7:31–37 This incident, unique to Mark, seems not only to give another example of Jesus’ healing acts but also to disclose the larger significance of Jesus’ ministry by allusion to OT prophetic hope. A couple of features of the passage indicate this. First, the description of the man’s condition (7:32) involves a rare word (see note) that means “to speak with great difficulty, or with a speech impediment.” The expression occurs in the Greek translation of the OT in Isaiah 35:5–6, suggesting that Mark intended an allusion to this passage promising a time when God would bestow blessings such as miraculous healing upon the people. Second, the response of the crowd (7:37) also seems to allude to this passage, suggesting that the fulfillment of its promises has come in Jesus’ ministry. Indeed, I…