Mark 7:34 Ephphatha,...Be opened.

Spoken to: 

an individual

A deaf man with a speech impediment is brought to Jesus.

KJV: 

Mark 7:34 Ephphatha,...Be opened.

NIV : 

Mark 7:34 “Ephphatha!"... “Be opened!”.

LISTENERS HEARD: 

Ethpthah. Be opened.

MY TAKE: 

We have to listen to connect what we hear to what we say.

GREEK (Each Word Explained Bottom of Page): 

GREEK ORDER: 

Ἐφφαθά,...Διανοίχθητι:
Ethpthah. Be opened.

LOST IN TRANSLATION: 

This verse is more evidence that Jesus taught in Greek but occasionally used Aramaic). See this article. about why I think that Christ taught in Greek as well as Aramaic, primarily because of all the Greek wordplay that doesn't work in Aramaic.  Included in that evidence are Mark's references to the times where Christ used actual Aramaic.

Both words have the same general meaning, but the Greek word has a double meaning.  Its sense is "to open in order to connect." The meaning in this case is to open his hear to connect or correct his speech.

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

0

# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

0

EACH WORD of KJV : 

Ephphatha,... Assumed to be the Greek spelling of an Aramaic word meaning "to open" based upon its local pronunciation. The Aramaic word is spelled ephphtha."

Be -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

opened.  - The Aramaic has The Greek word used means more than just "to open." It means to open in order to make a connection.  It also means "reveal." The form is a passive command. It is used only once by Jesus, but it is used several times by the Gospel writers, mostly by Luke,  to describe Christ's general effect on those who heard him, allowing them to connect words to meaning.

EACH WORD of NIV : 

Ephphatha,... Assumed to be the Greek spelling of an Aramaic word meaning "to open" based upon its local pronunciation. The Aramaic word is spelled ephphtha."

Be -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

opened.  - The Aramaic has The Greek word used means more than just "to open." It means to open in order to make a connection.  It also means "reveal." The form is a passive command. It is used only once by Jesus, but it is used several times by the Gospel writers, mostly by Luke,  to describe Christ's general effect on those who heard him, allowing them to connect words to meaning.

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV : 

Ἐφφαθά {ephphtha}[1 verse] (Aramaic) This could be from the Aramaic ethpthah, the passive imperative of the verb pthah, 'to open.'

Διανοίχθητι: [1 verse] ( verb 2nd sg aor imperat pass ) "Be opened" is dianoigo, which means "to lay open", "to open so as to connect", "to reveal," and "to explain."

Front Page Date: 

May 11 2023