Lectionary Calendar
Saturday, June 1st, 2024
the Week of Proper 3 / Ordinary 8
Attention!
We are taking food to Ukrainians still living near the front lines. You can help by getting your church involved.
Click to donate today!

Bible Dictionaries
Deafness

Holman Bible Dictionary

Search for…
or
1 2 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Prev Entry
Dead Sea Scrolls
Next Entry
Death
Resource Toolbox
Additional Links
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.

Bibliography Information
Butler, Trent C. Editor. Entry for 'Deafness'. Holman Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/​dictionaries/​eng/​hbd/​d/deafness.html. 1991.
 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile