The text does not say that the man was completely mute. Rather, it states that he spoke with difficulty. When translated literally, mogilalon means one who hardly speaks or speaks with difficulty.1 One might think of how someone sounds who is deaf and cannot hear himself speak. Physically, he is able to utter sounds and form his mouth, but his speech is impaired.2 That the man had a hearing and speech impediment is clear, since Jesus’ treatment of the condition, the cure, and the crowd’s reaction focus on both of these elements.
The Greek word “mogilalon” occurs only here and in the Septuagint’s translation of Isaiah 35:1–10. In the Septuagint, the Greek word translates a Hebrew word which means mute.3
32 And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him.