ἄλαλος

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word álalos, represented by G216, is a term for mute or dumb. It appears 3 times across 3 unique verses in the Bible. Derived from the negative particle Α and the verb laléō (to talk), it literally signifies an inability to speak.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, G216 is used exclusively in the Gospel of Mark to describe an inability to speak, often linked to spiritual affliction. A father brings his son to Jesus, describing him as having a dumb spirit Mark 9:17. Jesus addresses this spirit directly, commanding the "dumb and deaf spirit" to come out of the boy Mark 9:25. The word is also used to summarize the crowd's astonishment at Jesus's power, marveling that He "maketh...the dumb to speak" Mark 7:37.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide a fuller context for the condition and its remedy:

• G2974 kōphós (deaf, dumb, speechless): This word is frequently paired with álalos, describing conditions that affect hearing and speech. Jesus makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak Mark 7:37.
• G2980 laléō (to talk, i.e. utter words): As the root of álalos, this verb represents the ability to speak that is restored by Jesus. The crowd's amazement is that Jesus makes the dumb to speak Mark 7:37.
• G4151 pneûma (a spirit): In two of its three appearances, álalos is explicitly linked to a spirit as the cause of the affliction, as in the case of the boy with a "dumb spirit" Mark 9:17.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G216 is demonstrated through Jesus's ministry:

• Authority Over Affliction: The use of G216 consistently points to Jesus's divine authority. He doesn't just treat a symptom; He directly charges G2004 and rebukes G2008 the "foul spirit" G169 causing the silence, demonstrating his power over forces that bind humanity Mark 9:25.
• Miraculous Restoration: The healing of the dumb is presented as a profound miracle that leaves the people "beyond measure" G5249 "astonished" G1605. It serves as a clear sign of divine power at work, leading them to declare that Jesus "hath done all things well" Mark 7:37.
• Spiritual Bondage: The connection between being dumb and the presence of a "dumb spirit" G4151 illustrates a theological link between physical suffering and spiritual bondage. The inability to speak is portrayed not as a simple physical defect but as an external affliction imposed by a spirit Mark 9:17.

Summary

In summary, G216 is more than a clinical description of being mute. Within its scriptural context, it signifies a condition of powerlessness and spiritual affliction that highlights the restorative and authoritative ministry of Jesus. Its few appearances are potent, illustrating Christ's ability to unbind what is bound and bring speech where there is silence, astonishing all who witness it.