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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Isaiah 42:18 Listen, you deaf ones; look, you blind ones, that you may see!</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/isaiah/42-18.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/15/23_Isa_42_18.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Isaiah 42:18 - Israel is Deaf and Blind" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Listen, you deaf ones; look, you blind ones, that you may see!" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/isaiah/42-18.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/isaiah/42-18.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/isaiah/">Isaiah</a> > <a href="/isaiah/42.htm">Chapter 42</a> > Verse 18</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad18.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/isaiah/42-17.htm" title="Isaiah 42:17">◄</a> Isaiah 42:18 <a href="/isaiah/42-19.htm" title="Isaiah 42:19">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/isaiah/42.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/isaiah/42.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />&#8220Hear, you deaf; look, you blind, and see!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/isaiah/42.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />“Listen, you who are deaf! Look and see, you blind!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/isaiah/42.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Hear, you deaf, and look, you blind, that you may see!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/isaiah/42.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Listen, you deaf ones; look, you blind ones, that you may see!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/isaiah/42.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/isaiah/42.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />“Hear, you deaf; And look, you blind, that you may see.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/isaiah/42.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Hear, you who are deaf! And look, you who are blind, so that you may see.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/isaiah/42.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Hear, you deaf! And look, you blind, that you may see.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/isaiah/42.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Hear, you deaf! And look, you blind, that you may see.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/isaiah/42.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Hear, you deaf! And look, you blind, that you may see.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/isaiah/42.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Hear, you deaf! And look, you blind, that you may see.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/isaiah/42.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />“Listen, you deaf! Look, you blind, so that you may see.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/isaiah/42.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Listen, you deaf! Look, you blind, so that you may see. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/isaiah/42.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/isaiah/42.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />You people are deaf and blind, but the LORD commands you to listen and to see. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/isaiah/42.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/isaiah/42.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Listen, you deaf people. Look, you blind people, so that you can see.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/isaiah/42.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />The LORD says, "Listen, you deaf people! Look closely, you that are blind! <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/isaiah/42.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />"Listen, you deaf people, and look up, you blind people, so you may see!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/isaiah/42.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Listen, you deaf ones; look, you blind ones, that you may see!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/isaiah/42.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />"Listen, you deaf ones! Take notice, you blind ones! <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/isaiah/42.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />"Hear, you deaf, and look, you blind, that you may see.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/isaiah/42.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/isaiah/42.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />“Hear, you deaf, and look, you blind, that you may see. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/isaiah/42.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />You deaf, hear; and you blind, look to see.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/isaiah/42.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Ye deaf, hear; and ye blind, look to see.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/isaiah/42.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, to see.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/isaiah/42.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Hear, ye deaf, and, ye blind, behold that you may see. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/isaiah/42.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />You who are deaf, hear! You who are blind, turn your gaze and see!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/isaiah/42.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />You deaf ones, listen, you blind ones, look and see! <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/isaiah/42.