Mark 7:31

Mark 7:31, in plain English

Then Jesus left Tyre, went through Sidon, and headed toward the Sea of Galilee through the Decapolis region. He was taking the long way — through Gentile territory.

Why it's here

This roundabout route tells us something important: Jesus wasn't in a hurry to get back to Jewish territory. He was intentionally spending time with Gentile communities.

Who's speaking

Mark describes Jesus' extended travel through Gentile regions.

Where it sits in the story

Jesus takes the scenic route through Gentile territory. Remember the man he healed in the Decapolis, who told everyone about Jesus? Now Jesus is returning to that prepared ground.

The scholarly reading

Jesus' circuitous route from Tyre through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee via the Decapolis traces an extensive journey through predominantly Gentile territory, suggesting a deliberate Gentile ministry circuit.

Language and setting

The geographical note — going north to Sidon before heading southeast to the Decapolis — implies a lengthy period of ministry among Gentiles, possibly several months. The Decapolis was prepared by the former demoniac's testimony (5:20).

Voice

Mark narrates Jesus' extended travel through Gentile regions.

Significance

Jesus takes a long, winding route through Gentile lands — Tyre, Sidon, the Decapolis — before returning to the Sea of Galilee. The journey embodies the expanding reach of his ministry beyond Israel.

29Then Jesus told her, “Because of this answer, you may go. The demon has left your daughter.”

30And she went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon was gone.

31Then Jesus left the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis.

32Some people brought to Him a man who was deaf and hardly able to speak, and they begged Jesus to place His hand on him.

33So Jesus took him aside privately, away from the crowd, and put His fingers into the man’s ears. Then He spit and touched the man’s tongue.

Read all of Mark 7 — Jesus declares all foods clean and then crosses into Gentile territory to heal a woman's daughter. The walls are coming down.