DEAF (חֵרֵ֔שׁ; κωφός, G3273). The Bible speaks of deafness both in a literal and in a figurative sense. People insensitive because of sin are said to be deaf to the voice of God. Isaiah, in anticipation of the spiritual awakening to be introduced by the coming of the Messiah, prophesied: “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped” (Isa 35:5). He regarded deafness as a voluntary state which could be changed by choice, for he commands: “Hear, you deaf; and look, you blind, that you may see” (Isa 42:18).

Physical deafness was healed by Christ to seal His claims of messiahship, and also to illustrate that He healed spiritual deafness as well (Mark 7:32-37). See Diseases of the Bible.