Odd Circumstances
and looking up to heaven with a deep sign, He said to him, “Ephphatha!” that is, “Be opened!” Mark 7:34 NASB
Ephphatha – Try this tongue twister. It’s rather humorous that this word comes from a story about a man who spoke with difficulty. All of us may have trouble saying this.
What kind of word is this word ephphatha? Obviously it isn’t Greek. If it were, Mark would never have to add what it means. His Greek reading audience would know. That means this word is a transliteration, a phonetic equivalent without meaning translation. But what language is the original word? We assume that it is Aramaic, from the passive imperative pthah, “to open.” But if all of Yeshua’s conversation were in Aramaic, as most seminaries teach, then why did Mark transliterate only this word? Did you get that? If everything Yeshua says were Aramaic, then there would be no reason to include this one word as a transliterated word. Mark would simply translate this word along with everything else. Apparently Yeshua’s use of this Aramaic word was so odd that it needed explanation.
What this implies is that Yeshua spoke Aramaic – but not often, at least not commonly. That means that when He used an Aramaic word or phrase, as He sometimes did, it was recorded as a foreign word. Therefore, it needed to be explained. Now, why would Yeshua use this foreign expression on this occasion? There are two fascinating possibilities. The first is that the man who had difficulty speaking spoke Aramaic. That would mean if Yeshua wanted to say something to him in his native tongue, He would speak in Aramaic. Of course, Israel was multi-lingual. Many people spoke Greek (for trade), Latin (out of necessity), Aramaic (left over from those who returned) and Hebrew. It is more than likely that Yeshua spoke several languages, certainly Aramaic and Hebrew. In this instance, He may simply have been saying what the man would love to hear – healing words in his own tongue.
But there is also another possibility. We have already encountered the wry sense of humor about this word when I asked you to say it. If there were any word that a tongue-tied person might wish to be able to say, it’s a tongue-twister like this one. Do you suppose that Yeshua picked this word simply because its very structure exemplified the difficulty this man faced? Yet it rolls off the tongue of the Messiah without hesitation. The Lord has power over the tongue too. Ephphatha!
If Yeshua uses this odd Aramaic word to heal a man of his speech impediment, He stands in good ironic company. The prophets did the same thing, employing word plays and puns to communicate God’s message of justice and redemption. Perhaps the whole incident is a bit too subtle for us. Too often we read only the obvious – and we skip over words like this as if they have no deeper meaning. But I’m guessing that Yeshua didn’t choose this word accidentally. What do you think?
Topical Index: ephphatha, be opened, Aramaic, Mark 7:34
Excellent! lol!- Such a delight to read this today! Don’t you just love the humor of G-d?
(G-d does have a delightful sense of humor and perfect comedic “timing!”) “He does all things well..”
We do love to laugh.. (don’t we?) If we are made in the image and likeness of Elohim, (and according to His book -we are) and we love to laugh, then what about the “original?” Does He also enjoy a “humorous” moment or a funny thought? – Is it “okay” for a Christian to have fun? (I too, would like to “invent” a word to respond to this last statement, but I’m sure, in the depths of my inner being, it would be a cousin to “Ephphatha!” When G-d speaks- something (good) always “happens!” He, the Peace-Speaker, spoke unto the storm at sea, saying- “Shalom!”- the waves were stilled, like a mirrored pond, and the talmudim marveled (I would too!) in this “G-d moment.” When G-d speaks, (and we listen) -what a combination!
I think you may have a point Skip!
Good morning Carl!
Another observation about today’s word, “Ephphatha!”
My brother is deaf in both ears and went to a special school for the hearing impaired to learn how to read, and how to communicate with the outside world. He is a skilled lip-reader and when he speaks he has a slight impediment to his speaking, because this is what he hears- distorted language. He does not speak clearly and distinctly because he does not hear clearly and distinctly.
It’s hard for us to place ourselves in his position because we have been blessed with “normal” hearing. But for those who have been deaf since birth, -it is another world, quite foreign to us.
I am glad this man had a friend or friends who cared enough to bring him to Christ. He (maybe from shame or sensing himself to be an outsider) may not have come on his own, but at the encouragement and persistence of his friends, was brought to (and healed by) Christ. “Bring him to me” was (and is) the command of Christ, the “Fount” of every blessing.
Today, may I ask this question of those “who have ears to hear.” – How well do you hear? Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of the LORD, we are instructed. We walk by faith and not by sight, it has been written. We live by what we hear, not by what we see. We must hear from G-d, and we must “shema” when G-d speaks.
Back to the question: How well do we hear? The quality of our lives will be determined upon the quality of our hearing. Without faith it is impossible to please G-d (Hebrews 11.6) and faith comes by hearing and hearing by (our receptivity of) the word(s) of G-d. (Romans 10.17) Faith pleases G-d greatly. “The just (ones) shall live by faith.” (Hebrews 10.38) We may read Hebrews chapter 11 to view examples and testimonies (G-d’s hall of fame) of those who knew what is meant by “my righteous ones shall live by faith.”
G-d’s instruction through James is: “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.” (KJV) Again, “faith comes by hearing..” “But how are they to call on One in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in One whose voice they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10.14) Yes, what were the words of Yeshua? “if any man have ears to hear.. -let him hear” (Mark 4.23)
And this I believe is the capstone, found in Deuteronomy 6.4: “Shema,” O Israel. Listen and obey, contained in this critical command: “shema..” For faith (which pleases G-d) occurs when our right response to what G-d has said to do is “to hear and to obey.” Faith is our right-response to the word(s) of G-d. Our right-response is obedience, and our choosing, willingly, voluntarily, intentionally to obey Him will result (every time) in blessing and abundance.
How do we know all this is true? lol!- “the mouth of LORD has spoken it.” (Isaiah 1.20) What was the wise counsel of Mary, the mother of the Messiah, to the servants? (John 2.5)
Say the word…. now picture Jesus saying it to a deaf man. What’s the significance? This word is a clear lip reading word. I believe it is so exaggerated when Jesus spoke it with His mouth that when that word “Rhema” was received by the deaf man he could let it transform his heart and mind and in an instant his faith was increased! It’s the power of the living word of God and how it crosses barriers! The word of God is living and active sharper then a two edge sword. Jesus cut the sickness off when Hid living word was received by the deaf man reading Jesus lips.