Mark 7:34

ἀναβλέψας. Praying for help; John 11:41.

ἐστέναξεν. Contrast the strong compound (ἀναστενάξας) used of the unbelief of the Pharisees (Mark 8:12). Signs of Christ’s perfect humanity are again evident; see on Mark 3:5 and John 11:38.

Ἐφφαθά. Aramaic with a translation; see on Mark 5:41. Deaf people understand what is spoken by watching the lips of the speaker, and a word like Ephphatha could easily be read from the lips. “Both the word and the use of saliva passed at an early time into the Baptismal rite as practised at Milan and Rome” (Swete).

διανοίχθητι. Lucian (Contemplantes 21) uses this compound of opening the ears; ὡς μηδʼ ἂν τρυπάνῳ ἔτι διανοιχθῆναι αὐτοῖς τὰ ὦτα. Vulg. has adaperire, which Curtius (IX. vii. 24) uses of the ears; adaperire aures ad criminationem.