Mark 7:35 kjv
And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.
Mark 7:35 nkjv
Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly.
Mark 7:35 niv
At this, the man's ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.
Mark 7:35 esv
And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly.
Mark 7:35 nlt
Instantly the man could hear perfectly, and his tongue was freed so he could speak plainly!
Mark 7 35 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 35:5-6 | Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap...and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. | Prophetic fulfillment of healing deaf/mute. |
| Isa 29:18 | In that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book... | Prophetic fulfillment regarding spiritual and physical hearing. |
| Matt 11:5 | The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised... | Jesus points to His miracles, fulfilling Isaiah. |
| Matt 9:32-33 | As they went away, behold, a demon-oppressed man who was mute was brought to him. And when the demon had been cast out, the mute man spoke. | Jesus' power over demonic possession causing muteness. |
| Lk 11:14 | Now he was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the crowds marveled. | Another instance of a mute person speaking by Jesus' power. |
| Lk 13:13 | And immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God. | Similar instant healing and glorification of God. |
| Mk 5:29 | And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. | Emphasis on the instantaneous nature of Jesus' healings. |
| Acts 3:7 | And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. | Miracles performed through apostles by Christ's power, also immediate. |
| Exod 4:11 | Then the Lord said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?" | God's sovereignty over physical abilities and disabilities. |
| Ps 40:6 | In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted, but a body you have prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. My ears you have opened. | Ears being "opened" by God to hear and do His will. |
| Heb 10:5 | Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, "Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me..." | Quoting Ps 40:6, relating to Christ fulfilling God's will. |
| Mk 8:18 | Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? | Jesus contrasting physical hearing/seeing with spiritual discernment. |
| Jer 5:21 | Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not; who have ears, but hear not. | Spiritual deafness/blindness in Old Testament context. |
| Isa 6:9-10 | Go, and say to this people: "'Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.' Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes..." | Prophetic warning of spiritual hardening. |
| Ezek 3:26-27 | And I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth, so that you shall be mute...When I speak with you, I will open your mouth... | God's power to make mute or to open mouth to speak His word. |
| Isa 32:3-4 | Then the eyes of those who see will not be closed, and the ears of those who hear will give attention. The mind of the rash will know and understand, and the tongue of stammerers will speak readily and plainly. | Prophecy of clarity and understanding in Messianic age. |
| Jn 10:27 | My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. | Spiritual hearing of Jesus' voice by believers. |
| Mk 2:12 | And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before all of them, so that they were all amazed... | The immediacy of healing and the reaction of amazement. |
| Matt 15:30-31 | And great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the crippled, the blind, the mute, and many others, and they put them at his feet, and he healed them... | General account of Jesus' broad healing ministry including the mute. |
| Lk 4:18-19 | "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me...to proclaim recovery of sight to the blind..." | Jesus' mission statement, implying restoration of all senses. |
Mark 7 verses
Mark 7 35 Meaning
This verse describes the immediate and complete physical restoration of a man who was both deaf and had a speech impediment, signifying Jesus' divine power and compassion. His ears were instantly able to hear, and the physical obstruction preventing his speech was released, enabling him to speak clearly and intelligibly for the first time. This healing is a demonstration of Jesus' authority over infirmity and a fulfillment of ancient prophecy.
Mark 7 35 Context
Mark 7:35 is part of a larger section (Mk 7:31-37) detailing Jesus' journey through the region of Decapolis, a Gentile area. Prior to this, Jesus had engaged in a profound debate with the Pharisees concerning true defilement (Mk 7:1-23), contrasting outward traditions with the inward condition of the heart. Immediately preceding this miracle, Jesus had journeyed into the region of Tyre and Sidon, healing the daughter of the Syrophoenician woman (Mk 7:24-30), demonstrating His ministry's reach beyond Israel to the Gentiles. The healing of the deaf and mute man in Decapolis further illustrates Jesus' universal compassion and power, extending God's blessings even to those traditionally outside the covenant. This miracle occurs in a setting distinct from the contentious Jewish religious leaders, highlighting Jesus' focus on human need and divine intervention, contrasting with the hypocrisy he had just exposed.
Mark 7 35 Word analysis
- And straightway (Greek: kai euthys):
- kai: "and," a conjunction, linking this event directly to Jesus' action in the previous verse (v.34, "Ephphatha").
- euthys: "immediately," "at once." This adverb is a hallmark of Mark's Gospel, appearing frequently to emphasize the rapidity, certainty, and authoritative nature of Jesus' actions. It underscores the instant power of Christ's command.
