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Mark 7:34

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does Mark 7:34 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “and looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

and looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.
Mark 7:34 — American Standard Version

Context — Mark 7

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
31And again he went out from the borders of Tyre, and came through Sidon unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the borders of Decapolis.
32And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to lay his hand upon him.
33And he took him aside from the multitude privately, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat, and touched his tongue;
34and looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.
35And his ears were opened, and the bond of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.
36And 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.
37And they were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well; he maketh even the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.
← Mark 7:33Mark 7:35 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And looking up to heaven, etc..] To his Father there, by whom he was sent, and from whom, as man, he received his authority and power; though this was not for assistance in the working of this miracle, which he had power to do of himself; nor do we find that he put up any request to his Father: but he seems to have made use of this motion, not for his own sake, but for the sake of the man: to teach him, that every good gift, blessing, mercy, and favour, and so this he was about to partake of, was from above: he sighed; not as unequal to the work of healing the man, or as despairing of doing it; but as commiserating the case of the poor man, and reflecting with concern upon his sin, that had…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Looked up to heaven - To lift up the eyes to heaven is an act imploring aid from God, and is an attitude of prayer, Psalms 121:1-2; Mark 6:41; John 11:41. He sighed - Pitying the sufferings of the man who stood before him. Ephphatha - This word is “Syriac,” the language which our Lord used in addressing the man, and means “Be opened.” return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Ephphatha - This was a word of SOVEREIGN AUTHORITY, not an address to God for power to heal: such an address was needless; for Christ had a perpetual fund of power residing in himself, to work all miracles whenever he pleased, even to the raising the dead, Joh 5:21, Joh 5:26. Mark 7:36”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“7:34 Since Jesus was looking up to heaven when he sighed, his sigh is probably best understood as a prayerful gesture. • Ephphatha is an Aramaic term that Mark translates for his readers (see also 3:17; 5:41; 14:36; 15:34). These are not magical formulas or incantations; Mark is simply recounting some of the original words Jesus spoke. Matthew and Luke do not seem to have attributed any special significance to the Aramaic words of Jesus, since they did not include them in their Gospels.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“looking: Mar 6:41; Joh 11:41, Joh 17:1 he sighed: Mar 8:12; Isa 53:3; Eze 21:6, Eze 21:7; Luk 19:41; Joh 11:33, Joh 11:35, Joh 11:38; Heb 4:15 Ephphatha: Mar 5:41, Mar 15:34 Be opened: Mar 1:41; Luk 7:14, Luk 18:42; Joh 11:43; Act 9:34, Act 9:40 Mark 7:35”
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Related study paths

Read Mark 7 in contextBrowse Greek word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification