven, he sighed and said, "Ephphatha," which means, "Be opened!"

Mark 7 verses

Mark 7 34 Meaning

Jesus, with a deeply felt connection to His Father and profound empathy for a suffering man, looked heavenward, sighed from the depths of His being, and then, using a powerful Aramaic command, spoke "Ephphatha!" meaning "Be opened." This immediate and authoritative utterance resulted in the instant and complete restoration of the man's hearing and speech, demonstrating Jesus' divine power over human infirmities.

Mark 7 34 Context

Mark chapter 7 opens with a direct confrontation between Jesus and the Pharisees and scribes regarding Jewish dietary laws and ceremonial washing of hands, particularly focusing on their emphasis on human tradition over God's commandment (Mark 7:1-23). Jesus declares that true defilement comes not from outside, but from the wicked thoughts and intentions arising from within a person's heart. Following this significant theological debate, Jesus withdraws from the region of Galilee into the Gentile territories of Tyre and Sidon, and then into the Decapolis, a region predominantly Gentile. The healing of the deaf and mute man (Mark 7:31-37) immediately follows. This transition underscores that Jesus' ministry extends beyond Jewish boundaries and that His divine power to transform lives directly counters the empty ritualism He just critiqued. This miracle, like others, serves as further proof of His true identity and authority as the Messiah.

Mark 7 34 Word analysis

• And looking up to heaven: (καὶ ἀναβλέψας εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν - kai anablepsas eis ton ouranon)

  • ἀναβλέψας (anablepsas): Participle, "having looked up" or "looking up." This gesture indicates direct appeal or connection to God, the Father. It is a recurring posture for Jesus when performing powerful miracles or praying (e.g., feeding the 5,000 in Mark 6:41; raising Lazarus in John 11:41). It emphasizes that His power is not His own inherent ability separate from the Father, but derived from and connected to the divine source.
  • εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν (eis ton ouranon): "To the heaven." Reinforces the direction and ultimate source of power and authority.

• he sighed: (ἐστέναξεν - estenaxen)

  • ἐστέναξεν (estenaxen): A strong aorist verb, "he groaned" or "he sighed deeply." This is not a sigh of weariness or frustration, but a profound expression of inner spiritual burden, deep empathy, anguish over the effects of sin, or intense intercession. It reflects Jesus taking on the weight of human suffering (like His groaning before Lazarus' tomb in John 11:33, 38). It reveals His full humanity and profound compassion in the face of human brokenness.

• and said to him,: This indicates a direct, personal address to the afflicted individual, establishing a bond of compassion and intention.

• “Ephphatha!”: (Ἐφφᾰθά - Ephphatha)

  • An Aramaic word transliterated into Greek. Aramaic was the common language spoken by Jesus.
  • Its inclusion by Mark lends a sense of immediacy, authenticity, and eyewitness detail to the account, capturing the very words Jesus spoke.
  • The word itself is an imperative verb, a direct and authoritative command, "Be opened!" It is not a request or a suggestion, but a powerful, performative utterance that brings about the promised effect instantaneously.

• that is, “Be opened.”: (τοῦτ᾽ ἔστιν ΔΙΑΝΟΙΧΘΗΤΙ - tout’ estin dianoichthēti)

  • τοῦτ᾽ ἔστιν (tout’ estin): "That is," Mark's immediate Greek translation of the Aramaic for his largely Gentile Greek-speaking audience. This shows Mark's pastoral care for his readers.
  • ΔΙΑΝΟΙΧΘΗΤΙ (dianoichthēti): A passive imperative form of "to be opened fully/completely." This specific word choice emphasizes a complete and unhindered opening, implying the thorough restoration of both hearing and speech faculties. It also implies the result of a powerful external agent acting upon the man.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "Looking up to heaven, he sighed": This sequence of actions portrays Jesus as both dependent on and deeply empathetic towards the Father and humanity, respectively. It reveals the internal struggle and spiritual cost of bearing the burdens of the world, highlighting that Jesus' power flows from prayerful communion and compassionate intercession, rather than a magical formula.
  • "Ephphatha! that is, Be opened.": The Aramaic command followed by its Greek translation underscores the direct, personal, and universally accessible power of Jesus' words. It's a forceful divine utterance, spoken directly to the infirmity, resulting in immediate and complete transformation, confirming His unique authority as the Son of God.

Mark 7 34 Bonus section

• Messianic Fulfillment: This miracle directly fulfills the Old Testament prophecy concerning the Messiah, particularly in passages like Isa 35:5-6, where it is prophesied that "the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy." Jesus' healing actions serve as clear evidence of His identity as the promised Savior.
• The Symbolic Significance of "Opened": Beyond the physical healing, the opening of ears and mouths can also symbolize spiritual revelation and confession. Just as the man's physical senses were opened, believers' spiritual ears are opened to hear God's truth, and their tongues are loosed to proclaim His praise (as seen in Psa 51:15).
• Contextual Details: Earlier in the healing account (Mark 7:33), Jesus performed actions of touching the man's ears and tongue with saliva. These physical actions might have been aids to help the man perceive what Jesus was doing or simply outward expressions of Jesus' empathetic engagement, rather than having magical properties. The power clearly resided in the divine command, "Ephphatha," which immediately brought about the full and lasting restoration.

Mark 7 34 Commentary

Mark 7:34 provides a profound insight into the character and ministry of Jesus. His action of looking to heaven signifies His dependence on the Father, the ultimate source of all divine power and authority. This is not a mere ritual, but an intimate, prayerful connection before the performance of a mighty work. The deep "sigh" or "groan" (estenaxen) further illuminates His being, revealing not only His profound compassion for the suffering man but also perhaps His grief over the fallen state of humanity and the pervasive effects of sin on the physical body. It suggests an inward spiritual burden that Jesus Himself felt as He bore human infirmities.

The direct Aramaic command, "Ephphatha!" (Be opened!), is forceful and decisive, bypassing any need for prolonged ceremony or physical struggle. Mark’s decision to preserve the original Aramaic term, immediately followed by its Greek translation, underscores the historical authenticity of the event for his readers and highlights the immediacy and potency of Jesus' very word. It conveys that His command carried an intrinsic power to bring about instant transformation, precisely in the manner it was spoken. This powerful, instantaneous healing vividly demonstrates Jesus’ authority over physical infirmities, an authority derived from His divine nature and empowered by His boundless love and connection with the Father. It illustrates that true divine intervention is not about adherence to human traditions, which Jesus had just condemned (Mark 7:1-23), but about genuine communion with God and compassionate action flowing from it.