In the Bible, the act of sighing is often associated with expressions of deep emotion, such as grief, longing, or relief. It is a physical manifestation of an internal state, reflecting the burdens or desires of the heart. The term "sighed" appears in various contexts throughout Scripture, illustrating the human experience of suffering and the hope for divine intervention.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, sighing is frequently linked to the suffering and oppression of God's people. For instance, in Exodus 2:23, the Israelites, under the harsh bondage of Egypt, "groaned in their labor and cried out," and their sighs reached God, prompting Him to act on their behalf. This passage highlights the connection between human suffering and divine response, as God is moved by the sighs of His people to initiate their deliverance.

The Psalms also capture the essence of sighing as a form of prayer and supplication. In Psalm 38:9, David declares, "Lord, all my desire is before You; my sighing is not hidden from You." Here, sighing is portrayed as an intimate communication with God, where the psalmist's unspoken pain and longing are laid bare before the Lord, who is attentive to the cries of His people.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, sighing continues to be a significant expression of human emotion and divine empathy. In Mark 7:34, Jesus, before healing a deaf and mute man, "looked up to heaven and sighed." This sigh is a profound expression of compassion and a reflection of the burden of human suffering that Jesus bore. It signifies His deep connection with humanity and His role as the healer and redeemer.

Similarly, in Mark 8:12, Jesus "sighed deeply in His spirit" in response to the Pharisees' demand for a sign. This sigh reflects His frustration with their unbelief and the spiritual blindness that prevented them from recognizing the truth of His mission. It underscores the tension between divine patience and human obstinacy.

Theological Implications

Sighing in the biblical narrative is not merely a physical act but carries theological significance. It represents the groaning of creation under the weight of sin and the anticipation of redemption. In Romans 8:22-23, Paul writes, "We know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until the present time. Not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies." Here, sighing is linked to the eschatological hope of believers, who long for the fulfillment of God's promises and the restoration of all things.

Practical Application

For believers, sighing can be a form of prayer, an acknowledgment of human frailty, and a reminder of the need for God's grace and intervention. It is an invitation to bring one's burdens before the Lord, trusting in His compassion and sovereignty. As seen throughout Scripture, God is attentive to the sighs of His people, responding with mercy and deliverance.(imp. & p. p.) of Sigh.584. anach -- to sigh, groan
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to sigh, groan NASB Word Usage groan (7), groaning
(1), groans (1), sigh (2), sighed (1). groan, mourn, sigh. ...
/hebrew/584.htm - 5k

The Sighs of Christ
... Mark 7:34, 35. And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha,
that is, Be opened. ... And you will see, too, why Jesus sighed. ...
/.../kingsley/town and country sermons/sermon xxv the sighs of.htm

The Deaf and Dumb Man
... him aside from the multitude privately, and put His fingers into his ears, and He
spat, and touched his tongue; and looking up to heaven, He sighed, and saith ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 7 31-37 the deaf and.htm

The True Sign
... Taking him apart from the multitude, He put His fingers in his ears, and touched
his tongue; looking up to heaven, He sighed at thought of the ears that would ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 44 the true sign.htm

The Deaf and Dumb.
... And He took him aside from the multitude, and put His fingers into his ears, and
He spit, and touched his tongue; and looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/westminster sermons/sermon v the deaf and.htm

When Diamond Got Home He Found his Father at Home Already...
... And hence she was feeling a little dull. "Oh, dear!" she sighed, as she sat
with her head. ... "The folly of childhood," sighed his mother,. ...
/.../macdonald/at the back of the north wind/chapter 23 when diamond got.htm

The Deaf Stammerer Healed and Four Thousand Fed.
... with one or both his thumbs the man's tongue, and, speaking the healing word, the
cure was accomplished]; 34 and looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/lxix the deaf stammerer healed.htm

The Day Now Approaching Whereon She was to Depart this Life which ...
... And while we were discoursing and panting after her, we slightly touched on her
with the whole effort of our heart; and we sighed, and there we leave bound the ...
/.../augustine/the confessions of saint augustine/chapter x the day now.htm

A Conversation He had with his Mother Concerning the Kingdom of ...
... And while we were thus speaking, and straining after her, we slightly touched her
with the whole effort of our heart; and we sighed, and there left bound "the ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/chapter x a conversation he had.htm

The Travelers
... But the Maccabee rode on calmly. Julian sighed. After a while he spoke. ... Hence, by
this time my lady awaits me in Jerusalem.". Again Julian sighed. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the city of delight/chapter iv the travelers.htm

Anxieties and Troubles, Friends and Foes
... Patriarcheion; and when he was vexed with the throngs of visitors and the incessant
summonses which brought him out of his porter's cell, he sighed for Singon ...
/.../chapter xxi anxieties and troubles.htm

Sighed (7 Occurrences)
...Sighed (7 Occurrences). Mark 7:34 Looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to him,
"Ephphatha!" that is, "Be opened!" (WEB KJV WEY ASV WBS YLT RSV). ...
/s/sighed.htm - 8k

Sigh (18 Occurrences)
... Mark 7:34 Looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to him, "Ephphatha!" that
is, "Be opened!" (Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/s/sigh.htm - 12k

Opened (182 Occurrences)
... Mark 7:34 Looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to him, "Ephphatha!"
that is, "Be opened!" (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/o/opened.htm - 36k

Languished (10 Occurrences)
... the land. (YLT). Isaiah 24:7 Mourned hath the new wine, languished the vine,
Sighed have all the joyful of heart. (YLT). Isaiah 33 ...
/l/languished.htm - 9k

Groaned (7 Occurrences)
... Exodus 2:23 It happened in the course of those many days, that the king of Egypt
died, and the children of Israel sighed because of the bondage, and they cried ...
/g/groaned.htm - 8k

Effatha (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Effatha (1 Occurrence). Mark 7:34 And looking up to heaven,
he sighed, and saith to him, Effatha, that is, Be opened. (WBS). ...
/e/effatha.htm - 6k

Ephphatha (1 Occurrence)
... Ephphatha (1 Occurrence). Mark 7:34 Looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to
him, "Ephphatha!" that is, "Be opened!" (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY YLT NAS NIV). ...
/e/ephphatha.htm - 8k

Ephphathaephphatha (1 Occurrence)
... Ephphathaephphatha (1 Occurrence). Mark 7:34 and having looked to the heaven, he
sighed, and saith to him, 'Ephphatha,' that is, 'Be thou opened;' (See NAS). ...
/e/ephphathaephphatha.htm - 6k

Eph'phatha (1 Occurrence)
... Eph'phatha (1 Occurrence). Mark 7:34 and having looked to the heaven, he sighed,
and saith to him, 'Ephphatha,' that is, 'Be thou opened;' (See RSV). ...
/e/eph'phatha.htm - 6k

Deeply (43 Occurrences)
... the other. (See NIV). Mark 8:12 He sighed deeply in his spirit, and said,
"Why does this generation seek a sign? Most certainly I ...
/d/deeply.htm - 18k

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