Mark 7 37

Mark 7:37 kjv

And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.

Mark 7:37 nkjv

And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, "He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak."

Mark 7:37 niv

People were overwhelmed with amazement. "He has done everything well," they said. "He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak."

Mark 7:37 esv

And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, "He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak."

Mark 7:37 nlt

They were completely amazed and said again and again, "Everything he does is wonderful. He even makes the deaf to hear and gives speech to those who cannot speak."

Mark 7 verses

Mark 7 37 Meaning

The people's profound declaration in Mark 7:37 reveals their astonishment at Jesus' complete and perfect power, specifically His ability to heal. Their statement, "He has done all things well," resonates with the divine assessment of creation, affirming His work as flawless and restorative. This declaration also points to the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies regarding the Messiah, who would bring healing and open what was closed.

Mark 7 37 Context

Mark 7:37 concludes Jesus' healing of a deaf man with a speech impediment in the Decapolis region (Mark 7:31-36). The earlier part of Mark 7 features a contentious debate between Jesus and the Pharisees/scribes regarding ritual purity and human traditions versus God's commandments, where Jesus challenges their external observances and emphasizes the defilement from within the heart. Immediately after this, Jesus withdraws to a largely Gentile area (Decapolis), where He performs this significant miracle. The crowd's "utter astonishment" is the direct reaction to the immediate, complete, and profound restoration of the deaf-mute man's senses and speech. This healing demonstrates Jesus' undisputed authority and power, validating His earlier teachings and highlighting His divine mission, which extends beyond Jewish traditions and reaches all people, even in Gentile lands. It starkly contrasts human limitations and legalism with God's restorative power manifested through Jesus.

Mark 7 37 Word analysis

• And they were utterly astonished, (Greek: kai exeple ssonto)
  • Utterly astonished (exeple ssonto): From the verb ekplēssomai (ἔκπλησσομαι), meaning to be struck out of oneself, amazed, dumbfounded, overwhelmed by wonder or shock. This term conveys a profound, almost incapacitating sense of wonder and awe, much stronger than simple surprise. It is a recurring reaction to Jesus' teachings (Mk 1:22) and miracles (Mk 2:12) throughout the Gospels, indicating an undeniable display of divine power and authority.
• saying, (Greek: legontes)
  • saying (legontes): A direct and active declaration from the crowd. Despite Jesus' command for secrecy in Mark 7:36, their overwhelming astonishment compels them to proclaim what they have witnessed, showing the irresistible impact of His works.
• "He has done all things well." (Greek: Kalōs panta pepoiēken)
  • He has done (pepoiēken): This is the perfect active indicative of poieō (ποιέω), "to do," "to make," or "to create." The perfect tense signifies an action completed in the past with ongoing results or a perfect state of completion. It emphasizes the perfect, enduring nature of Jesus' work.
  • all things (panta): This dative plural adjective refers to "everything," signifying the totality and comprehensive nature of Jesus' actions. It is not just this one miracle, but His entire ministry and all His deeds that are declared perfect.
  • well (kalōs): From the adjective kalos (καλός), meaning "good," "beautiful," "noble," "excellent," or "rightly." It implies moral, aesthetic, and functional perfection. In this context, it conveys that Jesus has performed everything not just adequately, but perfectly, admirably, and in a way that is ethically right and divinely pleasing.
  • Significance of "He has done all things well": This phrase directly echoes the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) translation of Genesis 1:31, "And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good" (καὶ εἶδεν ὁ Θεὸς τὰ πάντα, ὅσα ἐποίησεν, καὶ ἰδοὺ καλὰ λίαν). This connection implicitly attributes divine creative power and perfect artistry to Jesus, elevating His works to a level comparable to God's work in creation. The crowd, perhaps unconsciously, recognized Jesus as the divine restorer, reversing the brokenness of creation and acting with divine perfection. This also serves as an indirect polemic against any notion that human rituals or self-effort could achieve true "goodness" or perfection; only God's action in Jesus truly fulfills this.
• "He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak." (Greek: kai tous kōphous poiei akouein kai tous alalous lalein)
  • He even makes (poiei): Present tense, emphasizing ongoing capability and continuous effect of His power.
  • the deaf (tous kōphous): Refers to those who are unable to hear. This fulfills a key messianic sign foretold in prophecies like Isa 35:5.
  • hear (akouein): The infinitive "to hear." Jesus grants complete restoration of auditory function.
  • and the mute (kai tous alalous): Specifically refers to those entirely unable to speak. The man healed was mogilalos (Mark 7:32), one who spoke with difficulty or had an impediment, but Jesus restored him to full speech (lalein). This distinction emphasizes the completeness of the miracle – not just improving, but perfectly restoring and giving new ability. This fulfills Messianic prophecies (Isa 35:6, Isa 29:18).
  • speak (lalein): The infinitive "to speak." Jesus enables those who could not speak to communicate effectively. The pairing of healing the deaf and mute is a specific sign of the Messianic age (Isa 35:5-6, Isa 29:18), powerfully demonstrating that Jesus is indeed the promised Deliverer. This public testimony from the common people is profound, confirming Jesus' unique identity and divine authority.

