In biblical terminology, the term "dumb" traditionally refers to the inability to speak. This condition is often mentioned in the context of miraculous healings performed by Jesus and is sometimes associated with demonic oppression or spiritual affliction.

Old Testament References

The Old Testament occasionally references the condition of being mute. In Exodus 4:11, God addresses Moses' concerns about his speaking abilities, saying, "Who gave man his mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, sighted or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?" . This passage underscores the belief in God's sovereignty over human abilities and disabilities.

New Testament References

The New Testament provides several accounts of Jesus healing those who were mute. In Matthew 9:32-33, a demon-possessed man who was mute was brought to Jesus. "And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowds were amazed and said, 'Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.'" . This passage highlights the power of Jesus over demonic forces and His authority to restore speech.

Another significant account is found in Mark 7:32-35, where Jesus heals a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment. "They brought to Him a man who was deaf and hardly able to speak, and they begged Jesus to place His hand on him. 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. And looking up to heaven, He sighed deeply and said to him, 'Ephphatha!' (which means, 'Be opened!'). Immediately the man’s ears were opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak plainly." . This miracle demonstrates Jesus' compassion and His divine ability to heal physical ailments.

Spiritual Implications

In biblical times, being mute was sometimes associated with spiritual bondage. In Matthew 12:22, a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to Jesus, and He healed him, so that he could both speak and see. This act of healing was a testament to Jesus' messianic mission and His power to liberate individuals from spiritual oppression.

Symbolic Usage

The condition of being mute is also used symbolically in Scripture. In Isaiah 56:10, the prophet describes Israel's watchmen as "blind, they are all ignorant; they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber." . Here, the inability to speak is metaphorically applied to the leaders' failure to warn and protect the people, highlighting their negligence and complacency.

Theological Reflections

From a theological perspective, the healing of the mute by Jesus is seen as a fulfillment of messianic prophecies, such as those found in Isaiah 35:5-6, which foretold that the Messiah would open the eyes of the blind and unstop the ears of the deaf. The restoration of speech to the mute serves as a sign of the in-breaking of God's kingdom and the restoration of creation through Christ.

In summary, the biblical concept of being "dumb" encompasses both physical and spiritual dimensions, with Jesus' healings serving as powerful demonstrations of His divine authority and compassion.From natural infirmity (Exodus 4:11); not knowing what to say (Proverbs 31:8); unwillingness to speak (Psalm 39:9; Leviticus 10:3). Christ repeatedly restored the dumb (Matthew 9:32, 33; Luke 11:14; Matthew 12:22) to the use of speech. 1. (a.) Destitute of the power of speech; unable; to utter articulate sounds; as, the dumb brutes.

2. (a.) Not willing to speak; mute; silent; not speaking; not accompanied by words; as, dumb show.

3. (a.) Lacking brightness or clearness, as a color.

4. (v. t.) To put to silence.

DUMB

dum (alam, 'illem, literally, "tied in the tongue"; kophos): Used either as expressing the physical condition of speechlessness, generally associated with deafness, or figuratively as meaning the silence produced by the weight of God's judgments (Psalm 39:2-9 Daniel 10:15) or the oppression of external calamity (Psalm 38:13). As an adjective it is used to characterize inefficient teachers destitute of spirituality ("dumb dogs," Isaiah 56:10). The speechlessness of Saul's companions (Acts 9:7) was due to fright; that of the man without the wedding garment was because he had no excuse to give (Matthew 22:12). Idols are called mute, because helpless and voiceless (Habakkuk 2:18, 19 1 Corinthians 12:2). The dumbness of the sheep before the shearer is a token of submission (Isaiah 53:7 Acts 8:32).

Temporary dumbness was inflicted as a sign upon Ezekiel (3:26; 24:27:00; 33:22) and as a punishment for unbelief upon Zacharias (Luke 1:22). There are several cases recorded of our Lord's healing the dumb (Matthew 15:30 Mark 7:37 Luke 11:14, etc.). Dumbness is often associated with imbecility and was therefore regarded as due to demoniac possession (Matthew 9:32; Matthew 12:22). The evangelists therefore describe the healing of these as effected by the casting out of demons.

This is especially noted in the case of the epileptic boy (Mark 9:17). The deaf man with the impediment in his speech (Mark 7:32) is said to have been cured by loosening the string of his tongue. This does not necessarily mean that he was tongue-tied, which is a condition causing lisping, not stammering; he was probably one of those deaf persons who produce babbling, incoherent and meaningless sounds. I saw in the asylum in Jerusalem a child born blind and deaf, who though dumb, produced inarticulate noises.

