Isaiah 56:10 kjv
His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.
Isaiah 56:10 nkjv
His watchmen are blind, They are all ignorant; They are all dumb dogs, They cannot bark; Sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.
Isaiah 56:10 niv
Israel's watchmen are blind, they all lack knowledge; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they lie around and dream, they love to sleep.
Isaiah 56:10 esv
His watchmen are blind; they are all without knowledge; they are all silent dogs; they cannot bark, dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber.
Isaiah 56:10 nlt
For the leaders of my people ?
the LORD's watchmen, his shepherds ?
are blind and ignorant.
They are like silent watchdogs
that give no warning when danger comes.
They love to lie around, sleeping and dreaming.
Isaiah 56 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 56:10 | His watchmen are blind; they are all without knowledge; they are all dumb dogs; they cannot bark; | Isaiah 56:10 (this verse) |
| Psalm 50:19 | You give your mouth to evil, and your tongue frames deceit. | Psalm 50:19 (deceitful tongue) |
| Jeremiah 5:21 | "Hear now this, O foolish people! Without understanding, | Jeremiah 5:21 (lack of understanding) |
| Ezekiel 3:18 | "If I say to the wicked, ‘You will surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to turn him from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. | Ezekiel 3:18 (responsibility of watchmen) |
| Ezekiel 33:6 | "But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from them, he shall be taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand." | Ezekiel 33:6 (failure of watchmen) |
| Micah 3:5 | Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who lead my people astray; who preach "peace" when they have something to eat, but declare war on those who do not put something in their mouths: | Micah 3:5 (false prophets) |
| John 10:12 | "But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches them and scatters them. | John 10:12 (contrasts with hirelings) |
| 1 Peter 5:2 | Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion but willingly, not for shameful gain, but eagerly, | 1 Peter 5:2 (true shepherding) |
| Romans 1:21 | For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. | Romans 1:21 (spiritual blindness) |
| 1 Corinthians 14:37 | If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, let him recognize what I am writing to you, for it is a commandment of the Lord. | 1 Corinthians 14:37 (recognizing true prophecy) |
| Revelation 3:17 | For you say, "I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing," not knowing that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. | Revelation 3:17 (spiritual blindness of Laodicea) |
| Amos 8:11 | "Behold, the days are coming," declares the Lord GOD, "when I will send a famine on the land— not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD. | Amos 8:11 (famine of hearing God's word) |
| Isaiah 29:10 | For the LORD has poured out on you the spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes; he has covered your prophets and your seer-heads. | Isaiah 29:10 (God causing blindness) |
| Isaiah 5:11 | Woe to those who rise early in the morning, that they may pursue strong drink, who stay up late at night till they are inflamed with wine! | Isaiah 5:11 (preoccupation with worldly things) |
| Jeremiah 23:32 | Behold, I am against those who prophesy falsehoods, declares the LORD, and when they tell them, they lead my people astray by their lies and by their recklessness, when I did not send them or command them. | Jeremiah 23:32 (false prophecy leading astray) |
| Matthew 23:16 | "Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold that is on the temple, he is bound.' | Matthew 23:16 (Jesus' rebuke of blind guides) |
| Matthew 15:14 | Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit." | Matthew 15:14 (Jesus on blind leaders) |
| 2 Timothy 4:3 | For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions | 2 Timothy 4:3 (teachers suiting desires) |
| 2 Peter 2:1 | But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. | 2 Peter 2:1 (false prophets/teachers) |
| 1 Samuel 15:22 | And Samuel said, "Has the LORD as great a delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obedience to the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. | 1 Samuel 15:22 (obedience vs ritual) |
Isaiah 56 verses
Isaiah 56 10 Meaning
This verse describes the failing watchmen who are blind, ignorant, and unable to bark, symbolizing their dereliction of duty in warning the people of God from spiritual danger and impending judgment. They are described as shepherds who love to sleep, unconcerned about the flock.
Isaiah 56 10 Context
This verse is situated within Isaiah chapter 56, a section that follows pronouncements of judgment against Israel and a call for justice and righteousness. Chapter 56 begins with a blessing on those who keep judgment and do justice, extending inclusion to foreigners and eunuchs. However, the latter part of the chapter shifts to a critique of Israel’s spiritual leaders. Isaiah is addressing a period where religious observance may be present, but the heart of leadership and prophetic guidance is corrupt or absent. The immediate preceding verses (56:9-10) contrast the ravaging beasts of the field (symbols of judgment or oppressive forces) with the watchmen who are supposed to protect the flock. The chapter culminates in the lament over the ungodly nation, with this verse focusing specifically on the spiritual negligence of those in positions of leadership. The broader historical context is that of prophetic ministry in ancient Israel, a time when the people and their leaders often failed to uphold covenant faithfulness.