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Listen, you that are deaf; and you that are blind, look up and see!<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/isaiah/42.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Hear, O you deaf! And understand and see, O you blind!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/isaiah/42.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Hear, deaf men, and perceive and see, blind men!<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/isaiah/42.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Hear, ye deaf, And look, ye blind, that ye may see.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/isaiah/42.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Hear, ye deaf, and look up, ye blind, to see.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/isaiah/42-18.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/Xv9bHT-nr9s?start=9283" 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/isaiah/42.htm">Israel is Deaf and Blind</a></span><br> <span class="reftext">18</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/8085.htm" title="8085: šə·mā·‘ū (V-Qal-Imp-mp) -- To hear. A primitive root; to hear intelligently.">Listen,</a> <a href="/hebrew/2795.htm" title="2795: ha·ḥê·rə·šîm (Art:: Adj-mp) -- Deaf. From charash; deaf.">you deaf ones;</a> <a href="/hebrew/5027.htm" title="5027: hab·bî·ṭū (V-Hifil-Imp-mp) -- To look. A primitive root; to scan, i.e. Look intently at; by implication, to regard with pleasure, favor or care.">look,</a> <a href="/hebrew/5787.htm" title="5787: wə·ha·‘iw·rîm (Conj-w, Art:: Adj-mp) -- Blind. Intensive from avar; blind.">you blind ones,</a> <a href="/hebrew/7200.htm" title="7200: lir·’ō·wṯ (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf) -- To see. A primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively.">that you may see!</a> </span><span class="reftext">19</span>Who is blind but My servant, or deaf like the messenger I am sending? Who is blind like My covenant partner, or blind like the servant of the LORD?…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <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="/jeremiah/5-21.htm">Jeremiah 5:21</a></span><br />“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="/matthew/13-13.htm">Matthew 13:13-15</a></span><br />This is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.’ / In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. / For this people’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.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/12-2.htm">Ezekiel 12:2</a></span><br />“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="/mark/8-18.htm">Mark 8:18</a></span><br />‘Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear?’ And do you not remember?<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: “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see, and ears that could not hear, to this very day.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/115-5.htm">Psalm 115:5-6</a></span><br />They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see; / they have ears, but cannot hear; they have noses, but cannot smell;<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="/john/9-39.htm">John 9:39-41</a></span><br />Then Jesus declared, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind may see and those who see may become blind.” / Some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard this, and they asked Him, “Are we blind too?” / “If you were blind,” Jesus replied, “you would not be guilty of sin. But since you claim you can see, your guilt remains.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/28-26.htm">Acts 28:26-27</a></span><br />‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.” / For this people’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.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/135-16.htm">Psalm 135:16-17</a></span><br />They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see; / they have ears, but cannot hear; nor is there breath in their mouths.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/3-14.htm">2 Corinthians 3:14-15</a></span><br />But their minds were closed. For to this day the same veil remains at the reading of the old covenant. It has not been lifted, because only in Christ can it be removed. / And even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/zechariah/7-11.htm">Zechariah 7:11-12</a></span><br />But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder; they stopped up their ears from hearing. / They made their hearts like flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the LORD of Hosts had sent by His Spirit through the earlier prophets. Therefore great anger came from the LORD of Hosts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/3-17.htm">Revelation 3:17</a></span><br />You say, ‘I am rich; I have grown wealthy and need nothing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/28-9.htm">Proverbs 28:9</a></span><br />Whoever turns his ear away from hearing the law, even his prayer is detestable.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/6-9.htm">Isaiah 6:9-10</a></span><br />And He replied: “Go and tell this people, ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ / 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.”</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Hear, you deaf; and look, you blind, that you may see.</p><p class="hdg">ye deaf</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/29-18.htm">Isaiah 29:18</a></b></br> 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.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/43-8.htm">Isaiah 43:8</a></b></br> Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears.