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Proverbs 20:12 Ears that hear and eyes that see--the LORD has made them both.

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(Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/proverbs/20.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Ears that hear and eyes that see&#8212; the LORD has made them both.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/proverbs/20.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Ears to hear and eyes to see&#8212; both are gifts from the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/proverbs/20.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the LORD has made them both.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/proverbs/20.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Ears that hear and eyes that see&#8212;the LORD has made them both.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/proverbs/20.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/proverbs/20.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />The hearing ear and the seeing eye, The LORD has made them both.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/proverbs/20.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />The hearing ear and the seeing eye, The LORD has made both of them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/proverbs/20.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />The hearing ear and the seeing eye, The LORD has made both of them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/proverbs/20.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />The hearing ear and the seeing eye, The LORD has made both of them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/proverbs/20.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />The hearing ear and the seeing eye, Yahweh has made both of them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/proverbs/20.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />The hearing ear and the seeing eye, The [omnipotent] LORD has made both of them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/proverbs/20.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The hearing ear and the seeing eye &#8212; the LORD made them both.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/proverbs/20.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The hearing ear and the seeing eye&#8212; the LORD made them both. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/proverbs/20.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Jehovah hath made even both of them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/proverbs/20.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Hearing and seeing are gifts from the LORD. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/proverbs/20.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/proverbs/20.htm">GOD'S WORD&reg; Translation</a></span><br />The ear that hears, the eye that sees- the LORD made them both.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/proverbs/20.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />The LORD has given us eyes to see with and ears to listen with. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/proverbs/20.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />The ear that hears and the eye that sees&#8212; the LORD surely made them both.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/proverbs/20.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Ears that hear and eyes that see?the LORD has made them both.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/proverbs/20.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />The ear that hears and the eye that sees--the LORD has made them both. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/proverbs/20.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, The LORD has made even both of them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/proverbs/20.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/proverbs/20.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Yahweh has made even both of them. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/proverbs/20.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />A hearing ear, and a seeing eye&#8212;YHWH has even made both of them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/proverbs/20.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> A hearing ear, and a seeing eye, Jehovah hath made even both of them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/proverbs/20.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />The hearing ear and the seeing eye, Jehovah made, also them two.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/proverbs/20.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made them both. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/proverbs/20.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />The hearing ear and the seeing eye: the Lord has made them both.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/proverbs/20.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />The ear that hears, the eye that sees&#8212; the LORD has made them both. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/proverbs/20.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />The hearing ear and the seeing eye&#8212; the LORD has made them both.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/proverbs/20.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the LORD has made even both of them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/proverbs/20.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />The ear that hears and the eye that sees; LORD JEHOVAH has made them.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/proverbs/20.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, The LORD hath made even both of them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/proverbs/20.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />The ear hears, and the eye sees: even both of them are the Lord's work.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/proverbs/20-12.