In an old 14th-century psalter "dumb" is used as a verb in Psalm 39: "I doumbed and meked and was ful stille."

Alexander Macalister

2974. kophos -- blunt, dull
... blunt, dull. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: kophos Phonetic Spelling:
(ko-fos') Short Definition: dumb, deaf Definition: (lit: blunted) dumb, dull ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2974.htm - 6k

1769. enneos -- speechless.
... Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: enneos Phonetic Spelling: (en-neh-os')
Short Definition: dumb, speechless Definition: dumb, speechless (as with ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1769.htm - 6k

880. aphonos -- without voice, ie speechless
... Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: aphonos Phonetic Spelling: (af'-o-nos)
Short Definition: soundless, voiceless, speechless, dumb Definition: soundless ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/880.htm - 6k

216. alalos -- mute, speechless
... dumb, mute, speechless. From a (as a negative particle) and laleo; mute -- dumb.
see GREEK a. see GREEK laleo. (alalon) -- 2 Occurrences. (alalous) -- 1 Occurrence ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/216.htm - 6k

4623. siopao -- to be silent
... thus differing from sige, which is rather a voluntary refusal or indisposition to
speak, although the terms are often used synonymously); to be dumb (but not ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4623.htm - 7k

3424. mogilalos -- speaking with difficulty
... having an impediment in his speech. From mogis and laleo; hardly talking, ie Dumb
(tongue-tied) -- having an impediment in his speech. see GREEK mogis. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3424.htm - 6k

1826. damam -- to be or grow dumb, silent or still
... 1825, 1826. damam. 1826a . to be or grow dumb, silent or still. Transliteration:
damam Phonetic Spelling: (daw-man') Short Definition: cease. ...
/hebrew/1826.htm - 6k

1826a. damam -- to be or grow dumb, silent or still
... 1826, 1826a. damam. 1826b . to be or grow dumb, silent or still.
Transliteration: damam Short Definition: silent. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/1826a.htm - 6k

2790b. charash -- to be silent, dumb, speechless, or deaf
... 2790a, 2790b. charash. 2791 . to be silent, dumb, speechless, or deaf.
Transliteration: charash Short Definition: silent. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/2790b.htm - 6k

1748. dumam -- a silence, in silence, silently
... dumb, silent, quietly wait. From damam; still; adverbially, silently -- dumb, silent,
quietly wait. see HEBREW damam. 1747, 1748. dumam. 1749 . ...
/hebrew/1748.htm - 6k

483. illem -- mute (unable to speak)
... man (1), speechless (1). dumb man. From 'alam; speechless -- dumb (man). see
HEBREW 'alam. 482, 483. illem. 484 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/483.htm - 6k

481. alam -- to bind
... bind, be dumb, put to silence. A primitive root; to tie fast; hence (of the mouth)
to be tongue-tied -- bind, be dumb, put to silence. 480, 481. alam. 482 ...
/hebrew/481.htm - 6k

1724. daham -- to astonish, astound
... astonished. A primitive root (compare duwach); to be dumb, ie (figuratively)
dumbfounded -- astonished. see HEBREW duwach. 1723, 1724. daham. 1725 . ...
/hebrew/1724.htm - 6k

1745. dumah -- a silence
... silence. From an unused root meaning to be dumb (compare damah); silence; figuratively,
death -- silence. see HEBREW damah. 1744, 1745. dumah. 1746 . ...
/hebrew/1745.htm - 6k

1820. damah -- to cease, cause to cease, cut off, destroy
... cease, be cut down off, destroy, be brought to silence, be undone, utterly. A primitive
root; to be dumb or silent; hence, to fail or perish; trans. ...
/hebrew/1820.htm - 6k

929. behemah -- a beast, animal, cattle
... From an unused root (probably meaning to be mute); properly, a dumb beast; especially
any large quadruped or animal (often collective) -- beast, cattle. ...
/hebrew/929.htm - 6k

Whether Hope is in Dumb Animals?
... OF THE IRASCIBLE PASSIONS, AND FIRST, OF HOPE AND DESPAIR (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether
hope is in dumb animals? ... Therefore there is no hope in dumb animals. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether hope is in dumb.htm

The Deaf and Dumb Spirit.
... Book XIII. 5. The Deaf and Dumb Spirit. Now the father of the
epileptic"perhaps the angel to whom he had been allotted, if we ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of matthew/5 the deaf and dumb.htm

