Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 7:32

"And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to lay his hand upon him." — Mark 7:32 (ASV)

A man was brought to Jesus who was “deaf and could hardly talk” (perhaps a speech impediment). Mark must have had Isa 35:6 in mind, which is a poetical description of the messianic Age and where the same rare word for “mute” is used in the LXX. The people begged Jesus to lay his hands on the deaf mute, obviously wanting him to heal the man. “They begged” shows their concern for him, for the deaf mute could not make an intelligible request for himself. Jesus responded to their request.