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kpUA5ZltBeQ?start=4008" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/proverbs/20.htm">Wine is a Mocker</a></span><br>&#8230;<span class="reftext">11</span>Even a young man is known by his actions&#8212;whether his conduct is pure and upright. <span class="reftext">12</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/241.htm" title="241: &#8217;&#333;&#183;zen (N-fs) -- An ear. From 'azan; broadness. I.e. the ear.">Ears</a> <a href="/hebrew/8085.htm" title="8085: ma&#183;&#8216;a&#7791; (V-Qal-Prtcpl-fs) -- To hear. A primitive root; to hear intelligently.">that hear</a> <a href="/hebrew/5869.htm" title="5869: w&#601;&#183;&#8216;a&#183;yin (Conj-w:: N-cs) -- An eye. Probably a primitive word; an eye; by analogy, a fountain.">and eyes</a> <a href="/hebrew/7200.htm" title="7200: r&#333;&#183;&#8217;&#257;h (V-Qal-Prtcpl-fs) -- To see. A primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively.">that see&#8212;</a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah&#183;weh (N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">the LORD</a> <a href="/hebrew/6213.htm" title="6213: &#8216;&#257;&#183;&#347;&#257;h (V-Qal-Perf-3ms) -- To do, make. A primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application.">has made them</a> <a href="/hebrew/1571.htm" title="1571: &#7713;am- (Conj) -- Also, moreover, yea. "></a> <a href="/hebrew/8147.htm" title="8147: &#353;&#601;&#183;n&#234;&#183;hem (Number-mdc:: 3mp) -- Two (a card. number). Dual of sheniy; feminine shttayim; two; also twofold.">both.</a> </span><span class="reftext">13</span>Do not love sleep, or you will grow poor; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of food.&#8230;<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> &middot; <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/94-9.htm">Psalm 94:9</a></span><br />He who affixed the ear, can He not hear? He who formed the eye, can He not see?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/29-18.htm">Isaiah 29:18</a></span><br />On that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll, and out of the deep darkness the eyes of the blind will see.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/13-16.htm">Matthew 13:16</a></span><br />But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/8-18.htm">Mark 8:18</a></span><br />&#8216;Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear?&#8217; And do you not remember?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/6-10.htm">Isaiah 6:10</a></span><br />Make the hearts of this people calloused; deafen their ears and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.&#8221;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/5-21.htm">Jeremiah 5:21</a></span><br />&#8220;Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/12-2.htm">Ezekiel 12:2</a></span><br />&#8220;Son of man, you are living in a rebellious house. They have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious house.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/11-8.htm">Romans 11:8</a></span><br />as it is written: &#8220;God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see, and ears that could not hear, to this very day.&#8221;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/29-4.htm">Deuteronomy 29:4</a></span><br />Yet to this day the LORD has not given you a mind to understand, eyes to see, or ears to hear.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/11-15.htm">Matthew 11:15</a></span><br />He who has ears, let him hear.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/2-7.htm">Revelation 2:7</a></span><br />He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will grant the right to eat from the tree of life in the Paradise of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/2-9.htm">1 Corinthians 2:9-10</a></span><br />Rather, as it is written: &#8220;No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.&#8221; / But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/12-40.htm">John 12:40</a></span><br />&#8220;He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so that they cannot see with their eyes, and understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.&#8221;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/28-26.htm">Acts 28:26-27</a></span><br />&#8216;Go to this people and say, &#8220;You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.&#8221; / For this people&#8217;s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.&#8217;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/115-4.htm">Psalm 115:4-6</a></span><br />Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. / They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see; / they have ears, but cannot hear; they have noses, but cannot smell;</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD has made even both of them.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/4-11.htm">Exodus 4:11</a></b></br> 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?</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/94-9.htm">Psalm 94:9</a></b></br> He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/119-18.htm">Psalm 119:18</a></b></br> Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/proverbs/19-20.htm">Ear</a> <a href="/proverbs/18-15.htm">Ears</a> <a href="/proverbs/17-15.htm">Equally</a> <a href="/proverbs/16-30.htm">Eye</a> <a href="/proverbs/20-8.htm">Eyes</a> <a href="/proverbs/19-27.htm">Hear</a> <a href="/proverbs/18-13.htm">Hearing</a> <a href="/proverbs/19-21.htm">Lord's</a> <a href="/proverbs/20-11.htm">Work</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/proverbs/21-13.htm">Ear</a> <a href="/proverbs/21-13.htm">Ears</a> <a href="/proverbs/29-13.htm">Equally</a> <a href="/proverbs/22-9.htm">Eye</a> <a href="/proverbs/20-13.htm">Eyes</a> <a href="/proverbs/22-17.htm">Hear</a> <a href="/proverbs/22-17.htm">Hearing</a> <a href="/isaiah/6-8.htm">Lord's</a> <a href="/proverbs/21-8.htm">Work</a><div class="vheading2">Proverbs 20</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/proverbs/20-1.htm">Proper Living</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF2 --> <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/proverbs/20.