Mark 7:36
in Mark 7Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more He ordered them, the more widely they proclaimed it.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it.
KJV
And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it;
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This verse in Mark 7
Commentary
16 notes on this verseDeafened ears, of sound unconscious, every passage blocked and closed, At the word of Christ responding, all the portals open wide, Hear with joy friendly voices and the softly whispered speech. Every sickness now surrenders, every listlessness departs, Tongues long bound by chains of silence …
This site's exposition
Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone
on Mark 7:36-37
The command to silence meets the fate of every such command in this Gospel: the more He ordered them, the more widely they proclaimed it. Their word, He makes even the deaf hear and the mute speak, answers the prophets' hope.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
(ap. Aug. non occ. sed ap. Bed. ubi sup.) If however He, as one Who knew the present and the future wills of men, knew that they would proclaim Him the more in proportion as He forbade them, why did He give them this command? If it were not that He wished to prove to men who are idle, how much more joyfully, with how much greater obedience, they whom He commands to proclaim Him should preach, when they who were forbidden could not hold their peace.
(Vict. Ant. e Cat. in Marc.) By which He has taught us not to boast in our powers, but in the cross and humiliation. He also bade them conceal the miracle, lest He should excite the Jews by envy to kill Him before the time.
The Medieval Church3 voices
And he commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he commanded them, the more they proclaimed it, and they were exceedingly astonished, saying: He has done all things well, he makes the deaf hear, and the mute speak. If he knew they would …
A city, however, placed on a hill cannot be hid, and lowliness always comes before glory. Wherefore it goes on, But the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it.
By this we are taught, when we confer benefits on any, by no means to seek for applause and praise; but when we have received benefits, to proclaim and praise our benefactors, even though they be unwilling.
9 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
For this reason, when the Lord healed, those who were healed proclaim Him, despite the fact that He forbade them this and commanded them to say nothing. From this let us also learn, when we do good to others, not to accept praise from them, …
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
Most men will proclaim their own goodness, or, at least, desire that others should proclaim it; but Christ, though he was himself in no danger of being puffed up with it, knowing that we are, would thus set us an example of self-denial, as in other things, so especially in praise and applause.
6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
But they that told it, and they that heard it, were beyond measure astonished, hyperperissos -- more than above measure; they were exceedingly affected with it, and this was said by every body, it was the common verdict, He hath done all things well (
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
And he charged them,....
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
Tell no man - See on Mat 8:4 (note). This miracle is not mentioned by any other of the evangelists. Another proof that Mark did not abridge Matthew. For a practical review of the different important subjects of this chapter, see Matthew 15:1-39 (note), and particularly the observations at the end.
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Mark (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1857)
proposed
The first thing that demands our notice in these verses, is the mighty miracle that is here recorded . We read that they brought unto our Lord "one that was deaf and had an impediment in his speech," and besought Him that He would "put His hand upon him." At once the petition is granted, and the cure is wrought. Speech and hearing are instantaneously given to the man by a word and a touch. "Immediately his ears were opened, and his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plain."
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Mark (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1857)
proposed
The first thing that demands our notice in these verses, is the mighty miracle that is here recorded . We read that they brought unto our Lord "one that was deaf and had an impediment in his speech," and besought Him that He would "put His hand upon him." At once the petition is granted, and the cure is wrought. Speech and hearing are instantaneously given to the man by a word and a touch. "Immediately his ears were opened, and his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plain." We see but half the instruction of this passage, if we only regard it as an example of our Lord's divine power. It is such an example, beyond doubt, but it is something more than that. We must look further, deeper, and lower than the surface, and we shall find in the passage precious spiritual truths. Here we are meant to see our Lord's power to heal the spiritually deaf. He can give the chief of sinners a hearing ear. He can make him delight in listening to the very Gospel which he once ridiculed and despised. Here also we are meant to see our Lord's power to heal the spiritually dumb. He can teach the hardest of transgressors to call upon God. He can put a new song in the mouth of him whose talk was once only of this world. He can make the vilest of men speak of spiritual things, and testify the Gospel of the grace of God. When Jesus pours forth His Spirit, nothing is impossible. We must never despair of others. We must never regard our own hearts as too bad to be changed. He that healed the deaf and dumb still lives. The cases which society pronounces hopeless, are not incurable if they are brought to Christ. The second thing which demands our notice in these verses, is the peculiar manner in which our Lord thought good to work the miracle here recorded .
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Tell no man - Do not noise it abroad. He was not ambitious of being known, and he knew that if much was said of his cures, it would excite the jealousy of the Pharisees and endanger his life.
The words behind it
14 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| διεστείλατο | diesteilato | He instructed | G1291 → | 8 times |
| αὐτοῖς | autois | them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἵνα | ina | that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| μηδενὶ | medeni | to no one | G3367 → | 90 times |
| λέγωσιν· | legosin | they may speak; | G3004 → | 1325 times |
| ὅσον | hoson | As much as | G3745 → | 110 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| αὐτοῖς | autois | them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| διεστέλλετο, | diestelleto | was instructing, | G1291 → | 8 times |
| αὐτοὶ | autoi | they themselves | G846 → | 5565 times |
| μᾶλλον | mallon | more | G3123 → | 81 times |
| περισσότερον | perissoteron | excessive | G4054 → | |
| ἐκήρυσσον. | ekerusson | were proclaiming [it]. | G2784 → | 59 times |
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
διεστείλατοHe instructed
diesteilatoG1291 →8 times
αὐτοῖςthem
autoisG846 →5565 times
ἵναthat
inaG2443 →668 times
μηδενὶto no one
medeniG3367 →90 times
λέγωσιν·they may speak;
legosinG3004 →1325 times
ὅσονAs much as
hosonG3745 →110 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
αὐτοῖςthem
autoisG846 →5565 times
διεστέλλετο,was instructing,
diestelletoG1291 →8 times
αὐτοὶthey themselves
autoiG846 →5565 times
μᾶλλονmore
mallonG3123 →81 times
περισσότερονexcessive
perissoteronG4054 →
ἐκήρυσσον.were proclaiming [it].
ekerussonG2784 →59 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Matthew 8:4Then Jesus instructed him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift prescribed by Moses, as a testimony to them.”
it leads to
- Leviticus 14:2–32
“This is the law for the one afflicted with a skin disease on the day of his cleansing, when he is brought to the priest.
- Luke 5:14
“Do not tell anyone,” Jesus instructed him. “But go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering Moses prescribed for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Matthew 9:30
And their eyes were opened. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one finds out about this!”
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- Luke 17:14
When Jesus saw them, He said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they were on their way, they were cleansed.
- Leviticus 14:2–32
Through
Mark 5:43Then Jesus gave strict orders that no one should know about this, and He told them to give her something to eat.
it leads to
- Matthew 8:4
Then Jesus instructed him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift prescribed by Moses, as a testimony to them.”
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- Matthew 8:4
Through
Mark 3:12But He warned them sternly not to make Him known.
it leads to
- Matthew 12:16
warning them not to make Him known.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Mark 1:34
And He healed many who were ill with various diseases and drove out many demons. But He would not allow the demons to speak, because they knew who He was.
- Mark 1:25
But Jesus rebuked the spirit. “Be silent!” He said. “Come out of him!”
- Matthew 12:16
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Mark

This page draws on 13 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Bede, On the Gospel of Mark; J. C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, Mark; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Mark (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Prudentius, HYMNS 9; Pseudo-Chrysostom, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Pseudo-Jerome, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Theophylact of Ohrid, Catena Aurea by Aquinas and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Mark.
