By applying the linear water wave theory and the eigenfunction expansion method, the wave reflection by a vertical wall with a horizontal submerged porous plate is investigated in this paper. The numerical results, concerning the effects of the dimensionless plate length, the relative water depth, and the porous effect parameter of the plate on the wave loads on the plate and the wave height near the wall as well as the reflection coefficient, are discussed. It is found that the submerged plate increases the complexity of the phenomenon related to the wave reflection and refraction in the close region of the wall, and leads to the occurrence of the phenomenon of wave trapping. The results indicate that there may exist a process of focusing wave energy near the wall for small dimensionless porous effect parameters, whereas the increase of the dimensionless porous effect parameter decreases gradually the wave height until setdown occurs. The behavior of a larger plate with proper porosity is similar to that of a wave absorber which can significantly suppress not only the wave height above the plate but also the reflection waves. The ability of the porous plate to reduce the wave height on the wall surface is, in general, directly proportional to the dimensionless plate length and may be strongest for a proper value of the dimensionless porous effect parameter. It is also demonstrated that the wave loads on a porous plate are smaller than those on an impermeable plate.