Bible Dictionaries
Deafness

Holman Bible Dictionary

The inability to hear. According to the Old Testament God makes persons deaf or hearing (Exodus 4:11 ). The deaf were protected by the Mosaic law (Leviticus 19:14 ). The inability to hear is used as an image for waiting on God rather than resisting attackers (Psalm 38:13-14 ). Deafness is also symbolic of inattentiveness to and rebellion against God (Isaiah 42:18-20; Isaiah 43:8 ). Part of the future hope of the prophets is that the deaf will hear (Isaiah 42:18-20; Isaiah 43:8 ). The enemies of Israel would experience deafness in response to God's restoration of Israel (Micah 7:16 ).

The New Testament interprets Jesus' healing of the deaf as evidence of Jesus's Messiahship (Matthew 11:5; Luke 7:22 ). Strangely, only Mark narrated the healing of a deaf person (Mark 7:33-35; compare Mark 9:14-29 ). Mark 9:25 attributes deafness to an evil spirit. The parallel narratives ( Matthew 17:14-19; Luke 9:37-42 ) emphasize epilectic-like fits rather than deafness.