Mark 7 37 Bonus section

• The Setting in Decapolis: This healing takes place in a primarily Gentile region. The widespread acclaim for Jesus coming from a non-Jewish populace highlights the universal scope of His ministry, foreshadowing the inclusion of Gentiles into God's kingdom. It suggests that even those considered outsiders can recognize and respond to God's works when many within Israel struggled.
• Beyond Human Expectation: The crowd's reaction surpasses typical amazement at a "miracle worker." Their utterance, "He has done all things well," implies an understanding of the perfect divine orchestration of Jesus' every deed, recognizing that He acts with the comprehensive perfection only God possesses. This elevates their perception of Jesus beyond merely a prophet or a teacher to one wielding ultimate divine authority and goodness.
• Contrast with Ritual Purity: Coming directly after the discussion on man-made traditions versus heart purity in Mark 7, this miracle serves as a vivid demonstration of true purity and divine power emanating directly from Jesus. It underscores that true transformation comes from the Creator Himself, not through adherence to external regulations.
• Irresistible Proclamation: Despite Jesus' command for silence in the preceding verse (Mark 7:36), the profound impact of the miracle compels the crowd to "eagerly proclaim" (Mark 7:36) what He had done. This reflects the powerful and undeniable nature of Jesus' signs, which cannot be contained, highlighting the natural human response to truly divine intervention.

Mark 7 37 Commentary

Mark 7:37 stands as a profound exclamation of recognition and awe from a diverse crowd in the Decapolis. Their "utter astonishment" indicates a deeply moved and impacted perception of Jesus' divine power, far beyond typical human understanding or a magician's tricks. The declaration, "He has done all things well," is not merely an expression of satisfaction but a theological statement. By echoing God's own declaration over His perfect creation in Genesis 1:31, the crowd implicitly acknowledges Jesus as the divine agent through whom God is performing new acts of creation and restoration, bringing goodness and order where there was brokenness and limitation.

This statement encompasses more than the recent miracle; it implies that every aspect of Jesus' ministry—His teachings, other healings, and His very being—are perfectly aligned with God's will and purpose. The specific mention of "He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak" highlights the clear fulfillment of Old Testament Messianic prophecies (Isaiah 35:5-6, Isaiah 29:18), proving that Jesus is indeed the Christ, the one anticipated by Israel. This public acknowledgment from the Gentile-adjacent region of Decapolis is particularly significant, showing that God's truth, embodied in Jesus, transcends ethnic and religious boundaries, drawing even those outside the conventional Israelite fold to confess His divine power. The miracle itself transcends human medicine, revealing God's direct, instantaneous, and complete restorative power in the world through His Son.