Bible/Isaiah/42

Isaiah 42:19

42:18 Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.
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?

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Who is blind, but my servant? Or who is as deaf as my messenger whom I send? Who is as blind as he who is at peace, and as blind as Yahweh’s servant?

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?

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?

42:20 Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not.

What does Isaiah 42:19 mean?

Isaiah 42:19 is a verse in the book of Isaiah, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include עִוֵּר (ʻivvêr), עֶבֶד (ʻebed), חֵרֵשׁ (chêrêsh). It connects to 5 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

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Who
is
blind,עִוֵּרʻivvêr/iv-vare'/H5787blind (literally or figuratively)
but
my
servant?עֶבֶדʻebed/eh'-bed/H5650a servant
or
deaf,חֵרֵשׁchêrêsh/khay-rashe'/H2795deaf (whether literally or spiritual)
as
my
messengerמֲלְאָךְmălʼâk/mal-awk'/H4397a messenger; specifically, of God, i.e. an angel (also a prophet, priest or teacher)
that
I
sent?שָׁלַחshâlach/shaw-lakh'/H7971to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)
who
is
blindעִוֵּרʻivvêr/iv-vare'/H5787blind (literally or figuratively)
as
he
that
is
perfect,שָׁלַםshâlam/shaw-lam'/H7999to be safe (in mind, body or estate); figuratively, to be (causatively, make) completed; by implication, to be friendly; by extension, to reciprocate (in various applications)
and
blindעִוֵּרʻivvêr/iv-vare'/H5787blind (literally or figuratively)
as
the
LORD'SיְהֹוָהYᵉhôvâh/yeh-ho-vaw'/H3068Jehovah, Jewish national name of God
servant?עֶבֶדʻebed/eh'-bed/H5650a servant

Commentary on Isaiah 42:19

HENRY_FULL · Isaiah 42:19
See here, 1. What an evil thing bribery is: He is a wicked man that will take a gift to engage him to give a false testimony, verdict, or judgment; when he does it he is ashamed of it, for he takes it, with all the secresy imaginable, out of the bosom where he knows it is laid ready for him; it is industriously concealed, and so slyly that, if he could, he would hide it from his own conscience. A gift is taken out of the bosom of a wicked man (so some read it); for he is a bad man that gives bribes, as well as he that takes them. 2. What a powerful thing it is. It is of such force that it perverts the ways of judgment. The course of justice is not only obstructed, but turned into injustice; and the greatest wrongs are done under colour of doing right. 24 Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

2 Samuel 13:1

And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.

Ecclesiastes 2:18

Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me. taken: Heb. laboured

Ecclesiastes 2:19

And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.

Isaiah 10:1

Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed; that write: or, to the writers that write grievousness

Isaiah 19:13

The princes of Zoan are become fools, the princes of Noph are deceived; they have also seduced Egypt, even they that are the stay of the tribes thereof. they that: or, governors: Heb. corners

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Isaiah 42:19.

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?

Genesis 24:40

And he said unto me, The LORD, before whom I walk, will send his angel with thee, and prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of my father's house:

Genesis 24:59

And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men.

Genesis 24:7

The LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father's house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.

Genesis 3:22

And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

Genesis 3:23

Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.

Genesis 32:18

Then thou shalt say, They be thy servant Jacob's; it is a present sent unto my lord Esau: and, behold, also he is behind us.

Genesis 32:3

And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom. country: Heb. field

Frequently asked questions

What does Isaiah 42:19 say?

Isaiah 42:19 (King James Version) reads: "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?"

Is Isaiah 42:19 in the Old or New Testament?

Isaiah 42:19 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Isaiah.

Reflect

As you read Isaiah 42:19, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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