In biblical contexts, the term "mute" refers to individuals who are unable to speak. This condition is often mentioned in conjunction with other physical ailments and is sometimes attributed to spiritual or demonic influences. The Bible provides several accounts of mute individuals, highlighting both their struggles and the miraculous healings they experienced through divine intervention.

Old Testament References

The Old Testament does not frequently mention mute individuals specifically, but it does address the broader category of those with physical disabilities. In Exodus 4:11, God reminds Moses of His sovereignty over human 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 that God has control over all physical conditions, including muteness.

New Testament Accounts

The New Testament provides more detailed accounts of mute individuals, often in the context of Jesus' healing ministry. In Matthew 9:32-33, a demon-possessed man who was mute is brought to Jesus. After Jesus casts out the demon, the man speaks, astonishing the crowds: "As they were leaving, a demon-possessed man who was mute was brought to Jesus. And when the demon had been driven out, the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed and said, 'Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel!'" .

Another significant 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, touches his ears and tongue, and commands, "Ephphatha," meaning "Be opened." The man's hearing and speech are immediately restored, prompting widespread amazement and praise for Jesus' miraculous power.

Spiritual Implications

In the Gospels, muteness is sometimes associated with demonic oppression. This is evident in the aforementioned account in Matthew 9, as well as in Matthew 12:22, where a demon-possessed man who is blind and mute is healed by Jesus. The connection between demonic influence and physical ailments reflects the biblical worldview that spiritual and physical realms are interconnected.

Symbolism and Prophecy

Muteness also carries symbolic significance in the Bible. In Isaiah 35:5-6, the prophet Isaiah foretells a time of restoration and healing, saying, "Then the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then the lame will leap like a deer, and the mute tongue will shout for joy" . This prophecy is often interpreted as a messianic promise, fulfilled in the ministry of Jesus Christ, who brought physical and spiritual healing.

Theological Considerations

From a theological perspective, the healing of mute individuals by Jesus serves as a testament to His divine authority and compassion. It demonstrates His power over both physical and spiritual afflictions, affirming His identity as the Messiah. These miracles also illustrate the inclusivity of Jesus' ministry, as He reaches out to those marginalized by society due to their disabilities.

Practical Applications

For believers, the accounts of Jesus healing the mute encourage faith in His power to heal and restore. They also serve as a reminder of the importance of compassion and advocacy for those with disabilities. The church is called to emulate Christ's example by providing support and inclusion for individuals with various physical and communicative challenges.1. (v. t.) To cast off; to molt.

2. (v. t. & i.) To eject the contents of the bowels; -- said of birds.

3. (n.) The dung of birds.

4. (a.) Not speaking; uttering no sound; silent.

5. (a.) Incapable of speaking; dumb.

6. (a.) Not uttered; unpronounced; silent; also, produced by complete closure of the mouth organs which interrupt the passage of breath; -- said of certain letters. See 5th Mute, 2.

7. (a.) Not giving a ringing sound when struck; -- said of a metal.

8. (n.) One who does not speak, whether from physical inability, unwillingness, or other cause.

9. (n.) One who, from deafness, either congenital or from early life, is unable to use articulate language; a deaf-mute.

10. (n.) A person employed by undertakers at a funeral.

11. (n.) A person whose part in a play does not require him to speak.

12. (n.) Among the Turks, an officer or attendant who is selected for his place because he can not speak.

13. (n.) A letter which represents no sound; a silent letter; also, a close articulation; an element of speech formed by a position of the mouth organs which stops the passage of the breath; as, p, b, d, k, t.

14. (n.) A little utensil made of brass, ivory, or other material, so formed that it can be fixed in an erect position on the bridge of a violin, or similar instrument, in order to deaden or soften the tone.

216. alalos -- mute, speechless
... mute, speechless. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: alalos Phonetic Spelling:
(al'-al-os) Short Definition: unable to speak Definition: unable to speak ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/216.htm - 6k

1753a. eneos -- mute, speechless
... eneos. 1753b . mute, speechless. Transliteration: eneos Short Definition: speechless. ...
word Definition mute, speechless NASB Word Usage speechless (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1753a.htm - 5k

1753. energeia -- mute, speechless
... mute, speechless. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: energeia Phonetic
Spelling: (en-erg'-i-ah) Short Definition: working, activity Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1753.htm - 6k

880. aphonos -- without voice, ie speechless
... prefix) and phone Definition without voice, ie speechless NASB Word Usage mute
(2), silent (1), without meaning (1). speechless, mute, silent. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/880.htm - 6k

2974. kophos -- blunt, dull
... Word Origin of uncertain origin Definition blunt, dull NASB Word Usage deaf
(4), mute (6), mute man (3), one who (1), one who was deaf (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2974.htm - 6k

483. illem -- mute (unable to speak)
... 482, 483. illem. 484 . mute (unable to speak). Transliteration: illem
Phonetic Spelling: (il-lame') Short Definition: mute. Word ...
/hebrew/483.htm - 6k

