Mark 7:33

And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue;

Mark 7:33 (KJV)

Context

Jesus has just arrived in the Decapolis, a region east of the Jordan largely inhabited by Gentiles. There, people bring to Him a man who is deaf and has a speech impediment, begging Jesus to lay His hand on him. This verse records the beginning of Jesus’ personal response to that request.

Meaning

Jesus takes the man aside from the crowd, showing personal attention and a desire to avoid display. Then He uses physical actions: He puts His fingers into the man’s ears, spits, and touches the man’s tongue. These gestures were not believed to have natural healing power; rather, they communicated Jesus’ intent and demonstrated His authority to heal by touch. In the ancient Near East, saliva was sometimes thought to have medicinal properties, and touch was common in healing practices, but the Gospel makes clear that the power came from Jesus Himself, not from the means He used.

Biblical connections

This healing foreshadows the command “Ephphatha” (“Be opened“) in Mark 7:34, where the man’s ears are opened and his tongue is loosened. The private setting also echoes the pattern of God calling His people apart, as seen in the Old Testament, where God often separates individuals for His purposes. Jesus’ willingness to meet the man at his point of need shows His compassion and His power to restore what is broken.

Application

Jesus’ example teaches us to value individual care over public spectacle. He did not need to isolate the man, but He chose to minister personally and quietly. This reminds us that genuine faith often grows in private, away from the applause of others. It also encourages us to bring our own needs—physical or spiritual—to Jesus, trusting that He can heal and restore us, just as He opened the man’s ears and loosened his tongue.

Reflection

This miracle shows that Jesus’ ministry extends beyond ethnic and cultural boundaries, reaching even Gentiles in a Gentile region. It also points to spiritual healing: just as Jesus restored the man’s hearing and speech, He can open our ears to hear God’s truth and loosen our tongues to proclaim it. His compassion and power remain available to all who come to Him in faith.