Isaiah 42 23

Isaiah 42:23 kjv

Who among you will give ear to this? who will hearken and hear for the time to come?

Isaiah 42:23 nkjv

Who among you will give ear to this? Who will listen and hear for the time to come?

Isaiah 42:23 niv

Which of you will listen to this or pay close attention in time to come?

Isaiah 42:23 esv

Who among you will give ear to this, will attend and listen for the time to come?

Isaiah 42:23 nlt

Who will hear these lessons from the past
and see the ruin that awaits you in the future?

Isaiah 42 verses

Isaiah 42 23 Meaning

This verse is a profound rhetorical question, issuing a poignant call for understanding and responsiveness from the nation of Israel. It queries whether anyone among them will genuinely pay attention to the Lord's message and reflect upon its implications for the future. It’s an invitation to heed the divine word, specifically concerning Israel's spiritual blindness and deafness (mentioned in previous verses), and to internalize these truths, leading to corrective action and changed perspective for the days ahead. It emphasizes the urgent need for a deep, attentive listening that goes beyond mere physical hearing.

Isaiah 42 23 Context

Isaiah chapter 42 opens with the first "Servant Song," introducing a compassionate, just, and effective servant of the Lord. However, the subsequent verses pivot, contrasting this ideal servant with another servant – Israel – who is depicted as spiritually deaf and blind (42:18-20). The nation of Israel, despite being chosen by God, has consistently failed to live up to its covenant responsibilities. They have received God's law and experienced His deliverances, yet they remain unresponsive to His voice and purpose. Verses 21-25 elaborate on Israel's spiritual condition, describing them as plundered and captured, experiencing the consequences of their sin, yet failing to grasp the reason for their suffering. Within this lament, verse 23 issues a stark, rhetorical challenge, inviting Israel to finally understand its situation and heed the Lord's word for a renewed future, learning from the judgment and preparing for the coming redemptive acts of God. Historically, Judah was facing, or had experienced, the Babylonian exile – a time when such profound reflection was desperately needed.

Isaiah 42 23 Word analysis

• Who among you (מִי בָכֶם, mi vakhem): This is a direct, rhetorical question. It highlights a critical deficiency, questioning whether there is anyone within the covenant community who possesses the necessary spiritual attentiveness. It underscores the widespread spiritual apathy among God's people.
• will give ear (יַאֲזִין, ya'azin): From the root אָזַן (azan), meaning "to give ear," "to listen closely," or "to hearken." This implies a deliberate act of listening, not just hearing incidental sound, but an intentional turning of one's mind and attention to understand and accept what is being said. It signifies receptive listening.
• this (זֹאת, zot): Refers to the preceding message and revelation from the Lord, specifically regarding Israel's spiritual state of blindness and deafness (vv. 18-20), and their present circumstances of suffering (vv. 22, 24-25). It demands reflection on God's judgment and His covenant with them.
• will listen (יַקְשִׁיב, yakshiv): From the root קָשַׁב (qashav), meaning "to pay attention," "to stretch out one's ear," or "to listen carefully." It suggests an even more intense and focused concentration than ya'azin, an active leaning into the message, indicating discernment and deep comprehension.
• and pay attention (וְיִשְׁמַע, v'yishma'): From the very common root שָׁמַע (shama'), meaning "to hear," but crucially also "to understand," and often, "to obey." In context, particularly as the third in a series of similar verbs, it elevates listening from mere perception to full assimilation and intended action/obedience. This verb emphasizes the volitional aspect of hearing God’s word, implying adherence.
• for the time to come (לְאָחוֹר, l'achor): This key phrase has significant temporal and prospective implications.
  • Literally, "backwards," "afterward," or "hereafter." It's commonly interpreted as:
    1. Looking backward for future application: Heed the past experiences and lessons (Israel's spiritual failure, God's judgment) to learn for what lies ahead.
    2. Looking to the future: Pay attention to future divine actions, prophecies, and God's ultimate plan, preparing oneself for them.
    3. From now on: A call to listen attentively and obediently henceforth, ensuring a changed response moving forward.
  • It calls for a forward-looking spiritual and moral awakening, drawing lessons from Israel's history to better respond to God’s ongoing and future redemptive work. It contrasts their past stubbornness with a plea for future receptivity.

• "Who among you will give ear to this? Who will listen and pay attention?": This collection of three distinct yet related verbs ("give ear," "listen," "pay attention") is a powerful rhetorical device. It indicates a crescendo of attentiveness desired by God: from initial receptive hearing, to focused discernment, and finally to active obedience and understanding. The double rhetorical question reinforces the urgency and God's deep yearning for a genuinely engaged response, highlighting the current absence of such engagement.
• "give ear to this...for the time to come": This phrase binds the immediate message ("this" referring to God's revelation of Israel's state and His actions) to its enduring relevance. The call to listen isn't just about what is, but profoundly about what will be or ought to be. It's a plea for understanding God's truth to navigate future circumstances, embrace future redemption, or avoid future judgment. It implies wisdom gained now will benefit later.

Isaiah 42 23 Bonus section

The rhetorical nature of "Who among you?" is a profound aspect. It's not asked because God doesn't know the answer, but to force His audience to confront their own spiritual inertia. This type of divine questioning is a form of prophetic confrontation designed to awaken a dormant conscience. It echoes through various biblical passages where God appeals to His people's understanding before judgment, always holding out hope for a remnant or future restoration that will eventually hear and respond. For the Christian, "for the time to come" implies living in light of Christ's return, understanding that our present attentive hearing of His word prepares us for His future reign and the eternal kingdom. Learning from Israel's mistakes becomes our instruction (1 Cor 10:11), guiding our own commitment to a vibrant, obedient faith.

Isaiah 42 23 Commentary

Isaiah 42:23 presents a poignant and piercing divine plea to a spiritually unresponsive Israel. God expresses His dismay through rhetorical questions, revealing the nation's profound deafness and blindness despite being the chosen recipients of His word and witnesses of His acts. The triple-faceted call to "give ear," "listen," and "pay attention" intensifies the urgency, signifying God's desire for a holistic, engaged reception of His message—one that culminates in understanding, belief, and obedient action. The crucial phrase "for the time to come" shifts the focus beyond immediate circumstance. It's not just a call to acknowledge past failures or current judgments, but to internalize these truths, learn from them, and orient oneself for future divine encounters and plans. It is an invitation to national introspection and repentance, laying the groundwork for Israel's role in God's ongoing redemptive history. This verse serves as a perpetual reminder that God desires not just ritualistic observance but a living, responsive relationship, especially in the face of warnings and prophetic insight concerning His future purposes.