ἐφφαθά
ephphathá
G2188 Aramaic loanword
SILEX Entry
Definition
An imperative term meaning 'be opened,' directed toward an object (such as ears or mouth) to command openness. Used as a direct speech act in a healing context.
Semantic Range
be opened, open up (imperative command), become accessible; in narrative, used as a direct command by a healer to effect restoration of function
Root / Etymology
Transliterated from Aramaic אֶתְפַּתַּח (ʾetpattach), stemming from the root פתח (pth), meaning 'to open.' The Greek form ἐφφαθά is a phonetic rendering of the Aramaic word as spoken by Jesus in the New Testament.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term ἐφφαθά appears only once in the New Testament (Mark 7:34), where it is preserved as a transliteration of an Aramaic command uttered by Jesus during a narrative of healing a man who was deaf and had speech difficulty. The Gospel records the Aramaic verb and provides a Greek translation, '(that is, “be opened”).' Such retention of the original phrase lends authenticity and vividness to the account. The word is not used elsewhere in Greek literature and does not have a semantic range in Greek independent of this context. In the broader Second Temple context, retaining Aramaic speech acts in Greek narrative often highlights the original linguistic and cultural background of Jesus and the early Judean movement. Standard English translations often render the word directly as a quotation, 'Ephphatha,' and explain it as 'be opened!'
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of Chaldee origin (פְּתַח); be opened!:--Ephphatha.
Root Family
ἐφφαθά (ephphathá) — to open, to loosen, to unseal
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2188-01 |
ἐφφαθά | ephphatha | TF |
Ephphatha | Be opened | Ephphatha | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2188-01 |
Mark 7:34 | ἐφφαθά | ephphatha | TF |
Ephphatha | Be opened | Ephphatha |