Topical Encyclopedia
In the Bible, the condition of being deaf is mentioned both literally and metaphorically, often symbolizing spiritual insensitivity or a lack of understanding. The Scriptures address the physical condition of deafness, the miraculous healings performed by Jesus, and the spiritual implications of being "deaf" to God's word.
Old Testament ReferencesIn the Old Testament, deafness is sometimes used to describe those who are unresponsive to God's commands. For example, in
Isaiah 42:18-20 , the prophet calls out, "Hear, you deaf; look, you blind, that you may see. Who is blind but My servant, or deaf like the messenger I am sending? Who is blind like the one committed to Me, blind like the servant of the LORD?" Here, deafness symbolizes Israel's spiritual stubbornness and failure to heed God's message.
Leviticus 19:14 provides a direct command regarding the treatment of the deaf: "You must not curse the deaf or place a stumbling block before the blind, but you are to fear your God. I am the LORD." This verse underscores the importance of compassion and respect for those with physical disabilities, reflecting God's justice and care for all individuals.
New Testament ReferencesIn the New Testament, Jesus' ministry includes several instances of healing the deaf, demonstrating His divine authority and compassion. One notable account is found in
Mark 7:31-37 , where Jesus heals a man who is deaf and has a speech impediment. Jesus takes the man aside, puts His fingers into the man's ears, spits, and touches the man's tongue. He then looks up to heaven, sighs, and says, "Ephphatha," meaning "Be opened." Immediately, the man's ears are opened, and his speech impediment is removed. This miracle not only restores the man's physical abilities but also serves as a sign of the coming of the Messianic age, where the deaf will hear and the mute will speak.
In a spiritual context, Jesus often uses the concept of hearing to illustrate understanding and acceptance of His teachings. In
Matthew 11:15 , He says, "He who has ears, let him hear," urging His listeners to be receptive to His message. This call to hear is not just about physical hearing but about spiritual openness and responsiveness to the truth.
Spiritual ImplicationsThe Bible frequently uses deafness as a metaphor for spiritual insensitivity. In
Romans 11:8 , Paul writes, "As it is written: 'God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see and ears that could not hear, to this very day.'" This passage reflects the idea that spiritual deafness is a condition that can afflict those who are resistant to God's truth.
The call to hear God's word is a recurring theme throughout Scripture, emphasizing the importance of being attentive and obedient to His voice. In
Revelation 2:7 , the message to the churches includes the exhortation, "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." This highlights the necessity of spiritual awareness and the willingness to respond to divine guidance.
ConclusionThe biblical treatment of deafness encompasses both physical healing and spiritual awakening. Through the miracles of Jesus and the teachings of the prophets and apostles, the Bible presents a comprehensive view of deafness that includes compassion for the physically deaf and a call to spiritual attentiveness for all believers.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
a.) Wanting the sense of hearing, either wholly or in part; unable to perceive sounds; hard of hearing; as, a deaf man.
2. (a.) Unwilling to hear or listen; determinedly inattentive; regardless; not to be persuaded as to facts, argument, or exhortation; -- with to; as, deaf to reason.
3. (a.) Deprived of the power of hearing; deafened.
4. (a.) Obscurely heard; stifled; deadened.
5. (a.) Decayed; tasteless; dead; as, a deaf nut; deaf corn.
6. (v. t.) To deafen.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
DEAFdef (cheresh; kophos): Used either in the physical sense, or figuratively as expressing unwillingness to hear the Divine message (Psalm 58:4), or incapacity to understand it for want of spirituality (Psalm 38:13). The prophetic utterances were sufficiently forcible to compel even such to hear (Isaiah 42:18;Isaiah 43:8) and thereby to receive the Divine mercy (Isaiah 29:18;Isaiah 35:5).
The expression "deaf adder that stoppeth her car" (Psalm 58:4) alludes to a curious notion that the adder, to avoid hearing the voice of the charmer, laid its head with one car on the ground and stopped the other with the tip of its tail (Diary of John Manninghan, 1602). The adder is called deaf by Shakespeare (2 Hen VI, iii, 2, 76; Troilus and Cressida, ii, 2, 172). The erroneous idea probably arose from the absence of external ears. Physical deafness was regarded as a judgment from God (Exodus 4:11Micah 7:16), and it was consequently impious to curse the deaf (Leviticus 19:14).
