Mark 7:34
And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.
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
εἰς
to
G1519
εἰς
to
Strong's:
G1519
Word #:
3 of 13
to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
τὸν
G3588
τὸν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
4 of 13
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
οὐρανὸν
heaven
G3772
οὐρανὸν
heaven
Strong's:
G3772
Word #:
5 of 13
the sky; by extension, heaven (as the abode of god); by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the gospel (christianity)
ἐστέναξεν
he sighed
G4727
ἐστέναξεν
he sighed
Strong's:
G4727
Word #:
6 of 13
to make (intransitively, be) in straits, i.e., (by implication) to sigh, murmur, pray inaudibly
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
7 of 13
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
λέγει
saith
G3004
λέγει
saith
Strong's:
G3004
Word #:
8 of 13
properly, to "lay" forth, i.e., (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas g2036 and g5346 generally refer to an
αὐτῷ
unto him
G846
αὐτῷ
unto him
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
9 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
ὅ
G3739
ὅ
Strong's:
G3739
Word #:
11 of 13
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
Cross References
Mark 6:41And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.Mark 5:41And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.John 11:41Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.Acts 9:34And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.Mark 8:12And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.Mark 15:34And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?John 11:33When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,
Historical Context
Aramaic was the eastern Roman Empire's lingua franca. Jesus's ministry occurred in Aramaic; Gospels were written in Greek. Mark preserves Aramaic phrases adding authenticity. Jesus's groan reflects true humanity—though fully divine, He experienced grief and compassion. Hebrews 4:15 affirms He was tempted as we are, making Him a sympathetic High Priest understanding human suffering firsthand.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Jesus's sigh reveal His compassionate entry into suffering?
- What does looking to heaven teach about dependence on God?
- How does Jesus's use of the man's heart language demonstrate personal, intimate care?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Looking up to heaven, he sighed—Jesus's upward gaze directed the man's attention to heaven, the source of healing power. Though possessing intrinsic divine authority, Jesus modeled dependence on the Father (John 5:19). The Greek verb for sighed reveals Jesus's emotional response to human suffering—not clinical detachment but deep compassion. This echoes Romans 8:22-23, where creation groans under bondage. Jesus entered fully into humanity's suffering, bearing our griefs (Isaiah 53:4). Ephphatha, that is, Be opened—Mark preserves Jesus's Aramaic, then translates for Greek readers. The command addressed both ears and speech simultaneously—comprehensive healing restoring full communicative capacity.