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/proverbs/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book&nbsp;&#9702;</a>&nbsp;<a href="/study/chapters/proverbs/20.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter&nbsp;</a></tr></table></div><b>Ears that hear</b><br>This phrase emphasizes the importance of spiritual discernment and the ability to understand God's truth. In biblical context, hearing is often associated with obedience and receptivity to God's word. <a href="/deuteronomy/6-4.htm">Deuteronomy 6:4-5</a>, known as the Shema, begins with "Hear, O Israel," underscoring the call to listen and obey. In the New Testament, Jesus frequently says, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear" (<a href="/matthew/11-15.htm">Matthew 11:15</a>), urging listeners to truly understand His teachings. The ability to hear spiritually is a gift from God, enabling believers to discern His voice amidst the noise of the world.<p><b>and eyes that see&#8212;</b><br>Vision in the Bible often symbolizes insight and understanding. The ability to see spiritually is linked to wisdom and revelation from God. In <a href="/2_kings/6-17.htm">2 Kings 6:17</a>, Elisha prays for his servant's eyes to be opened to see the spiritual reality around them, revealing the presence of God's protection. Jesus heals the blind in the Gospels, not only restoring physical sight but also symbolizing the opening of spiritual eyes to recognize Him as the Messiah. Spiritual sight allows believers to perceive God's work and truth in their lives and the world.<p><b>the LORD has made them both.</b><br>This phrase acknowledges God's sovereignty and creative power. It affirms that both physical and spiritual faculties are gifts from the Creator. <a href="/genesis/1-27.htm">Genesis 1:27</a> states that humans are made in the image of God, endowed with the ability to perceive and understand His creation. This acknowledgment of God's handiwork calls believers to use their senses for His glory, aligning with the biblical theme of stewardship. It also serves as a reminder of God's intimate involvement in the details of human life, as seen in <a href="/psalms/139-13.htm">Psalm 139:13-16</a>, where God is described as intricately forming each person.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/s/solomon.htm">Solomon</a></b><br>Traditionally attributed as the author of Proverbs, Solomon was the son of King David and known for his wisdom. His proverbs often provide practical insights into living a life that honors God.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_lord.htm">The LORD (Yahweh)</a></b><br>The covenant name of God in the Old Testament, emphasizing His role as the Creator and Sustainer of all things, including human faculties like hearing and sight.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/a/ancient_israel.htm">Ancient Israel</a></b><br>The cultural and historical context in which the Proverbs were written, where wisdom literature was a key component of teaching and moral instruction.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/a/acknowledging_god's_sovereignty.htm">Acknowledging God's Sovereignty</a></b><br>Recognize that our abilities to see and hear are gifts from God, reminding us of His sovereignty and creative power.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/spiritual_perception.htm">Spiritual Perception</a></b><br>Beyond physical sight and hearing, seek to develop spiritual discernment to understand God's will and purpose in our lives.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/gratitude_for_god's_gifts.htm">Gratitude for God's Gifts</a></b><br>Cultivate a heart of gratitude for the senses and faculties God has given us, using them to glorify Him and serve others.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/responsibility_to_listen_and_see.htm">Responsibility to Listen and See</a></b><br>With the gift of hearing and sight comes the responsibility to listen to God's Word and see His work in the world, responding in obedience and faith.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/stewardship_of_our_senses.htm">Stewardship of Our Senses</a></b><br>Use our senses wisely and righteously, avoiding things that corrupt or distract us from God's truth.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_proverbs_20.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Proverbs 20</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_'the_eye_is_the_lamp'_mean.htm">What does 'The eye is the lamp' mean?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_are_sincere_prayers_unanswered.htm">(Psalm 65:2) If God truly hears all prayers, why do so many sincere requests remain unanswered? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_the_bible_handle_mean_people.htm">What does the Bible advise about handling mean people?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_proverbs_20_27_align_with_science.htm">Proverbs 20:27 claims 'the spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord'--how can this be reconciled with scientific understandings of human consciousness?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/proverbs/20.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(12) <span class= "bld">The Lord hath made even both of them.--</span>And, therefore, they are to be used as He would have them. (Comp. our Lord's constant warning, "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.") The proverb may also remind us of the admonition in <a href="/proverbs/15-3.htm" title="The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.">Proverbs 15:3</a>, and <a href="/psalms/94-9.htm" title="He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?">Psalm 94:9</a>, to remember God's constant watchfulness over us.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/proverbs/20.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 12.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made even both of them.