Isaiah 42:18 kjv
Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.
Isaiah 42:18 nkjv
"Hear, you deaf; And look, you blind, that you may see.
Isaiah 42:18 niv
"Hear, you deaf; look, you blind, and see!
Isaiah 42:18 esv
Hear, you deaf, and look, you blind, that you may see!
Isaiah 42:18 nlt
"Listen, you who are deaf!
Look and see, you blind!
Isaiah 42 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 6:9-10 | "Go, and say to this people: 'Keep on hearing, but do not understand...' lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand... and turn and be healed." | God's judgment of spiritual dullness |
| Deut 29:4 | "But to this day the LORD has not given you a heart to understand or eyes to see or ears to hear." | Historical spiritual blindness of Israel |
| Ps 115:5-6 | "They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see; they have ears, but do not hear..." | Contrast with idols and the call for humans to see/hear |
| Jer 5:21 | "Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not, who have ears, but hear not." | Reprimand for Israel's spiritual insensitivity |
| Ez 12:2 | "...You dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, who have eyes to see, but see not, who have ears to hear, but hear not..." | Reiterates Israel's spiritual blindness |
| Isa 35:5 | "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped." | Prophetic hope for future spiritual/physical healing |
| Isa 43:8 | "Bring out the people who are blind, yet have eyes, who are deaf, yet have ears." | Further indictment and call to Israel |
| Isa 48:8 | "You have not heard, you have not known, you have not been told previously... For I knew that you would deal very treacherously..." | God's foreknowledge of Israel's stubbornness |
| Zech 7:11-12 | "But they refused to pay attention... making their ears heavy so that they could not hear... their heart like flint..." | Israel's intentional rejection of God's word |
| Mt 13:13-15 | "This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear... in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isa 6..." | Jesus' explanation of spiritual blindness |
| Mk 8:18 | "Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear?" | Jesus challenges His disciples' dullness |
| Jn 9:39 | "For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind." | Jesus opens spiritual eyes and judges wilful blindness |
| Rom 11:8 | "...God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day." | God's sovereign hand in Israel's hardening |
| 2 Cor 4:3-4 | "And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers..." | Spiritual blindness due to Satan's influence |
| Acts 16:14 | "...The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul." | God's sovereign work in opening hearts and ears |
| Eph 1:18 | "...having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you..." | Prayer for spiritual enlightenment in believers |
| Lk 24:45 | "Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures." | Jesus grants understanding to His disciples |
| Jer 31:33-34 | "...I will put my law within them... And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor... for they shall all know me..." | Promise of the New Covenant's inner knowledge |
| Heb 8:10 | "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel... I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts..." | Echoes Jer 31 on internal knowledge |
| Deut 32:28-29 | "For they are a nation void of counsel, and there is no understanding in them... If only they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!" | Lament over Israel's lack of discernment |
| Prov 2:2-5 | "...incline your ear to wisdom... and raise your voice for understanding... then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God." | Wisdom acquired by intentional hearing and seeking |
Isaiah 42 verses
Isaiah 42 18 Meaning
Isaiah 42:18 is an urgent divine imperative, a piercing call to God's people, Israel, who are described as spiritually deaf and blind. It challenges them to open their senses, not just physically, but primarily spiritually, to truly listen, perceive, and understand God's revelation and actions in their midst and in the world. It’s a direct address demanding a change from willful ignorance and apathy to spiritual attentiveness and discernment, leading to true comprehension of divine truth.
Isaiah 42 18 Context
Isaiah chapter 42 opens with the introduction of the Lord's Servant (vv. 1-4), whose mission includes bringing justice to the nations and being a "light to the Gentiles" (v. 6), and "opening the eyes of the blind" (v. 7). This verse (42:18) acts as a powerful interlude, a lament and an appeal to God's own people, Israel. Ironically, the very people meant to embody the Servant's qualities and reflect God's light are found to be spiritually blind and deaf. Following this verse, God directly names Israel as His "servant" in verse 19, "Who is blind, but My servant, or deaf, as My messenger whom I send?" The immediate context therefore contrasts God's ideal Servant with the tragic reality of His unseeing and unhearing covenant people, who were themselves supposed to be an agent of light and knowledge.
Historically, Isaiah chapters 40-55 address Israel in the context of their exile in Babylon and their impending return. The prophet seeks to comfort them by declaring God's unmatched power, His unique role as the Creator and Redeemer, and the foolishness of idolatry. This call to "hear" and "look" serves as a direct polemic against the lifeless idols which have eyes that cannot see and ears that cannot hear. The people, having true senses, yet refuse to perceive God's sovereignty and His plan for their deliverance, thus behaving worse than the inanimate objects they might be tempted to worship.
