Mark 7:34

Looking up. This is the only occasion of healing of which it is recorded that Jesus cast His gaze heavenward. He did so, however, at the feeding of the 5,000 when blessing the loaves and the fishes (see ch. 6:41), at the raising of Lazarus (see John 11:41), and at the time of His intercessory prayer for His disciples (see John 17:1). Apparently upon this occasion the purpose of the gesture was to direct the deaf-mute’s thoughts to God and heaven, in order to make clear to him that healing would come only through divine power.

Sighed. Gr. stenazō, “to sigh,” or “to groan.” This was not a part of the process of communicating with the afflicted man, but an expression of Jesus’ own reaction as a human being to human suffering and weakness (see on John 1:14). In the deafness and stammering speech of the man He saw a pathetic picture of the deafness of human hearts to the message He bore, and of the faltering, meaningless lives men so often lead.

Ephphatha. An Aramaic expression preserved by Mark (see on ch. 5:41), undoubtedly the very word Jesus used upon this occasion.

Be opened. Referring, of course, to the man’s ears and to the restoration of his hearing. Mark here translates the Aramaic expression for the benefit of his readers.