Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 7:34

"and looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened." — Mark 7:34 (ASV)

Jesus looked up to heaven in an attitude of prayer, thereby showing the man that God was the source of his power (cf. Jn 11:41; 17:1). Jesus’ sigh should be seen as something that accompanied his inner communion with the Father. Jesus’ prayer consisted of only a single word—Ephphatha (an Aramaic word that Mark, as usual, explains). The effect of the command was instantaneous: the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosed, and his speech impediment was gone.