</span> This apothegm, which seems to be nothing but a trite truism, brings to notice many important consequences. First, there is the result noted in <a href="/psalms/94-9.htm">Psalm 94:9</a>, "He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? He that formed the eye, shall he not see?" Hence we learn the sleepless providence of God. So 'Pirke Aboth,' "Know that which is above thee, an eye that seeth all, an ear that heareth all." We learn also that all things are directed and overruled by God (comp. <a href="/proverbs/15-3.htm">Proverbs 15:3</a>; <a href="/proverbs/16-4.htm">Proverbs 16:4</a>). Then there is the thought that these powers of ours, being the gift of God, should be used piously and in God's service. "Mine ears hast thou opened... Lo, I come... I delight to do thy will, O my God" (<a href="/psalms/40-6.htm">Psalm 40:6</a>, etc.). The eye should be blind, the ear deaf, to all that might defile or excite to evil (see <a href="/isaiah/33-15.htm">Isaiah 33:15</a>). But it is the Lord alone that enables the spiritual organs to receive the wondrous things of God's Law; they must be educated by grace to enable them to perform their proper functions. "God hath given us eyes," says St. Chrysostom ('Hom. 22 in 1 Corinthians'), "not that we may look wantonly, but that, admiring his handiwork, we may worship the Creator. And that this is the use of our eyes is evident from the things which are seen. For the lustre of the sun and of the sky we see from an immeasurable distances, but a woman's beauty one cannot discern so far off. Seest thou that for this end our eye was chiefly given? Again, he made the ear, that we should entertain not blasphemous words, but saving doctrines. Wherefore you see, when it receives anything dissonant, both our soul shudders and our very body also. And if we hear anything cruel or merciless, again our flesh creeps; but if anything decorous and kind, we even exult and rejoice." "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear." Septuagint, "The ear heareth and the eye sooth, and both are the works of the Lord." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/proverbs/20-12.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Ears</span><br /><span class="heb">&#1488;&#1465;&#1443;&#1494;&#1462;&#1503;</span> <span class="translit">(&#8217;&#333;&#183;zen)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_241.htm">Strong's 241: </a> </span><span class="str2">Broadness, the ear</span><br /><br /><span class="word">that hear</span><br /><span class="heb">&#1513;&#1473;&#1465;&#1453;&#1502;&#1463;&#1506;&#1463;&#1514;</span> <span class="translit">(ma&#183;&#8216;a&#7791;)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8085.htm">Strong's 8085: </a> </span><span class="str2">To hear intelligently</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and eyes</span><br /><span class="heb">&#1493;&#1456;&#1506;&#1463;&#1443;&#1497;&#1460;&#1503;</span> <span class="translit">(w&#601;&#183;&#8216;a&#183;yin)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw &#124; Noun - common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5869.htm">Strong's 5869: </a> </span><span class="str2">An eye, a fountain</span><br /><br /><span class="word">that see&#8212;</span><br /><span class="heb">&#1512;&#1465;&#1488;&#1464;&#1425;&#1492;</span> <span class="translit">(r&#333;&#183;&#8217;&#257;h)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7200.htm">Strong's 7200: </a> </span><span class="str2">To see</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the LORD</span><br /><span class="heb">&#1497;&#1456;&#1437;&#1492;&#1493;&#1464;&#1431;&#1492;</span> <span class="translit">(Yah&#183;weh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> </span><span class="str2">LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">has made</span><br /><span class="heb">&#1506;&#1464;&#1513;&#1474;&#1464;&#1445;&#1492;</span> <span class="translit">(&#8216;&#257;&#183;&#347;&#257;h)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6213.htm">Strong's 6213: </a> </span><span class="str2">To do, make</span><br /><br /><span class="word">them both.</span><br /><span class="heb">&#1513;&#1473;&#1456;&#1504;&#1461;&#1497;&#1492;&#1462;&#1469;&#1501;&#1475;</span> <span class="translit">(&#353;&#601;&#183;n&#234;&#183;hem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Number - mdc &#124; third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8147.htm">Strong's 8147: </a> </span><span class="str2">Two (a cardinal number)</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/proverbs/20-12.htm">Proverbs 20:12 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/proverbs/20-12.htm">Proverbs 20:12 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/proverbs/20-12.htm">Proverbs 20:12 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/proverbs/20-12.htm">Proverbs 20:12 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/proverbs/20-12.htm">Proverbs 20:12 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/proverbs/20-12.htm">Proverbs 20:12 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/proverbs/20-12.htm">Proverbs 20:12 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/proverbs/20-12.htm">Proverbs 20:12 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/proverbs/20-12.htm">Proverbs 20:12 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/proverbs/20-12.htm">Proverbs 20:12 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/proverbs/20-12.htm">OT Poetry: Proverbs 20:12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye (Prov. Pro Pr) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/proverbs/20-11.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Proverbs 20:11"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Proverbs 20:11" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/proverbs/20-13.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Proverbs 20:13"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Proverbs 20:13" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>

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