In New Testament times deafness and kindred defects were attributed to evil spirits (Mark 9:18). SeeDUMB.
Alex. Macalister
Greek
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
...4623. siopao -- to be silent
... from sige, which is rather a voluntary refusal or indisposition to speak, although
the terms are often used synonymously); to be dumb (but notdeaf also, like...
Strong's Hebrew
2795. cheresh --deaf... 2794, 2795. cheresh. 2796 .
deaf. Transliteration: cheresh Phonetic
Spelling: (khay-rashe') Short Definition:
deaf. Word Origin
...2790b. charash -- to be silent, dumb, speechless, ordeaf
... 2790a, 2790b. charash. 2791 . to be silent, dumb, speechless, ordeaf.
Transliteration: charash Short Definition: silent. Word Origin a prim....
2790. charash -- to cut in, engrave, plow, devise
... altogether, cease, conceal, bedeaf, devise, ear, graven, imagine, A primitive
root; to scratch, ie (by implication) to engrave, plough...
Library
TheDeaf and Dumb Spirit.
... Book XIII. 5. TheDeaf and Dumb Spirit. Now the father of the
epileptic"perhaps the angel to whom he had been allotted, if we...
For aDeaf Man.
... ORIGINAL HYMNS HYMN CCXLIII. For aDeaf Man. 8.6.8.6 James Montgomery. For aDeaf
Man. To me, though neither voice nor sound,. From earth or air may come,....
TheDeaf and Dumb.
... SERMON V. THEDEAF AND DUMB.... And they bring unto Jesus one that wasdeaf, and had
an impediment in his speech; and they beseech Him to put His hand upon him....
TheDeaf 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...
Deaf Ears and Stammering Tongues.
... SERMON XLVII.DEAF EARS AND STAMMERING TONGUES.... S. Mark 7:37. "He hath done all things
well. He maketh both thedeaf to hear, and the dumb to speak."....
Healing of theDeaf and Dumb Demoniac. --The Charge of a League...
... Section 161. Healing of theDeaf and Dumb Demoniac."The Charge of a League
with Beelzebub: a Visible Sign demanded."The Charge refuted....
TheDeaf Stammerer Healed and Four Thousand Fed.
... (Time: One Year Less One Week.) LXIX. TheDeaf Stammerer Healed and Four
Thousand Fed. ^A Matthew 15:30-39; ^B Mark 7:32VIII.9....
Be not Foolish, O My Soul, nor BecomeDeaf in the Ear of Thine...
... Book IV Chapter XI Be not foolish, O my soul, nor becomedeaf in the ear
of thine heart? Be not foolish, O my soul, nor become...
Influence of the Moon and Stars on Men.
... give heed to the very letter of the passage, and first let us inquire, how he who
has been cast into darkness and repressed by an impure anddeaf and dumb...
All the Miracles of Richard:
... Isabella:deaf for seven years: cured by praying at the saint's tomb.... John:
deaf for ten years; cured by praying at the saint's tomb....
Thesaurus
Deaf (22 Occurrences)... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Wanting the sense of hearing, either wholly or
in part; unable to perceive sounds; hard of hearing; as, a
deaf man.
...Dumb (34 Occurrences)
... Thedeaf man with the impediment in his speech (Mark 7:32) is said to have
been cured by loosening the string of his tongue. This...
Mute (29 Occurrences)
... cause. 9. (n.) One who, from deafness, either congenital or from early life,
is unable to use articulate language; adeaf-mute. 10....
Blind (91 Occurrences)
... Matthew 11:5 the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed,
thedeaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached...
Lepers (8 Occurrences)
... Matthew 11:5 the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed,
thedeaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached...
Preached (75 Occurrences)
... Matthew 11:5 the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed,
thedeaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached...
Proclaimed (114 Occurrences)
... Matthew 11:5 "blind eyes receive sight, and cripples walk; lepers are cleansed,
anddeaf ears hear; the dead are raised to life, and the poor have the Good...
Cleansed (76 Occurrences)
... Matthew 11:5 the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed,
thedeaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached...
Raised (267 Occurrences)
... Matthew 11:5 the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed,
thedeaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached...
Tidings (169 Occurrences)
... Matthew 11:5 the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed,
and thedeaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good...
Resources
What is the Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the spirit of the law? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about stuttering? | GotQuestions.orgDeaf: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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