Isaiah 29:18 kjv
And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness.
Isaiah 29:18 nkjv
In that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book, And the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness.
Isaiah 29:18 niv
In that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll, and out of gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see.
Isaiah 29:18 esv
In that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see.
Isaiah 29:18 nlt
In that day the deaf will hear words read from a book,
and the blind will see through the gloom and darkness.
Isaiah 29 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 35:5 | "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped." | Parallel prophecy of restoration |
| Matthew 11:5 | "The blind receive their sight and the lame walk..." | Fulfillment in Jesus' ministry |
| John 9:39 | "Jesus said, 'For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see...'" | Jesus' purpose to bring spiritual sight |
| Luke 24:45 | "Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures." | Opening spiritual understanding |
| Romans 11:25 | "so that you may not claim to be wiser for yourselves, an obstinacy has come, in part, upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in." | Spiritual blindness of some Israel |
| 1 Corinthians 2:14 | "The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned." | Inability of the natural mind to understand spiritual truth |
| 2 Corinthians 4:4 | "in their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." | Satan's blinding influence |
| Ephesians 4:18 | "They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart." | Spiritual darkness due to ignorance and hardness |
| Revelation 21:4 | "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes..." | Final removal of all suffering and disability |
| Isaiah 6:10 | "Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and close their eyes..." | Isaiah's commission to a spiritually dull people |
| Isaiah 29:14 | "...their wisdom shall perish..." | Consequence of rejecting God's wisdom |
| Isaiah 29:12 | "And the vision of all this has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed." | Spiritual illiteracy and inability to comprehend |
| Psalm 119:18 | "Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law." | Prayer for spiritual understanding |
| Acts 26:18 | "...to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God..." | Mission to bring spiritual sight and repentance |
| Romans 1:20 | "For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse." | God's revelation in creation |
| 1 Timothy 4:10 | "...that we might set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe." | God's salvation for all believers |
| Mark 7:34 | "...Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened." | Jesus healing a deaf and mute man |
| John 5:24 | "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life." | Hearing and believing leads to spiritual life |
| Isaiah 42:18 | "Hear, you deaf, and look, you blind, that you may see." | Another call to the spiritually deaf and blind |
| Jeremiah 5:21 | "Hear now this, O foolish people! And without understanding, They have eyes but see not, they have ears but hear not." | Rebuke for spiritual insensitivity |
| Revelation 5:1-7 | The sealed scroll and the Lamb opening it | Symbolic representation of divine revelation |
Isaiah 29 verses
Isaiah 29 18 Meaning
In that day, the deaf shall hear the words of the scroll, and the eyes of the blind shall see clearly out of obscurity and out of darkness.
Isaiah 29 18 Context
Isaiah 29 speaks of judgment upon Jerusalem, referred to as "Ariel" (lion of God), for its proud and rebellious spirit. The chapter describes a siege and a coming devastation. However, amidst the pronouncements of judgment, there are also prophecies of future restoration and blessing. Verse 18 shifts the focus to a future spiritual awakening. This verse stands as a counterpoint to the spiritual blindness and deafness that characterized Judah's sin, promising a reversal where God's people will be enabled to perceive spiritual truth and God's revelation. The "scroll" symbolizes divine communication, and its opening signifies understanding. This theme of spiritual discernment is critical within Isaiah's prophecy, which also speaks of the coming Servant and the restoration of Zion.
Isaiah 29 18 Word Analysis
- וְהָיָה (wəhāyâ): "And it shall be" or "And it came to pass." A common temporal conjunction indicating a future event.
- בַּיּוֹם־הַהוּא (bayyōm hāhû): "in that day." A prophetic idiom referring to a future time of significant divine intervention and action, often linked to messianic or eschatological events.
- וְיִשְׁמְעוּ (wəyišmə‘û): "and shall hear." The Hiphil imperfect of שָׁמַע (šāma‘), meaning to hear, listen, or obey. Here it implies a receptive and understanding hearing.
- הַחֵרְשִׁים (haḥērəšîm): "the deaf." The definite article "ha" with the plural masculine noun חֵרֵשׁ (ḥērēš) meaning deaf. Refers to those who are unable to hear, both physically and, more significantly, spiritually.
