Isaiah 42:18

42:17 They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye are our gods.

Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.

KJV

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“Hear, you deaf, and look, you blind, that you may see.

Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.

Hear, you deaf; and look, you blind, that you may see.

42:19 Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the LORD'S servant?

What does Isaiah 42:18 mean?

Isaiah 42:18 is a verse in the book of Isaiah, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ), חֵרֵשׁ (chêrêsh), נָבַט (nâbaṭ). It connects to 7 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

Hear,שָׁמַעshâmaʻ/shaw-mah'/H8085to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)

deaf;חֵרֵשׁchêrêsh/khay-rashe'/H2795deaf (whether literally or spiritual)

and

look,נָבַטnâbaṭ/naw-bat'/H5027to scan, i.e. look intently at; by implication, to regard with pleasure, favor or care

blind,עִוֵּרʻivvêr/iv-vare'/H5787blind (literally or figuratively)

that

may

see.רָאָהrâʼâh/raw-aw'/H7200to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)

Commentary on Isaiah 42:18

HENRY_FULL · Isaiah 42:18

63" Note, 1. It is healthful to be cheerful. The Lord is for the body, and has provided for it, not only meat, but medicine, and has here told us that the best medicine is a merry heart, not a heart addicted to vain, carnal, sensual mirth; Solomon himself said of that mirth, It is not medicine, but madness; it is not food, but poison; what doth it? But he means a heart rejoicing in God, and serving him with gladness, and then taking the comfort of outward enjoyments and particularly that of pleasant conversation. It is a great mercy that God gives us leave to be cheerful and cause to be cheerful, especially if by his grace he gives us hearts to be cheerful. This does good to a medicine (so some read it); it will make physic more efficient. Or it does good as a medicine to the body, making it easy and fit for business. But, if mirth be a medicine (understand it of diversion and recreation), it must be used sparingly, only when there is occasion, not turned into food, and it must be used medicinally, sub regimine—as a prescribed regimen, and by rule. 2. The sorrows of the mind often contribute very much to the sickliness of the body: A broken spirit, sunk by the burden of afflictions, and especially a conscience wounded with the sense of guilt and fear of wrath, dries the bones, wastes the radical moisture, exhausts the very marrow, and makes the body a mere skeleton. We should therefore watch and pray against all melancholy dispositions, for they lead us into trouble as well as into temptation. 23 A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Ecclesiastes 2:14

The wise man's eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all.

Ecclesiastes 6:9

Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit. than: Heb. than the walking of the soul

Ecclesiastes 8:1

Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed. the boldness: Heb. the strength

Isaiah 14:6

He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hindereth. a continual: Heb. a stroke without removing

Isaiah 23:5

As at the report concerning Egypt, so shall they be sorely pained at the report of Tyre.

John 7:17

If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

1 John 2:16

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Isaiah 42:18.

Esther 3:4

Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew.

Exodus 4:11

And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?

Isaiah 29:18

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 35:5

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

Isaiah 42:19

Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the LORD'S servant?

Isaiah 43:8

Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears.

Leviticus 19:14

Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumblingblock before the blind, but shalt fear thy God: I am the LORD.

Numbers 14:22

Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice;

Frequently asked questions

What does Isaiah 42:18 say?

Isaiah 42:18 (King James Version) reads: "Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see."

Is Isaiah 42:18 in the Old or New Testament?

Isaiah 42:18 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Isaiah.

Reflect

As you read Isaiah 42:18, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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