The Deaf and Dumb.
... SERMON V. THE DEAF AND DUMB. ST Mark 7:32-37. And they bring unto Jesus
one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/westminster sermons/sermon v the deaf and.htm

The Deaf and Dumb Man
... Strong Meat for Hungry Souls: The Gospel of St. Mark CHAPTER 7:31-37 THE
DEAF AND DUMB MAN. "And again He went out from the borders ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 7 31-37 the deaf and.htm

Healing of the Deaf and Dumb Demoniac. --The Charge of a League ...
... Section 161. Healing of the Deaf and Dumb Demoniac."The Charge of a League
with Beelzebub: a Visible Sign demanded."The Charge refuted. ...
/.../section 161 healing of the.htm

How Bishop John Cured a Dumb Man by his Blessing. [687 AD ]
... BOOK V CHAP. II. How Bishop John cured a dumb man by his blessing. [687
AD]. IN the beginning of Aldfrid's reign, Bishop Eata died ...
/.../bede/bedes ecclesiastical history of england/chap ii how bishop john.htm

Lix. Healing Blind Men and a Dumb Demoniac.
... Part Fifth. From Second Passover Until Third.(Time: One Year.) LIX. Healing Blind
Men and a Dumb Demoniac. (Probably Capernaum.) ^A Matthew 9:27-34. ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/lix healing blind men and.htm

Of the Consistency of the Accounts Given by Matthew and Luke ...
... The Prologue. Chapter XXXVII."Of the Consistency of the Accounts Given by Matthew
and Luke Regarding the Dumb and Blind Man Who Was Possessed with a Devil. ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter xxxvii of the consistency of.htm

The Ministry of Love, the Blasphemy of Hatred, and the Mistakes of ...
... MINISTRY OF LOVE, THE BLASPHEMY OF HATRED, AND THE MISTAKES OF EARTHLY AFFECTION -
THE RETURN TO CAPERNAUM - HEALING OF THE DEMONISED DUMB - PHARISAIC CHARGE ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xxii the ministry of.htm

Of the Two Blind Men and the Dumb Demoniac Whose Stories are ...
... The Prologue. Chapter XXIX."Of the Two Blind Men and the Dumb Demoniac
Whose Stories are Related Only by Matthew. 69. Matthew ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter xxix of the two blind.htm

Dumb (34 Occurrences)
... Exodus 4:11); not knowing what to say (Proverbs 31:8); unwillingness to speak (Psalm
39:9; Leviticus 10:3). Christ repeatedly restored the dumb (Matthew 9 ...DUMB. ...
/d/dumb.htm - 20k

Devil (58 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Matthew 9:32 As they went out, behold,
they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil. (KJV). ...
/d/devil.htm - 25k

Crowds (62 Occurrences)
... power to a man. (WEY DBY NAS RSV). Matthew 9:33 When the demon was expelled,
the dumb man could speak. And the crowds exclaimed in ...
/c/crowds.htm - 24k

Spake (704 Occurrences)
... (KJV ASV). Matthew 9:33 And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the
multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel. (KJV ASV DBY YLT) ...
/s/spake.htm - 33k

Insomuch (24 Occurrences)
... Matthew 12:22 Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb:
and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw. ...
/i/insomuch.htm - 13k

Demon-possessed (16 Occurrences)
... demoniacs. (See NIV). Matthew 9:32 And as they are coming forth, lo, they brought
to him a man dumb, a demoniac, (See NAS NIV). Matthew ...
/d/demon-possessed.htm - 10k

Marvelled (27 Occurrences)
... (KJV). Matthew 9:33 And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes
marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel. (KJV ASV). ...
/m/marvelled.htm - 13k

Cured (62 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Matthew 12:22 At that time a demoniac was brought to Him, blind and dumb;
and He cured him, so that the dumb man could speak and see. (WEY). ...
/c/cured.htm - 23k

Astonished (92 Occurrences)
... as-ton'-isht, as-ton'-id (shamem, "astonished," the root idea being "silent," ie
struck dumb with amazement; ekplessomai, "to be struck with astonishment," as ...
/a/astonished.htm - 34k

Speak (855 Occurrences)
... Matthew 9:33 When the demon was expelled, the dumb man could speak. And the crowds
exclaimed in astonishment, "Never was such a thing seen in Israel." (WEY). ...
/s/speak.htm - 36k

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