Definition and Meaning:
The term "Ephphatha" is an Aramaic word meaning "Be opened." It is a command used by Jesus Christ during a miraculous healing, as recorded in the New Testament. This word is significant in demonstrating Jesus' authority over physical ailments and His compassion for those in need.

Biblical Context:
The account of "Ephphatha" is found in the Gospel of Mark, specifically in Mark 7:31-37. In this passage, Jesus is traveling through the region of the Decapolis when He encounters a man who is deaf and has a speech impediment. The people bring the man to Jesus, imploring Him to lay His hands on him.

Scriptural Reference:
Mark 7:34-35 : "And looking up to heaven, He sighed deeply and said to him, 'Ephphatha!' (which means, 'Be opened!'). Immediately the man’s ears were opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak plainly."

Theological Significance:
The use of "Ephphatha" highlights several key theological themes:

1. Divine Authority: Jesus' command "Ephphatha" and the immediate healing that follows underscore His divine authority over creation. This miracle serves as a testament to His identity as the Son of God, who possesses power over physical and spiritual realms.

2. Compassion and Personal Care: Jesus' interaction with the deaf man is marked by personal attention and compassion. By taking the man aside from the crowd, Jesus demonstrates His concern for individual dignity and personal connection. His sigh before uttering "Ephphatha" reflects His empathy for human suffering.

3. Fulfillment of Prophecy: The healing of the deaf and mute man is seen as a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah. Isaiah 35:5-6 prophesies, "Then the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then the lame will leap like a deer, and the mute tongue will shout for joy." Jesus' miracle is a direct manifestation of these messianic expectations.

4. Spiritual Symbolism: Beyond the physical healing, "Ephphatha" carries a spiritual symbolism of opening one's heart and mind to the truth of the Gospel. It serves as a metaphor for the spiritual awakening and liberation that Jesus offers to all who believe in Him.

Historical and Cultural Context:
Aramaic was the common language spoken by the Jewish people in Palestine during the time of Jesus. The use of Aramaic words in the Gospels, such as "Ephphatha," provides authenticity to the accounts and reflects the historical and cultural setting of Jesus' ministry.

Application for Believers:
The account of "Ephphatha" encourages believers to seek Jesus for healing and restoration, both physically and spiritually. It reminds Christians of the importance of being open to God's work in their lives and the transformative power of Christ's touch. The passage also calls believers to emulate Jesus' compassion and care for those who are marginalized or suffering.Ephphatha

be opened

Ephphatha

Be opened, a Syro-chaldaic word, which our Savior pronounced when he cured one deaf and dumb, Mark 7:34.

The Greek form of a Syro-Chaldaic or Aramaic word, meaning "Be opened," uttered by Christ when healing the man who was deaf and dumb (Mark 7:34). It is one of the characteristics of Mark that he uses the very Aramaic words which fell from our Lord's lips. (See 3:17; 5:41; 7:11; 14:36; 15:34.) EPHPHATHA

ef'-a-tha, ef-a'-tha (Ephphatha):

Aramaic word used by Christ (Mark 7:34), the 'ethpa`al imperative of Aramaic pethach (Hebrew pathach), translated, "Be (thou) opened"; compare Isaiah 35:5. The Aramaic was the sole popular language of Palestine (Shurer, History of the Jewish People in the Time of Jesus Christ, IIg, 9) and its use shows that we have here the graphic report of an eyewitness, upon whom the dialectic form employed made a deep impression. This and the corresponding act of the touch with the moistened finger is the foundation of a corresponding ceremony in the Roman Catholic formula for baptism.

