31Again he went out from the region of Tyre and came through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee through the middle of the region of the Decapolis. [7:32] They brought to him a deaf man who spoke with difficulty, and they implored him to lay his hand on him. [7:33] Taking him aside from the crowd privately he put his fingers into his ears, and spitting he touched his tongue, [7:34] and looking up to heaven he sighed deeply and said to him: Be opened. [7:35] Immediately his ears were opened, and the bond of his tongue was loosened, and he began to speak correctly. [7:36] He charged them to tell no one, but the more he charged them, the more abundantly they proclaimed it. [7:37] They were astonished beyond measure, saying: He has done all things well — he makes even the deaf hear and the mute speak.
MRK 7:31-37
The Deaf and Mute Man
In the world it was spoken into
In the Decapolis, a predominantly Gentile region with Hellenistic cultural influences, physical impairments like deafness and muteness were often seen as signs of divine disfavor or demonic oppression. Healing practices in this context were typically tied to pagan rituals or appeals to local deities, often involving incantations or physical gestures. Jesus’ actions—touching the man’s ears and tongue, spitting, and sighing deeply—would have been interpreted through this lens, though His invocation of heaven and the Aramaic command 'Ephphatha' (Be opened) signaled a distinctly Jewish authority rooted in Yahweh’s power. The crowd’s astonishment reflects their recognition of a divine act, as such healings were rare and often attributed to gods like Asclepius. The term (deaf/mute) carried connotations of exclusion from communal life, as speech and hearing were essential for participation in social and religious activities. The loosening of the (bond) suggests liberation from both physical and spiritual constraints, resonating with Jewish messianic expectations.
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How other translations render this
MRK 7:31
- KJV
- And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis.
- BSB
- Then Jesus left the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis.
- Koinōnos
- Again he went out from the region of Tyre and came through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee through the middle of the region of the Decapolis.
MRK 7:32
- KJV
- And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him.
- BSB
- Some people brought to Him a man who was deaf and hardly able to speak, and they begged Jesus to place His hand on him.
- Koinōnos
- They brought to him a deaf man who spoke with difficulty, and they implored him to lay his hand on him.
MRK 7:33
- KJV
- And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue;
- BSB
- So Jesus took him aside privately, away from the crowd, and put His fingers into the manʼs ears. Then He spit and touched the manʼs tongue.
- Koinōnos
- Taking him aside from the crowd privately he put his fingers into his ears, and spitting he touched his tongue,
MRK 7:34
- KJV
- And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.
- BSB
- And looking up to heaven, He sighed deeply and said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means, “Be opened!”).
- Koinōnos
- and looking up to heaven he sighed deeply and said to him: Be opened.
MRK 7:35
- KJV
- And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.
- BSB
- Immediately the manʼs ears were opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak plainly.
- Koinōnos
- Immediately his ears were opened, and the bond of his tongue was loosened, and he began to speak correctly.
MRK 7:36
- KJV
- And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it;
- BSB
- Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more He ordered them, the more widely they proclaimed it.
- Koinōnos
- He charged them to tell no one, but the more he charged them, the more abundantly they proclaimed it.
MRK 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.
- BSB
- The people were utterly astonished and said, “He has done all things well! He makes even the deaf hear and the mute speak!”
- Koinōnos
- They were astonished beyond measure, saying: He has done all things well — he makes even the deaf hear and the mute speak.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
MRK 7:32
- a deaf man:The word translated 'a deaf man' here could refer to someone who was deaf, but also to someone who was mute or unable to speak clearly, or even someone who was dull or obtuse in understanding.
- who spoke with difficulty:The term used here for 'who spoke with difficulty' specifically describes someone with a speech impediment, indicating a physical difficulty in producing clear speech.
MRK 7:34
- He sighed deeply:The word translated 'He sighed deeply' suggests a profound, inward groaning or sighing, often indicating deep emotion, distress, or even prayer.
MRK 7:35
- the:The word translated 'the' in this context refers to 'bonds' or 'chains,' often used for physical restraints, but also metaphorically for anything that binds or restricts.