Matthew 9:32

As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.

As {G1161} they {G846} went out {G1831}, behold {G2400}, they brought {G4374} to him {G846} a dumb {G2974} man {G444} possessed with a devil {G1139}.

As they were going, a man controlled by a demon and unable to speak was brought to Yeshua.

As they were leaving, a demon-possessed man who was mute was brought to Jesus.

And as they went forth, behold, there was brought to him a dumb man possessed with a demon.

Commentary

Matthew 9:32 presents a concise yet powerful scene from Jesus' ministry in Galilee, immediately following His healing of two blind men. This verse sets the stage for another profound demonstration of Christ's authority over both physical ailments and spiritual forces.

Context

This verse opens with "As they went out," which directly connects it to the preceding narrative in Matthew's Gospel. Jesus had just restored sight to two blind men who cried out to Him, an account found in Matthew 9:27-31. The immediate succession of these miracles highlights the intense and diverse nature of Jesus' healing ministry. People were actively bringing the afflicted to Him, recognizing His unique power and compassion.

Key Themes

  • Jesus' Authority Over Demonic Forces: This verse underscores Jesus' absolute dominion not only over physical diseases but also over the spiritual realm. The man's muteness was directly attributed to demonic possession, signaling that the root cause was spiritual.
  • Compassion and Accessibility: The fact that the man was "brought to him" emphasizes the willingness of those around the afflicted to seek Jesus' help, and Jesus' readiness to receive and heal all who came to Him.
  • The Manifestation of Evil: The "dumb man possessed with a devil" illustrates how demonic influence could manifest in severe physical and communicative impairments, revealing the destructive nature of evil spirits on human life.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV uses "dumb man," which comes from the Greek word kōphos (κωφός). While it can sometimes mean 'deaf,' in this context, given the subsequent healing where the man speaks (Matthew 9:33), it clearly refers to his inability to speak, i.e., being mute. The phrase "possessed with a devil" translates the Greek daimonizomenos (δαιμονιζόμενος), which denotes being demon-possessed. It refers to an evil spirit or demon, not necessarily Satan himself, but one of his agents. This distinction is important for understanding the nature of the spiritual oppression at play.

Related Scriptures

This event is one of many instances where Jesus confronts and casts out demons, showcasing His unparalleled power. Similar accounts of Jesus' authority over evil spirits can be seen in Matthew 8:28-34 (the Gerasene demoniacs) and Mark 1:23-27, where even the demons acknowledge His divine power. This continuous demonstration of Christ's power to overcome the works of the devil is a central theme in the Gospels.

Practical Application

Matthew 9:32 reminds us that Jesus' ministry addresses the full spectrum of human brokenness—physical, emotional, and spiritual. It encourages us to bring our own "dumbness" or any form of spiritual oppression and physical affliction to Him, trusting in His compassion and power to heal and deliver. It also highlights the reality of spiritual warfare and the ultimate triumph of Christ over all forces of darkness.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Matthew 4:24

    And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.

  • Luke 11:14

    ¶ And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered.

  • Matthew 12:22

    ¶ Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.

  • Matthew 12:24

    But when the Pharisees heard [it], they said, This [fellow] doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.

  • Mark 9:17

    And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;

  • Mark 9:27

    But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.
← Back