Bible Dictionary
Dumb
Dumb describes an inability or unwillingness to speak, whether caused by physical infirmity, fear, judgment, or silence. Jesus repeatedly healed people who were unable to speak, sometimes in connection with the casting out of demons.
Definition
Dumb describes inability or unwillingness to speak. It may arise from physical infirmity, deafness, fear, judgment, oppression, lack of understanding, or refusal to answer. The word is also applied figuratively to idols and ineffective teachers.
Biblical Usage
Jesus repeatedly healed the dumb, sometimes by casting out demons. Temporary dumbness was given as a sign to Ezekiel and as punishment for unbelief to Zacharias. Scripture also portrays Christ as silent before His shearers and calls hearers to listen if they have ears.
Historical Background
The supplied material distinguishes physical speechlessness from figurative silence caused by judgment or calamity. Dumbness was sometimes associated with demonic possession, especially in accounts of persons who could not speak.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
From natural infirmity (Ex. 4:11); not knowing what to say (Prov. 31:8); unwillingness to speak (Ps. 39:9; Lev. 10:3). Christ repeatedly restored the dumb (Matt. 9:32, 33; Luke 11:14; Matt. 12:22) to the use of speech.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>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 (Ps 39:2-9; Da 10:15) or the oppression of external calamity (Ps 38:13). As an adjective it is used to characterize inefficient teachers destitute of spirituality ("dumb dogs," Isa 56:10). The speechlessness of Saul's companions (Ac 9:7) was due to fright; that of the man without the wedding garment was because he had no excuse to give (Mt 22:12). Idols are called mute, because helpless and voiceless (Hab 2:18,19; 1Co 12:2). The dumbness of the sheep before the shearer is a token of submission (Isa 53:7; Ac 8:32).</p><p>Temporary dumbness was inflicted as a sign upon Ezekiel (3:26; 24:27; 33:22) and as a punishment for unbelief upon Zacharias (Lu 1:22). There are several cases recorded of our Lord's healing the dumb (Mt 15:30; Mr 7:37; Lu 11:14, etc.). Dumbness is often associated with imbecility and was therefore regarded as due to demoniac possession (Mt 9:32; 12:22). The evangelists therefore describe the healing of these as effected by the casting out of demons.</p><p>This is especially noted in the case of the epileptic boy (Mr 9:17). The deaf man with the impediment in his speech (Mr 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.</p><p>In an old 14th-century psalter "dumb" is used as a verb in Ps 39: "I doumbed and meked and was ful stille."</p><p>Alexander Macalister</p>