Psalm 38:13-14
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It's easy to read this verse as simply describing David's silence in the face of his enemies. But the deeper insight is that this silence isn't just passive; it's an active posture of submission. He's not just unable to speak, he's choosing not to, like a deaf man who doesn't engage with the noise and a mute man who doesn't offer a defense, in humble acceptance of God's discipline for his sin.
But I am like a deaf man; I do not hear, like a mute man who does not open his mouth. I have become like a man who does not hear, and in whose mouth are no rebukes.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalmist is recounting his profound suffering, not just from physical ailments but also from the betrayal and malice of those around him, including his closest friends. Despite the accusations and insults hurled at him, he chooses to remain silent, drawing a parallel to being deaf and mute, demonstrating patient submission to God's will and the punishment he felt he deserved.
When accusations fly and insults sting, your first instinct might be to defend yourself. But what if God's path involves silence?
David uses the images of a deaf and mute man to describe his response to his enemies. He wasn't literally deaf or mute, but he chose not to engage with the slander and accusations leveled against him.
Why Silence?
When friends withdraw and enemies attack, where do you turn? This verse reveals a powerful truth about where our ultimate security lies.
David's description of himself as deaf and mute isn't just about his outward actions, but also about his internal focus. He was so overwhelmed by his sin and his suffering that he felt unable to hear or speak effectively to his human accusers.
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Understand the original words
cheresh · Hebrew Adjective
One who cannot hear or respond; metaphorically used in wisdom literature to denote one who chooses to remain silent or unresponsive to verbal attacks, trusting in God’s judgment rather than human defense.
illem · Hebrew Adjective
A state of silence or inability to speak. In the context of suffering, it often represents a deliberate choice to withhold speech, turning away from self-vindication to rely on divine justice.
This passage directly describes the suffering servant, often interpreted as Christ, who, when mistreated, remained silent and didn't defend himself, mirroring the Psalmist's posture in Psalm 38:13.
1 Peter 2:23Peter quotes Isaiah 53:7, explicitly linking the silence of the suffering servant to Jesus' own example when he was reviled, reinforcing the theme of quiet endurance in the face of unjust accusations.
Matthew 27:12This Gospel account shows Jesus remaining silent when accused by the chief priests and elders, demonstrating the ultimate fulfillment of the Psalmist's description of being like a mute man who does not open his mouth.
Psalm 39:9The Psalmist here explicitly states, 'I was mute; I opened not my mouth, for it was your doing,' directly connecting his silence to God's sovereign hand in his suffering and acknowledging his inability to speak against divine correction.
clarkePsalms 38:13: "But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth."
But I, as a deaf man - I was conscious of my guilt, I could not vindicate myself; and I was obliged in silence to bear their insults.
jfbPsalms 38:13: "But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth."
13, 14. He patiently submits, uttering no reproaches or replies (Joh 19:9) to their insulting speeches;
It's easy to read this verse as simply describing David's silence in the face of his enemies. But the deeper insight is that this silence isn't just passive; it's an active posture of submission. He's not just unable to speak, he's choosing not to, like a deaf man who doesn't engage with the noise and a mute man who doesn't offer a defense, in humble acceptance of God's discipline for his sin.
The psalmist is recounting his profound suffering, not just from physical ailments but also from the betrayal and malice of those around him, including his closest friends. Despite the accusations and insults hurled at him, he chooses to remain silent, drawing a parallel to being deaf and mute, demonstrating patient submission to God's will and the punishment he felt he deserved.
The psalmist is recounting his profound suffering, not just from physical ailments but also from the betrayal and malice of those around him, including his closest friends. Despite the accusations and insults hurled at him, he chooses to remain silent, drawing a parallel to being deaf and mute, demonstrating patient submission to God's will and the punishment he felt he deserved.
"But I am like a deaf man; I do not hear, like a mute man who does not open his mouth. I have become like a man who does not hear, and in whose mouth are no rebukes." — It's easy to read this verse as simply describing David's silence in the face of his enemies. But the deeper insight is that this silence isn't just passive; it's an active posture of submission. H…
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Last reviewed October 2026
