Mark 7:33

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

And {G2532} he took {G618} him {G846} aside {G2596}{G2398} from {G575} the multitude {G3793}, and put {G906} his {G846} fingers {G1147} into {G1519} his {G846} ears {G3775}, and {G2532} he spit {G4429}, and touched {G680} his {G846} tongue {G1100};

Taking him off alone, away from the crowd, Yeshua put his fingers into the man's ears, spat, and touched his tongue;

So Jesus took him aside privately, away from the crowd, and put His fingers into the man’s ears. Then He spit and touched the man’s tongue.

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

Mark 7:33 describes a unique moment in Jesus' ministry, detailing the initial actions He takes to heal a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, as introduced in Mark 7:32. This verse highlights Jesus' personal approach to healing and His deep compassion for suffering individuals.

Context

This scene takes place in the region of Decapolis, a predominantly Gentile area, after Jesus had journeyed from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon (Mark 7:31). The preceding verses in Mark 7 focus on Jesus' confrontation with the Pharisees regarding ceremonial purity and the true source of defilement (Mark 7:1-23). Against this backdrop of spiritual insight, Jesus demonstrates His physical healing power, emphasizing His authority over both the spiritual and the physical realms. By taking the man "aside from the multitude," Jesus creates a private, intimate space, distinct from a public display, indicating a personal connection with the afflicted individual.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Jesus' Compassion and Personal Touch: The act of taking the man aside underscores Jesus' profound empathy. He doesn't perform a distant miracle but engages personally with the man's affliction, showing that His concern extends beyond the crowd's expectations to the individual's specific needs. This personal touch is a hallmark of Christ's ministry.
  • Symbolic and Communicative Actions: Jesus' physical actions—putting His fingers into the man's ears, spitting, and touching his tongue—were not magical rites but likely served to communicate His intent to the deaf man. These actions engaged the man's limited senses, helping him understand what was about to happen and perhaps building his faith. In ancient cultures, saliva was sometimes believed to possess medicinal properties, but here, it primarily serves as a tangible part of Jesus' unique healing process.
  • Divine Power Manifested Tangibly: The direct physical contact with the ears and tongue points to the specific nature of the man's disabilities. Jesus' actions directly address these areas, demonstrating that His divine power was not only spiritual but also capable of restoring physical functions with precision.

Linguistic Insights

While not in this verse, the Greek word used in Mark 7:32 to describe the man's speech impediment is mogilalos (μογιλάλος), meaning "speaking with difficulty" or "tongue-tied." This term is rare in classical Greek, appearing only once in the Septuagint (Isaiah 35:6), where it describes those whose tongues will sing for joy. Jesus' actions in Mark 7:33 are a direct and compassionate response to this specific and challenging condition, preparing to restore not just hearing but also the ability to articulate clearly.

Practical Application

This verse offers powerful insights for believers today. It reminds us that Jesus cares deeply for our individual struggles, even those we might feel are isolating or embarrassing. He often meets us in our private moments, away from the "multitude," to address our deepest needs. Just as Jesus physically engaged with the deaf man, He invites us to bring our own "deafness" (spiritual insensitivity) and "speech impediments" (inability to articulate our faith or praise) to Him. His methods may be unexpected, but they are always tailored to bring about holistic healing and restoration, encouraging us to trust in His compassionate and personal approach to our lives.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Mark 8:23

    And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.

  • John 9:6

    When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,

  • John 9:7

    And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.

  • Mark 5:40

    And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.

  • 1 Kings 17:19

    And he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed.

  • 1 Kings 17:22

    And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.

  • 2 Kings 4:33

    He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the LORD.

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