Isaiah 56 10 Word Analysis
“His”: Refers to the Lord.
“watchmen”: (Hebrew: צֹפִים - tsophim) Plural of tsoph, meaning one who looks out, a sentinel, a watchman. These are individuals appointed to observe and guard, typically from a high place, to watch for approaching danger or news. In the prophetic context, they are the prophets and leaders responsible for the spiritual well-being of God's people.
“are”: Linking verb.
“blind”: (Hebrew: סֻמִּים - summim) Plural of súmm, meaning blind, often due to affliction or God's judgment. This blindness is spiritual, indicating an inability to perceive spiritual truths, dangers, or God’s will.
“they”: Pronoun referring back to the watchmen.
“are all”: Emphasizes totality and comprehensiveness of their failing.
“without knowledge”: (Hebrew: בְּלִי־דַעַת - beli-da‘at) Beli means without, and da‘at means knowledge, often deep or experiential knowledge. They lack discernment and understanding of God's ways and commands. This signifies ignorance not of facts, but of spiritual reality and truth.
“they”: Pronoun referring back to the watchmen.
“are all”: Again, emphasizes the collective nature of their deficiency.
“dumb dogs”: (Hebrew: כְּלָבִים אִלְּמִים - kelevim illim) Kelev means dog, and illim means mute or dumb. Dogs in the ancient Near East were often considered unclean, but guard dogs were essential for protection, barking at intruders. To call them "dumb dogs" is a harsh critique, implying they are useless and lack their essential function. They fail to bark a warning.
“they”: Pronoun referring back to the watchmen.
“cannot bark”: (Hebrew: לֹא י֤וּכְלוּ לָֽהֲנִיק - lo yuchlu lahanîq) Yuchlu means they are able or have strength. Lahanîq is related to barking or coughing. They are incapacitated to perform their vital duty of warning. The inability to bark signifies silence in the face of threat, a failure to proclaim God's truth or warn of impending judgment. This also connects to the idea of silence when action is required.
“baying” / “barking”: The act of a dog’s vocalization, signifying alarm or warning.
Words Group Analysis:
- “blind” and “without knowledge”: These phrases work together to depict a profound spiritual incompetence. It’s not just an absence of information but a pervasive inability to discern or comprehend what is evident to those who are spiritually awake. This lack of understanding directly incapacitates them from performing their duties.
- “dumb dogs” and “cannot bark”: This imagery is powerful. Watchmen are meant to be alert and vocal. Guard dogs, even if of lower status, have a function – to warn of danger. Describing them as "dumb dogs" who "cannot bark" strips them of their protective role. It implies a perversion of their intended purpose, rendering them ineffective and potentially harmful due to their silence. The emphasis on "cannot" suggests an inherent inability, perhaps brought about by a deep-seated spiritual malaise or apathy that God allows or even causes due to their prior sinfulness.
Isaiah 56 10 Bonus Section
This verse vividly illustrates the concept of the shepherd failing his sheep, a theme echoed by Jesus in the New Testament when referring to hirelings who abandon the flock (John 10:12-13). The spiritual blindness described here is a form of divine judgment, as seen in Isaiah 29:10, where God declares He will pour out a spirit of deep sleep upon Israel's leaders. The "dumb dogs" that "cannot bark" serve as a metaphor for leaders who fail to speak out against sin or to announce God’s warnings, resulting in a spiritually starved people, vulnerable to spiritual predators and judgment. This indictment serves as a perpetual warning to all who hold positions of spiritual oversight, emphasizing that silence and inaction in the face of truth and danger are unforgivable failures.
Isaiah 56 10 Commentary
Isaiah 56:10 offers a stark portrait of spiritual dereliction. The watchmen, who ought to be vigilant sentinels for God's people, are depicted as utterly failing in their God-given mandate. Their blindness is not a physical ailment but a profound spiritual incapacity to see or understand God’s truth and the dangers facing the community. This is compounded by their ignorance (beli-da'at), suggesting a lack of relational, experiential knowledge of God. The image of "dumb dogs" is particularly biting. Dogs were functional, often lowly, but essential in ancient society for alerting to threats. These leaders are like guard dogs that have lost their voice; they are rendered useless. Their inability to bark signifies their silence in proclaiming God's Word, their unwillingness to warn against sin, and their failure to identify and combat spiritual predators or dangers. They are asleep while the flock is exposed, demonstrating a profound apathy or corruption that prioritizes self-preservation or comfort over the well-being of those under their care. This verse underscores the gravity of spiritual leadership’s responsibility and the dire consequences of its failure, foreshadowing periods of judgment and exile due to such negligence.