- אֶת־דִּבְרֵי־ (’et-dîḇrê-): "the words of." Indicates direct objects. דָּבָר (dāḇār) means word, thing, or matter. The plural form here emphasizes pronouncements or sayings.
- סֵפֶר (sēp̄er): "the scroll" or "book." From the root סָפַר (sāp̄ar), meaning to count or write. Refers to a written document, in this context likely containing divine revelation or prophecy. It can imply a sealed document requiring a key to unlock its meaning.
- וְעֵינֵי (wə‘ênê): "and the eyes of." The conjunction "wə" (and) with the plural construct form of עַיִן (‘ayin) meaning eye. Eyes represent perception and understanding.
- הַעִוְרִים (ha‘îwərîm): "the blind." The definite article "ha" with the plural masculine noun עִוֵּר (‘îwēr) meaning blind. Like "deaf," this refers to both physical and spiritual blindness.
- וְיִרְאוּ (wəyir’û): "and shall see." The Hiphil imperfect of רָאָה (rā’â), meaning to see, look, or perceive. Implies clear vision and comprehension.
- בְּעַד (bə‘aḏ): "out of," "through," or "beyond." Suggests emergence or looking through something.
- הָֽרַעַשׁ (hā Rā‘aś): "the confusion," "the disturbance," or "the noise." From the root רוּעַ (rûa‘), meaning to make a loud noise or clamor. In context, it implies perplexity or distress, a state from which understanding emerges. However, some interpret it in the sense of great sounds that mask or precede revelation, or perhaps as a reflection of the chaos the nation experienced before the restoration.
- וּמִבַּד (ūmîḇaḏ): This word appears to be a textual variant or an uncommon reading. The Masoretic Text commonly reads וּמִבַּיּוּךְ (ūmiḇbayyûḵ) which translates to "and out of the dimness" or "out of the darkness."
- הָאֲפֵלָה (hā’āp̄elâ): "the darkness." The definite article "ha" with the feminine noun אֲפֵלָה (’āp̄elâ), meaning darkness, obscurity, or gloom. This highlights the previous state of ignorance and lack of spiritual insight.
Word Group Analysis:
- "deaf... hear" and "blind... see": This antithetical pairing emphasizes a complete reversal from spiritual incapacity to spiritual perception. It highlights that the true deficiency is not physical but a lack of understanding of God's word and will.
- "the scroll": Represents the divine message, revelation, or prophetic word, which was previously unintelligible or inaccessible to the rebellious nation.
- "out of obscurity and out of darkness": Describes the previous state of the people – confused, ignorant, and spiritually darkened – from which God will bring them into clear spiritual light and understanding.
Isaiah 29 18 Bonus Section
The concept of spiritual deafness and blindness is a recurring theme in Scripture, often employed by prophets to describe the people's hardened hearts and inability to respond to God's call. Isaiah himself was commissioned in Isaiah 6 to preach to a people whose "ears will be deafened, and their eyes blinded, lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn and be healed." Verse 18 in chapter 29 represents a fulfillment of the opposite of this state of blindness, indicating a future healing and turning. This act of opening minds to understand scriptures, as described in Luke 24:45, is directly linked to the ministry of Jesus, who Himself proclaimed He came so "those who do not see may see" (John 9:39). The "scroll" could be symbolic of the divine plan and revelation, which the world cannot fully comprehend until the appointed time, as seen in the sealed scroll in Revelation 5. The opening of the scroll signifies the unfolding of God's redemptive purposes.
Isaiah 29 18 Commentary
This verse promises a profound spiritual revival and enlightenment. It signifies a future time when God will enable the spiritually deaf to comprehend His revealed word, the scroll of His pronouncements and promises. Simultaneously, those who were spiritually blind, unable to perceive divine truth or the significance of God's actions, will be granted clear sight. This is a promise of awakening, moving from confusion and darkness into the light of understanding God's will and salvation. It anticipates the era when the Messiah, the embodiment of God's wisdom, would reveal spiritual truths in a way that penetrates the deepest ignorance, making God’s message accessible to all who have faith. The emphasis is on God's direct, restorative action in granting spiritual perception.