481. alam -- to bind
... 480, 481. alam. 482 . to bind. Transliteration: alam Phonetic Spelling:
(aw-lam') Short Definition: mute. Word Origin of uncertain ...
/hebrew/481.htm - 6k

1748. dumam -- a silence, in silence, silently
... Word Origin from the same as dumah Definition a silence, in silence, silently NASB
Word Usage mute (1), silently (2). dumb, silent, quietly wait. ...
/hebrew/1748.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

482. elem -- silence.
... Word Origin from the same as alam Definition silence. congregation From 'alam; silence
(ie Mute justice) -- congregation. Compare yownath 'elem rchoqiym. ...
/hebrew/482.htm - 6k

The Faithful Servant
... As soon as it became confirmed, in the minds of the watchers in the Roman camp,
that the Temple had been fired, the old mute among them seemed to become wholly ...
/.../miller/the city of delight/chapter xxi the faithful servant.htm

Somebody's Knocking at the Door.
... It is a mute yearning of his heart for God, though often he doesn't think of it
that way. But it is there; for these two, man and God, belong together. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks with world winners/somebodys knocking at the door.htm

Marcus' Mystic Interpretation of the Alphabet.
... For suppose that there are some letters that are mute"nine of them"of Pater and
Aletheia, from the fact that these are mute"that is, ineffable and ...
/.../the refutation of all heresies/chapter xli marcus mystic interpretation of.htm

Devotional Incitements
... Up from their native ground they rise. In mute a?�rial harmonies; ... Where
flower-breathed incense to the skies. Is wafted in mute harmonies; ...
/.../palgrave/the treasury of sacred song/cclix devotional incitements.htm

On the Road to Jerusalem
... Keturah, Laodice's handmaiden, had fainted with terror and was carried parcel-wise
over the great arm of Momus, the mute, out into the street and deposited ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the city of delight/chapter ii on the road.htm

Psalm XCVIII.
... If ye cannot express your joy, shout ye; let the shout manifest your joy, if your
speech cannot: yet let not joy be mute; let not your heart be silent ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm xcviii.htm

The Evolution of Language
... Language may be carried. The first of these witnesses is the homo alalus,
the not-speaking man, of to-day, the deaf-mute. As an actual ...
/.../the lowell lectures on the ascent of man/chapter v the evolution of.htm

The Shepherd of Pella
... the howdah. The woman rode up and instantly the mute stepped between her
and his young mistress and went on with his work. Laodice ...
/.../miller/the city of delight/chapter iii the shepherd of.htm

Survival of the Fittest
... And to have the mute appeal of the great religious masterpieces silenced in the
thronged galleries of Europe, where they have stood like beacons to the passing ...
/.../berkhof/new evangelism and other papers/survival of the fittest.htm

Further Distinctions, and Crowning Glory, of the Pallium.
... "With speech,' says (my antagonist), you have tried to persuade me,"a most sage
medicament.' But, albeit utterance be mute"impeded by infancy or else ...
/.../tertullian/on the pallium/chapter vi further distinctions and crowning.htm

Mute (29 Occurrences)
... See 5th Mute, 2. ... 9. (n.) One who, from deafness, either congenital or from early
life, is unable to use articulate language; a deaf-mute. 10. ...
/m/mute.htm - 16k

Marveled (31 Occurrences)
... (WEB WBS). Matthew 9:33 When the demon was cast out, the mute man spoke. ...
Luke 11:14 He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. ...
/m/marveled.htm - 14k

Possessed (100 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS NIV). Matthew 9:32 As they went out, behold, a mute man who
was demon possessed was brought to him. (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS NAS NIV). ...
/p/possessed.htm - 37k

Deaf (22 Occurrences)
... He makes even the deaf hear, and the mute speak!" (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS
RSV NIV). ... Or who makes one mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? ...
/d/deaf.htm - 15k

Speechless (8 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Destitute or deprived of the faculty of speech. 2. (a.) Not speaking
for a time; dumb; mute; silent. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/s/speechless.htm - 8k

Spoke (799 Occurrences)
... (DBY). Matthew 9:33 When the demon was cast out, the mute man spoke. ... (WEB DBY WBS
RSV NIV). Luke 11:14 He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. ...
/s/spoke.htm - 33k

Multitudes (72 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV ASV YLT). Matthew 9:33 When the demon was cast out, the mute man spoke. ...
Luke 11:14 He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. ...
/m/multitudes.htm - 26k

Amazed (75 Occurrences)
... NIV). Matthew 9:33 When the demon was cast out, the mute man spoke. The ... Luke
11:14 He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. It happened ...
/a/amazed.htm - 27k

Speak (855 Occurrences)
... Matthew 15:31 so that the multitude wondered when they saw the mute speaking, injured
whole, lame walking, and blind seeing-and they glorified the God of Israel ...
/s/speak.htm - 36k

Fugitive (12 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 24:27 In that day your mouth will be opened to him who has escaped, and
you shall speak, and be no more mute: so you will be a sign to them; and they ...
/f/fugitive.htm - 11k

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Mute: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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