Mark 7:32
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.
Original Language Analysis
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
1 of 13
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
φέρουσιν
they bring
G5342
φέρουσιν
they bring
Strong's:
G5342
Word #:
2 of 13
to "bear" or carry (in a very wide application, literally and figuratively, as follows)
αὐτῷ
him
G846
αὐτῷ
him
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
3 of 13
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
κωφὸν
one that was deaf
G2974
κωφὸν
one that was deaf
Strong's:
G2974
Word #:
4 of 13
blunted, i.e., (figuratively) of hearing (deaf) or speech (dumb)
μογιλάλον
and had an impediment in his speech
G3424
μογιλάλον
and had an impediment in his speech
Strong's:
G3424
Word #:
5 of 13
hardly talking, i.e., dumb (tongue-tied)
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
6 of 13
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
παρακαλοῦσιν
they beseech
G3870
παρακαλοῦσιν
they beseech
Strong's:
G3870
Word #:
7 of 13
to call near, i.e., invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation)
αὐτῷ
him
G846
αὐτῷ
him
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
8 of 13
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
αὐτῷ
him
G846
αὐτῷ
him
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
11 of 13
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
Cross References
Luke 11:14And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered.Mark 5:23And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.
Historical Context
In the ancient world, disabilities carried severe stigma, often interpreted as divine judgment. Those unable to hear or speak faced limited opportunities and social marginalization. Jesus's consistent healing of such individuals demonstrated God's heart toward the marginalized. The crowd's compassion reflects earlier testimony's impact in the Decapolis—when the Gerasene proclaimed what Jesus did (Mark 5:20), skepticism gave way to expectant faith.
Questions for Reflection
- How does deaf-muteness illustrate spiritual deafness to God's voice and inability to worship apart from Christ?
- What does the crowd's compassionate action teach about intercessory faith?
- How does Jesus's healing of the marginalized demonstrate the kingdom's upside-down values?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
They bring one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech—The Greek describes difficulty speaking—possibly mute or severely impaired. This rare word appears in Isaiah 35:6's Septuagint, prophesying messianic signs: the lame leaping, the dumb tongue singing. Mark's vocabulary evokes Isaiah's prophecy, signaling Jesus fulfills messianic expectations. The crowd's request for Jesus's touch demonstrates belief His touch conveys healing. This man's condition created profound isolation—unable to hear or speak clearly, he lived relationally disconnected. Healing restored not just physical faculties but relationship capacity. Spiritually, this pictures pre-salvation humanity: deaf to God's voice, unable to speak His praise, isolated from divine-human communion.