- his ears were opened (Greek: ēnoichthesan autou hai akoai):
- ēnoichthesan: "were opened," aorist passive indicative. The passive voice highlights that the action was performed by an outside power—divine power—upon the man. It signifies a sudden and complete unlocking.
- autou: "his."
- hai akoai: "the ears," specifically "the hearings" or "faculties of hearing." This term emphasizes the sense of hearing itself, not just the physical organs, implying a full restoration of the auditory function.
- and the string of his tongue was loosed (Greek: kai eluthē ho desmos tēs glōssēs autou):
- kai: "and."
- eluthē: "was loosed," "was unbound," aorist passive indicative, again emphasizing divine action. This describes the removal of whatever physical impediment bound the tongue, making clear speech impossible.
- ho desmos: "the string," "the bond," "the chain," "the impediment." This metaphor vividly describes a physical constriction or a binding condition that prevented articulate speech. It suggests a congenital or deeply rooted physical abnormality.
- tēs glōssēs autou: "of his tongue." This refers to the physical organ responsible for speech.
- and he spake plain (Greek: kai elalei orthōs):
- kai: "and."
- elalei: "he was speaking," imperfect active indicative. This tense indicates a continuous action, not just a single word uttered, but that he now possessed the ongoing ability to speak. It signifies not merely a sound, but the commencement of intelligible speech.
- orthōs: "plainly," "correctly," "properly," "distinctly." This adverb clarifies the quality of his speech. It wasn't just sounds or murmurs, but articulate, understandable, coherent language, signifying a complete and functional restoration of his speech faculty.
Words-group analysis
- "And straightway his ears were opened": This phrase immediately establishes the supernatural and authoritative nature of the healing. The use of "straightway" underlines the instantaneous and effortless execution of divine power in overcoming physical deafness.
- "and the string of his tongue was loosed": This further emphasizes the completeness of the miracle. It specifically addresses the second affliction (muteness) and vividly describes the removal of the underlying physical barrier, indicating Jesus' ability to dismantle internal biological impediments.
- "and he spake plain": This final clause serves as conclusive evidence of the thorough and perfect healing. It confirms that the man was not only able to hear and that his tongue was physically free, but he could also now produce coherent and clear speech, validating the miracle to all observers and marking a complete return to normal human function.
Mark 7 35 Bonus section
The miracle takes place in Decapolis, a region populated mainly by Gentiles, signifying Jesus' ministry extends beyond the Jewish people to all humanity. The sequence of healing, where Jesus takes the man aside (Mk 7:33), puts His fingers in his ears, touches his tongue with saliva, and utters the Aramaic word "Ephphatha" ("Be opened"), demonstrates a deliberate, personal, and profoundly physical engagement. While some healings are performed at a distance, this tactile interaction emphasizes Jesus' intimate connection with the man's suffering. The immediate and perfect outcome confirms Jesus' deity and serves as an irrefutable sign to those who witnessed it, leading to widespread amazement and proclamation (Mk 7:36-37), despite Jesus' command for secrecy, which indicates the overwhelming impact of His divine power. This man's inability to hear or speak would have isolated him significantly, and Jesus' complete restoration thus reintegrates him into society, allowing him to participate fully in communication and communal life.
Mark 7 35 Commentary
Mark 7:35 powerfully demonstrates Jesus' compassionate and transformative authority. His actions fulfill ancient prophecies (Isa 35:5-6, 32:3-4) regarding the Messianic age, where disabilities would be reversed. The immediate nature of the healing, emphasized by "straightway," showcases the absolute power inherent in Christ's word and touch; it's not a gradual recovery but an instant restoration. The detail about both ears opening and the "string of his tongue" being loosed underscores the dual nature of the man's affliction (deafness and muteness) and the comprehensive completeness of Jesus' healing. The outcome—"he spake plain"—is crucial evidence, moving beyond the physical release to the actual, undeniable demonstration of perfect functionality. This miracle transcends a mere physical cure; it is a visible sign of the Kingdom of God breaking into human suffering, bringing restoration where there was only limitation. Spiritually, it serves as a powerful metaphor for Christ enabling those deafened by sin to hear God's truth and those bound by spiritual muteness to speak His praise clearly.
Example: Just as Jesus removed the literal impediments from the man's ears and tongue, He enables a heart hardened by pride to "hear" His grace (Matt 13:15) and a fearful tongue to boldly "speak plain" His Gospel (Acts 4:31).