Isaiah 42 18 Word analysis
Hear (שִׁמְעוּ, shim'u): An imperative verb, commanding an action of listening and understanding. This is more than just acoustic reception; it implies a receptive heart that comprehends and intends to obey, aligning with the biblical concept of Shema as in Deut 6:4 ("Hear, O Israel"). Its significance here is a call for an internal spiritual attentiveness, not just hearing with the ears.
you deaf (הַחֵרְשִׁים, ha-khershim): This is a definite plural adjective/noun. It designates those who are literally unable to hear, but in this spiritual context, it refers to those who are unwilling or unable to receive God's message due to spiritual insensitivity or resistance. The use of the definite article ("the deaf") singles them out specifically as God's audience.
and look (וְהַבִּיטוּ, və-habbitu): Another imperative verb, demanding an intense, observing gaze, a deliberate act of perception. This goes beyond casual seeing; it is about paying close attention, taking note, and discerning. It asks for active engagement with visual cues of God's activity in the world and His word.
you blind (הָעִוְרִים, ha-ivrim): A definite plural adjective/noun, similar to "you deaf." It describes those physically unable to see. Spiritually, it signifies those who are unable to perceive God's work, His glory, His signs, or the truth of His covenant, often due to hardness of heart or a veil over their understanding.
that you may see (לִרְאוֹת, lir'ot): This is a infinitive construct preceded by the preposition "for" or "in order that." It expresses the purpose or outcome of the preceding commands. The "seeing" here is comprehensive spiritual perception and understanding – a clear comprehension of truth, discernment of God's ways, and recognition of His hand. It implies spiritual awakening and insight, which is the ultimate goal of God's call.
"Hear, you deaf": This phrase highlights the profound paradox and irony of Israel's spiritual condition. They possess the physical faculties but are spiritually unresponsive. The divine call directly targets their most apparent spiritual deficiency.
"and look, you blind": Paralleling the first phrase, this reinforces the pervasive nature of their spiritual insensitivity. They are not merely dull in one area but comprehensive in their inability to perceive God's reality. The tandem imperative intensifies the urgency of the divine summons.
"that you may see": This concluding phrase presents the desired outcome. It underscores God's gracious purpose behind the commands – not merely to condemn, but to facilitate a transformative spiritual encounter where His people finally grasp the truth and the reality of His saving work. The call for spiritual perception aims for spiritual restoration.
Isaiah 42 18 Bonus section
The profound irony within Isaiah 42:18 is further amplified by its immediate proximity to the portrayal of the "Servant of the Lord" (Isaiah 42:1-7). This Servant's mission includes "opening the eyes of the blind" and "bringing prisoners out from the dungeon." Yet, in verse 18, God directly confronts His own people, Israel, as being the blind and deaf who desperately need their eyes and ears opened. In the subsequent verse, 42:19, God names Israel as "My servant" and "My messenger," who is paradoxically "blind" and "deaf." This sets up a profound contrast between Israel, the covenant people who fail in their servant role due to spiritual insensitivity, and the ultimate, perfect Servant (often understood as the Messiah, Jesus Christ), who truly embodies the characteristics described in verses 1-7 and indeed comes to heal the physically and spiritually blind and deaf. The historical experience of Israel's blindness and deafness highlights the necessity and glory of the true Servant's mission.
Isaiah 42 18 Commentary
Isaiah 42:18 serves as a poignant and critical summons within the larger prophecy of the Servant of the Lord. It reveals God's lament over His covenant people, Israel, who, despite having been entrusted with divine revelation, have become spiritually inert. They possess physical ears that hear sounds and eyes that perceive light, yet they are called "deaf" and "blind" because they have deliberately shut their hearts and minds to God's voice and His visible actions in history. This spiritual impairment prevents them from discerning His ongoing plan of redemption and justice. The verse is an urgent, compassionate yet firm command from God, urging His people to transcend their current state of spiritual apathy and rebellion. It is a call for repentance and an invitation to genuine perception, offering the hope that if they truly listen and truly look, they will finally understand and acknowledge His truth. The irony is stark: the God who "opens the eyes of the blind" (v. 7) now directly confronts His blind and deaf people, hoping for their awakening, before His ultimate Servant perfectly fulfills that very role. It highlights God's expectation for His people to actively engage with His revelation.