2188. ephphatha -- be opened!
... 2187, 2188. ephphatha. 2189 . be opened! ... Word Origin of Aramaic origin pethach
Definition be opened! NASB Word Usage Ephphatha (1). Ephphatha. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2188.htm - 6k

Ephphatha
... The Treasury of Sacred Song. Book First CCLXXVIII EPHPHATHA. The Son of
GOD in doing good Was fain to look to Heaven and sigh: And ...
/.../palgrave/the treasury of sacred song/cclxxviii ephphatha.htm

The Deaf and Dumb Man
... privately, and put His fingers into his ears, and He spat, and touched his tongue;
and looking up to heaven, He sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 7 31-37 the deaf and.htm

A Group of Miracles among a Semi-Heathen Population
... tongue. Only the upward look to Heaven and the command Ephphatha' - be opened' -
seem the same as in His every day wonders of healing. ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xxxiv a group of.htm

The Deaf and Dumb.
... 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 said, Ephphatha, that is ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/westminster sermons/sermon v the deaf and.htm

The Sighs of Christ
... THE SIGHS OF CHRIST. (Twelfth Sunday after Trinity.) Mark 7:34, 35. And looking
up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. ...
/.../kingsley/town and country sermons/sermon xxv the sighs of.htm

The Looks of Jesus
... Sometimes it is a note of Christ's demeanour: 'Looking up to heaven, He sighed.'
Sometimes it is the very Aramaic words He spoke: 'Ephphatha.' Very often the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/the looks of jesus.htm

The Pattern of Service
... THE PATTERN OF SERVICE. 'He touched his tongue; and looking up to heaven, He sighed,
and saith Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.'"Mark 7 33, 34. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/the pattern of service.htm

The Suffering Servant-ii
... Himself with the sorrow. Did He not 'sigh and look up' in silent appeal
to heaven before He could say, Ephphatha? Did He not groan ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the suffering servant-ii.htm

The Deaf Stammerer Healed and Four Thousand Fed.
... the man's tongue, and, speaking the healing word, the cure was accomplished]; 34
and looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/lxix the deaf stammerer healed.htm

Miracles and Multitudes Again.
... privately, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat, and touched his tongue;
and looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, "Ephphatha," that is ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barton/his life/miracles and multitudes again.htm

Ephphatha (1 Occurrence)
... (See 3:17; 5:41; 7:11; 14:36; 15:34.). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
EPHPHATHA. ... Multi-Version Concordance Ephphatha (1 Occurrence). ...
/e/ephphatha.htm - 8k

Eph'phatha (1 Occurrence)
Eph'phatha. Ephphatha, Eph'phatha. Ephphathaephphatha . Multi-Version Concordance ...
Ephphatha, Eph'phatha. Ephphathaephphatha . Reference Bible.
/e/eph'phatha.htm - 6k

Opened (182 Occurrences)
... Mark 7:34 Looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to him, "Ephphatha!"
that is, "Be opened!" (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/o/opened.htm - 36k

Groaned (7 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Groaned (7 Occurrences). Mark 7:34 and looking up to heaven
he groaned, and says to him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. (DBY). ...
/g/groaned.htm - 8k

Ephphathaephphatha (1 Occurrence)
... Ephphathaephphatha (1 Occurrence). Mark 7:34 and having looked to the heaven, he
sighed, and saith to him, 'Ephphatha,' that is, 'Be thou opened;' (See NAS). ...
/e/ephphathaephphatha.htm - 6k

Deep (237 Occurrences)
... BBE). Mark 7:34 And looking up to heaven, he took a deep breath, and said
to him, Ephphatha, that is, Be open. (BBE NAS NIV). Mark ...
/d/deep.htm - 41k

Breath (95 Occurrences)
... Breath (95 Occurrences). Mark 7:34 And looking up to heaven, he took a deep
breath, and said to him, Ephphatha, that is, Be open. (BBE). ...
/b/breath.htm - 38k

Sigh (18 Occurrences)
... Mark 7:34 Looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to him, "Ephphatha!" that
is, "Be opened!" (Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/s/sigh.htm - 12k

Syriac (2 Occurrences)
... Syriac words, such as "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" (Mark 15:34; Matthew 27:46
gives the Hebrews form, "Eli, Eli"), "Raca" (Matthew 5:22), "Ephphatha" (Mark 7 ...
/s/syriac.htm - 26k

Sighed (7 Occurrences)
... Sighed (7 Occurrences). Mark 7:34 Looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to him,
"Ephphatha!" that is, "Be opened!" (WEB KJV WEY ASV WBS YLT RSV). ...
/s/sighed.htm - 8k

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