Mark 7 Study Notes

7:24-8:10 These verses describe Jesus’s ministry in the Gentile areas of Tyre, Sidon, and the Decapolis.

7:24 Tyre was on the Mediterranean coast northwest of Galilee. Jesus went to the region of Tyre, which refers to the administrative district around Tyre and not to the city itself.

7:25-26 This woman was a Gentile who lived according to Greek culture. A Syrophoenician (a Phoenician from Syria) reflects Mark’s use of double expression, with the second term being more specific. Fell at his feet recalls the actions of Jairus (5:23) and the Gerasene demoniac (5:6).

7:27 In Jesus’s curt statement, the children refers to the Jews (cp. Mt 15:24). Jews typically referred to Gentiles as dogs. Since Jews considered dogs unclean (Ex 22:31; 1Kg 21:23; 22:38; 2Kg 9:36; Pr 26:11; Mt 7:6; 2Pt 2:22), calling someone a dog was an insult (1Sm 17:43; 24:14; 2Sm 16:9; Is 56:10-11).

7:28 Lord can be a divine title or just a polite address. The woman asserted that even though dogs did not eat with the children at the table, they did eat the crumbs that fell to the floor (cp. Lk 16:21). She accepted the priority of Jesus’s mission to the Jews but pointed out that Israel’s privileges did not exclude Gentiles from enjoying the overflow.

7:29-30 The narrative returns to the exorcism, which was the occasion for the woman’s coming to Jesus. His words because of this reply in Matthew’s account focuses on the greatness of the woman’s faith (Mt 15:28).

7:31-37 This account is likely part of a larger healing ministry in the Decapolis that Matthew summarized (Mt 15:29-31). Jesus’s reception this time contrasts with that of his first visit (cp. Mk 5:17) and possibly hints at the success of the Gerasene demoniac’s proclamation (5:20).

7:31 By way of Sidon . . . the Decapolis indicates Jesus traveled more than twenty miles farther north before turning southeast. The entire journey was more than 120 miles. On the Decapolis, see note at 5:19-20.

7:32 Difficulty speaking is also used in the Greek version of Is 35:5-6, a passage that Jesus fulfilled with this miracle.

7:33-34 Only here and in 8:22-26 did Jesus take the person he healed aside in private. Spitting (cp. 8:23) probably means Jesus spit into his hand and applied saliva to the man’s tongue (Jn 9:6). Looking up to heaven is a sign of prayer (see note at 6:41). Sighed deeply indicates Jesus’s deep emotional involvement. Mark translates the Aramaic word Ephphatha parenthetically (cp. 5:41).

7:35 He began to speak clearly indicates that, like many deaf people, he was previously able to make sounds but not form coherent words.

7:36 Proclaimed is the word Mark used for telling others about Jesus (Gk kērusso). The people of the Decapolis now responded as the Gerasene demoniac had done (5:20).

7:37 While Jesus’s other healing miracles brought astonishment and amazement (1:22,27; 2:12; 5:20,42; 6:2,6,51), this is the only time that extremely or “beyond all measure” appears. He has done everything well echoes the Septuagint wording of Gn 1:31. Once again, Jesus had done what only God could do (Ex 4:11).