Isaiah 59 10

Isaiah 59:10 kjv

We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noon day as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men.

Isaiah 59:10 nkjv

We grope for the wall like the blind, And we grope as if we had no eyes; We stumble at noonday as at twilight; We are as dead men in desolate places.

Isaiah 59:10 niv

Like the blind we grope along the wall, feeling our way like people without eyes. At midday we stumble as if it were twilight; among the strong, we are like the dead.

Isaiah 59:10 esv

We grope for the wall like the blind; we grope like those who have no eyes; we stumble at noon as in the twilight, among those in full vigor we are like dead men.

Isaiah 59:10 nlt

We grope like the blind along a wall,
feeling our way like people without eyes.
Even at brightest noontime,
we stumble as though it were dark.
Among the living,
we are like the dead.

Isaiah 59 verses

Isaiah 59 10 Meaning

The people grope for the wall like the blind. They grope as if they had no eyes. This signifies a complete spiritual and moral blindness. They are unable to perceive truth or navigate righteousness. Their actions, like a blind man feeling his way, are aimless and often lead to stumbling. This lack of spiritual discernment results in their inability to find the true path.

Isaiah 59 10 Context

Isaiah chapter 59 depicts a profound national apostasy and its consequences. The people have sinned grievously against God, engaging in injustice and oppression. Verse 10 reflects the state of the nation as a result of this sin. It is a spiritual paralysis, where their moral compass is broken. This chapter serves as a judgment pronouncement, but also holds a promise of future redemption and a restored relationship with God through a coming deliverer. The imagery in this verse connects to other prophetic pronouncements of blindness and disorientation for a people estranged from divine guidance.

Isaiah 59 10 Word Analysis

• "We" (We-nah-nah-nu): This pronoun is first-person plural, indicating a collective responsibility or description of the speaker's community, identified in the preceding verses as the people of Judah.
• "grope" (na-shesh): Root verb meaning to feel or touch. It implies tentative, uncertain movement. In this context, it emphasizes a desperate but futile attempt to find their way, highlighting their inability to see or understand.
• "for" (el): A preposition indicating direction or destination, here showing what they are trying to find or navigate towards.
• "the wall" (ha-yareh-ach): The definite article "ha" precedes "yareh-ach" (wall). A wall is a physical barrier. Groper for a wall suggests trying to find one's path by touching something solid yet unyielding and unresponsive, unable to guide. It represents a futile attempt to establish direction when one has no sight.
• "as" (ka-asher): A conjunction meaning "like" or "as if." This introduces a simile.
• "the blind" (iy-vehr-im): Plural form of "iy-vehr" (blind). Refers to those who cannot see. This comparison underscores their profound spiritual blindness.
• "and" (ve): Connective conjunction.
• "grope" (na-shesh): The repetition of this word emphasizes the continuous and helpless nature of their condition.
• "as" (ka-asher): Again, introducing a simile, reinforcing the idea of being without the ability to perceive.
• "if" (im): Conditional conjunction.
• "we" (we-nah-nah-nu): Repeats the collective pronoun, again stressing the shared experience of this blindness.
• "have" (yesh): Indicating possession or existence.
• "no" (ein): Negation.
• "eyes" (ei-nei-nei-nu): Plural for "ein" (eye), belonging to "us" (first-person plural suffix). The absence of eyes symbolizes the absence of spiritual perception, understanding, and the ability to see God's truth or path.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "We grope for the wall": This phrase vividly paints a picture of utter disorientation and reliance on ineffective physical contact for guidance. The "wall" represents an insurmountable obstacle or a dead end that cannot provide direction.
• "as the blind": The explicit comparison to the blind emphasizes that this is not a physical limitation but a spiritual one. Their blindness is a consequence of their actions and choices.
• "We grope as if we have no eyes": This part is almost a tautology, reinforcing the depth of their sensory deprivation. It's as if their spiritual faculties (represented by eyes) have been entirely removed or rendered useless, leaving them dependent on a futile sense of touch to navigate.

Isaiah 59 10 Bonus Section

The imagery of blindness in Isaiah often carries implications for judgment but also anticipation of restorative action by God. Prophets like Isaiah frequently use physical senses to represent spiritual perception. The failure to "see" or "hear" God's truth is a common theme indicating apostasy. This verse aligns with God's sovereign declaration in Isaiah 6:9-10, where He causes blindness upon a people who refuse to understand and repent, even though they hear and see. This blindness is a spiritual condition that separates them from God's saving presence and His plan.

Isaiah 59 10 Commentary

This verse captures a nation spiritually incapacitated. Their moral vision is gone, rendering them incapable of discerning truth or righteousness. They are like blind men, stumbling and crashing into walls, unable to find the right path. This blindness is not a lack of physical sight, but a self-imposed spiritual incapacity due to sin and rebellion against God, as detailed in the preceding verses. It's a state of helplessness born from estrangement from God's light and guidance. The people are disoriented, moving in darkness without direction, a direct consequence of their departure from God's statutes.