Bible/Isaiah/42

Isaiah 42:20

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?
Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not.

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You see many things, but don’t observe. His ears are open, but he doesn’t listen.

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

Seeing many things, but you observe not; opening the ears, but he hears not.

42:21 The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable. it: or, him

What does Isaiah 42:20 mean?

Isaiah 42:20 is a verse in the book of Isaiah, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include רָאָה (râʼâh), רַב (rab), שָׁמַר (shâmar). It connects to 12 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

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Seeingרָאָהrâʼâh/raw-aw'/H7200to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
many
things,רַבrab/rab/H7227abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)
but
thou
observestשָׁמַרshâmar/shaw-mar'/H8104properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.
not;
openingפָּקַחpâqach/paw-kakh'/H6491to open (the senses, especially the eyes); figuratively, to be observant
the
ears,אֹזֶןʼôzen/o'-zen/H241broadness. i.e. (concrete) the ear (from its form in man)
but
he
hearethשָׁמַעshâmaʻ/shaw-mah'/H8085to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
not.

Commentary on Isaiah 42:20

HENRY_FULL · Isaiah 42:20
"gen14066" Note, 1. He is to be reckoned an intelligent man that not only has wisdom, but has it ready when he has occasion for it. He lays his wisdom before him, as his card and compass which he steers by, has his eye always upon it, as he that writes has on his copy; and then he has it before him; it is not to seek, but still at hand. 2. He that has a giddy head, a roving rambling fancy, will never be fit for any solid business. He is a fool, and good for nothing, whose eyes are in the ends of the earth, here, and there and every where, any where but where they should be, who cannot fix his thoughts to one subject nor pursue any one purpose with any thing of steadiness. When his mind should be applied to his study and business it is filled with a thousand things foreign and impertinent. 25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Genesis 18:25

That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

2 Samuel 3:23

When Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace.

2 Samuel 3:39

And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness. weak: Heb. tender

2 Samuel 16:7

And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial: bloody: Heb. man of blood

2 Samuel 16:8

The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man. behold: Heb. behold thee in thy evil

2 Samuel 19:7

Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants: for I swear by the LORD, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night: and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now. comfortably: Heb. to the heart of thy servants

Job 34:18

Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?

Job 34:19

How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.

Isaiah 18:5

For afore the harvest, when the bud is perfect, and the sour grape is ripening in the flower, he shall both cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks, and take away and cut down the branches.

Isaiah 42:15

I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry up the pools.

Micah 5:1

Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek.

John 18:22

And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so? with: or, with a rod

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Isaiah 42:20.

Genesis 23:13

And he spake unto Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, But if thou wilt give it, I pray thee, hear me: I will give thee money for the field; take it of me, and I will bury my dead there.

Genesis 23:16

And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron; and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver, which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant.

Genesis 26:5

Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.

Genesis 6:5

And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. every: or, the whole imagination: the Hebrew word signifieth not only the imagination, but also the purposes and desires continually: Heb. every day

Frequently asked questions

What does Isaiah 42:20 say?

Isaiah 42:20 (King James Version) reads: "Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not."

Is Isaiah 42:20 in the Old or New Testament?

Isaiah 42:20 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Isaiah.

Reflect

As you read Isaiah 42:20, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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42:19Read all of Isaiah 4242:21