Mark 7

Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem.

And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.

For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.

And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.

Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?

He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctines the commandments of men.

For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.

And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:

But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.

And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;

Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:

There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.

If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.

And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;

Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?

And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.

For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:

All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid.

For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet:

The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.

But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs.

And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs.

And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.

And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.

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.

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.

And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue;

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

And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.

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;

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

What does Mark 7:33 mean?

Explanation

Mark 7:33 describes an event where Jesus healed a deaf man with a speech impediment. It provides a vivid and somewhat unusual depiction of Jesus’ healing method.

The verse states that Jesus took the man aside, away from the crowd, and performed a physical gesture involving the man’s ears and tongue.

By putting his fingers into the man’s ears, spitting, and touching the man’s tongue, Jesus demonstrated a personalized and tactile healing process.

This unique approach emphasizes the individual attention Jesus gave to those he healed and may reflect the intimate connection between healer and the one being healed.

The actions symbolize the opening of ears to hear and the loosening of the tongue to speak.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

At the time of this event, Jesus was in the region of the Decapolis, a group of ten cities on the eastern frontier of the Roman Empire, with a predominantly Gentile population.

Healing stories are common in the Gospels and usually serve to reveal Jesus' authority and divine identity.

In ancient times, deafness and muteness were often linked to spiritual or demonic causes, and healing was both a physical and spiritual liberation.

The people of that era believed in the power of touch and symbolic acts as part of healing rituals.

Jesus’ methods align with cultural expectations but also exceed them, showcasing his divine power.

Theological Insights

Different denominations and theologians interpret this passage in various ways.

Some view Jesus’ acts as symbolic, with the spitting and touching demonstrating the physical reality of Jesus’ power and the restoration of senses. Others see the healing as a sign of the in-breaking of the Kingdom of God, where ailments and impairments are reversed.

Some places a high emphasis on the spiritual significance of the act, suggesting that just as Jesus physically opened the ears and loosened the tongue of the man, he also spiritually opens the ears of people to hear the Gospel and empowers them to proclaim it.

Practical Applications

This verse can inspire several practical applications for daily life:

Emphasis on the importance of personal attention and care for individuals in need. 2.

Recognition of the power of touch and presence in offering healing and comfort. 3.

Encouragement for believers to seek spiritual healing and awakening. 4.

Motivation for Christians to be open to hearing the word of God and to speak it forth in their lives.

Cross-References

Mark 8:22-25 - Jesus heals a blind man at Bethsaida, using a method involving touch and saliva.
Matthew 11:5 - The blind receive their sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear.
Isaiah 35:5 - Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
James 5:14-15 - The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up.
Mark 7:37 - The people respond to Jesus' miracles stating "He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak."

Language Study

The key words of interest in Mark 7:33 in the original Greek text include:

"Echthra" (ears) conveys the sense of 'the faculty of hearing'.

The act of touching them indicates restoring this faculty.

"Eptysen" (spit) is related to spitting, a common practice in healing and an act understood to convey healing properties or symbolize transformation.
"Hēpsato" (touched) emphasizes the physical connection and the involvement of Jesus’ personal touch for the miracle to manifest.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The use of spit in healing practices was not unique to Jesus' time but was a widespread phenomenon in various cultures.

In many ancient traditions, saliva was considered to have curative properties.

For instance, Roman writers like Pliny the Elder mentioned the use of saliva for healing purposes.

Comparatively, in some ancient societies, spitting was used to ward off evil spirits.

This practice in the healing event corresponds with Jewish notions of purity and ritual but stands apart in being performed by Jesus, who is recognized as the Son of God in Christian belief.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific perspective, the actions described in Mark 7:33 offer no known medicinal benefit for curing deafness or a speech impediment. These conditions typically require audiological or speech-language pathology interventions.

However, the healing miracles of Jesus are considered supernatural events by believers, and thus they are not confined to naturalistic explanations. The passage is generally interpreted as a testament to Jesus’ divine authority rather than a prescription for medical treatment.

Commentaries

According to biblical scholars and commentators:

John Calvin sees Jesus' action of taking the man aside as demonstrating compassion and avoiding spectacle.

Calvin interprets the spitting as symbolic, showcasing Christ’s willingness to take our infirmities upon himself.

Matthew Henry views this healing as proof of Jesus’ power and willingness to heal those who come to him.

Henry also notes that the method of healing is secondary to the authority of the healer.

William Barclay suggests that Jesus used methods understood and believed by people of the time to communicate his intent to heal, regardless of the method's intrinsic power.
The Expositor's Bible Commentary emphasizes Jesus' personal attention to the need of the individual and the transformative power of the healing miracle.

Mark 7

Mark 7

What does Mark 7:33 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Mark 7:33 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?