Devine Scripture

Mark 7:34

What does Mark 7:34 mean?

A plain-English look at Mark 7:34 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Mark 7:34 means

Jesus looks up to heaven, sighs, and says 'Ephphatha'—'Be opened.' The upward look and sigh express an appeal to the Father and deep compassion; the Aramaic word gives the commandive power to the healing. Calling on God and issuing a word of opening shows Jesus acting in divine authority, not merely as a miracle worker. The command reorients the man’s bodily functions and social life, demonstrating Jesus’ authority to reverse the effects of brokenness and to restore communication with God and people.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And looking up to heaven, he took a deep breath, and said to him, Ephphatha, that is, Be open.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and having looked to the heaven, he sighed, and saith to him, `Ephphatha,' that is, `Be thou opened;'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And looking up to heaven, he groaned and said to him: Ephpheta, which is, Be thou opened.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and looking up to heaven he groaned, and says to him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.

Context

This verse is the miracle’s climax, following the tactile preparation in verse 33. It connects Jesus’ compassion (the sigh) with divine authority (the command), and it leads immediately to the successful result: the man’s ears open and tongue is loosed in verse 35. The scene illustrates how Jesus’ power restores whole personhood.

v.33And he took him aside from the multitude privately, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat, and touched his tongue;

v.34This passage

v.35And his ears were opened, and the bond of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • John 11:38

    Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone lay against it.

  • Acts 9:40

    But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning to the body, he said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes; and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

  • John 11:35

    Jesus wept.

  • John 11:33

    When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping who came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,

  • John 17:1

    These things spake Jesus; and lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that the Son may glorify thee:

  • Mark 8:12

    And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.

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