Mark 7:35

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

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(35) His ears.—Literally, his hearing, or, as the word is in the plural, his organs of hearing.

The string of his tongue.—Better, bond, that which confined and hampered his speech. (Comp. Luke 13:16.) There is no ground for thinking that St. Mark used the word in any anatomical sense, as the English word seems to suggest, for a “nerve” or “tendon,” as in the “eye-strings” of the original text of the “Rock of Ages.”

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

7:31-37 Here is a cure of one that was deaf and dumb. Those who brought this poor man to Christ, besought him to observe the case, and put forth his power. Our Lord used more outward actions in the doing of this cure than usual. These were only signs of Christ's power to cure the man, to encourage his faith, and theirs that brought him. Though we find great variety in the cases and manner of relief of those who applied to Christ, yet all obtained the relief they sought. Thus it still is in the great concerns of our souls.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The string of his tongue was loosed - The difficulty in his speaking was removed.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

35. And straightway his ears were opened—This is mentioned first as the source of the other derangement.

and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain—The cure was thus alike instantaneous and perfect.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

See Poole on "Mark 7:31"

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And straightway his ears were opened,.... It is in the Greek text, "his hearings"; the instruments of his hearing, and so rightly rendered, "his ears": the Persic version reads, "both his ears"; but the word "both" is unnecessary, since the word, "ears", takes in both. Such a power went along with the words of Christ, when he said, "be opened"; that immediately, as soon as ever the words were pronounced, the man's hearing came to him, and he heard as quick as ever he did before he lost it, or, as any other man:

and the string of his tongue; which caused it to cleave to his jaws, or the roof of his mouth, and hindered him from speaking plainly,

was loosed, and he spake plain; "easily", as the Syriac version renders it; without any difficulty to himself, and so as to be readily understood by others. Thus those whose ears are opened, and whose tongues are loosed in a spiritual manner by Christ, speak plainly of what they have heard and seen, and felt; they can give a plain and clear account of the work of God upon their souls; how they have been convinced of the impurity of their nature, the corruptions of their hearts, and the exceeding sinfulness of sin, in heart, lip, and life; how they have seen Christ to be an all sufficient and suitable Saviour, and have been directed, and encouraged, to go to him, for healing, pardon, righteousness, and everlasting salvation; they can tell what promises have been applied to them, and what comforts they have enjoyed; how busy Satan has been with them; and what temptations of his they have been delivered out of, and by what means: in a word, they can speak plainly of the love of God to them; of the glories and excellencies of Christ; of their faith and hope in him, and love to him; and of the operations of the Spirit of God upon their hearts; and of the glories of the world to come, they are in the expectation of, so far as they are taught of God.

Geneva Study Bible

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

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek Testament

Mark 7:35. αἱ ἀκοαί, literally, the hearings, here the instruments of hearing, the ears. So often in classics.—ἐλάλει ὀρθῶς, he began to speak in a proper or ordinary manner, implying that in his dumb condition he had been able only to make inarticulate sounds.

Bengel's Gnomen

Mark 7:35. Ἀκοαὶ) that is to say, his powers of hearing. Not merely the one passage for sound in the ear.

Mark 7:35

Vincent's Word Studies

Plain (ὀρθῶς)

Lit., rightly. So Wyc.