</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><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/isaiah/42-16.htm">Blind</a> <a href="/isaiah/35-5.htm">Deaf</a> <a href="/isaiah/41-26.htm">Ear</a> <a href="/isaiah/42-2.htm">Ears</a> <a href="/isaiah/42-7.htm">Eyes</a> <a href="/isaiah/42-9.htm">Hear</a> <a href="/isaiah/42-7.htm">Open</a> <a href="/isaiah/42-7.htm">Shut</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/isaiah/42-19.htm">Blind</a> <a href="/isaiah/42-19.htm">Deaf</a> <a href="/isaiah/42-23.htm">Ear</a> <a href="/isaiah/42-19.htm">Ears</a> <a href="/isaiah/43-4.htm">Eyes</a> <a href="/isaiah/42-20.htm">Hear</a> <a href="/isaiah/42-20.htm">Open</a> <a href="/isaiah/42-19.htm">Shut</a><div class="vheading2">Isaiah 42</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/42-1.htm">The office of Christ, graced with meekness and constancy.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">5. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/42-5.htm">God's promise unto him.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">10. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/42-10.htm">An exhortation to praise God for his Gospel</a></span><br><span class="reftext">13. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/42-13.htm">God will manifest himself, and check idolatry</a></span><br><span class="reftext">18. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/42-18.htm">He reproves the people of incredulity.</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 />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <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/isaiah/42.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/isaiah/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/isaiah/42.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Listen, you deaf ones;</b><br>This phrase calls for attention from those who are spiritually deaf, a common metaphor in the Bible for those who are unresponsive to God's message. In the context of Isaiah, the prophet often addresses the Israelites, who have turned away from God's commandments. The call to "listen" is a plea for repentance and a return to obedience. This echoes the Shema in <a href="/deuteronomy/6-4.htm">Deuteronomy 6:4</a>, where Israel is commanded to "hear" and obey the Lord. The deafness here is not physical but spiritual, indicating a hardened heart.<p><b>look, you blind ones,</b><br>The blindness mentioned is symbolic of a lack of understanding or insight into God's will and purposes. In the cultural context of ancient Israel, blindness was often seen as a physical ailment that required healing, which Jesus frequently performed in the New Testament (e.g., <a href="/john/9.htm">John 9:1-7</a>). This phrase foreshadows the coming of Christ, who would open the eyes of the spiritually blind, fulfilling prophecies like <a href="/isaiah/35-5.htm">Isaiah 35:5</a>. The call to "look" is an invitation to perceive and understand God's truth.<p><b>that you may see!</b><br>The purpose of the call to listen and look is so that the spiritually deaf and blind may gain true understanding and insight. This is a transformative process, akin to the conversion experience described in the New Testament, where believers are called out of darkness into light (<a href="/1_peter/2-9.htm">1 Peter 2:9</a>). The ability to "see" spiritually is a gift from God, often associated with the work of the Holy Spirit in illuminating the hearts and minds of believers. This phrase underscores the hope and possibility of redemption and enlightenment for those who turn to God.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/i/isaiah.htm">Isaiah</a></b><br>A major prophet in the Old Testament, Isaiah is the author of the book that bears his name. He prophesied to the Kingdom of Judah and is known for his messages of both judgment and hope.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/i/israel.htm">Israel</a></b><br>Often referred to metaphorically as "blind" and "deaf" in Isaiah, representing the spiritual insensitivity and disobedience of God's chosen people.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_servant_of_the_lord.htm">The Servant of the Lord</a></b><br>In the broader context of <a href="/bsb/isaiah/42.htm">Isaiah 42</a>, the "Servant" is a figure who brings justice and light to the nations, often interpreted as a messianic prophecy pointing to Jesus Christ.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_nations.htm">The Nations</a></b><br>The surrounding nations are also part of the audience, as God's message through Isaiah extends beyond Israel to all peoples.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_exile.htm">The Exile</a></b><br>The historical backdrop includes the Babylonian exile, a period of judgment and reflection for Israel, emphasizing their need to return to God.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/s/spiritual_awareness.htm">Spiritual Awareness</a></b><br>Just as physical sight and hearing are crucial, spiritual awareness is essential for understanding God's will. We must seek to "see" and "hear" spiritually.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/repentance_and_obedience.htm">Repentance and Obedience</a></b><br>The call to "listen" and "look" is a call to repentance and obedience. Recognizing our spiritual blindness should lead us to turn back to God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/role_of_the_holy_spirit.htm">Role of the Holy Spirit</a></b><br>The Holy Spirit opens our eyes and ears to God's truth. We should pray for the Spirit's guidance to overcome spiritual insensitivity.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/christ_as_the_light.htm">Christ as the Light</a></b><br>Jesus, the Servant of the Lord, is the light that opens the eyes of the blind. Embracing Christ leads to spiritual enlightenment.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/community_accountability.htm">Community Accountability</a></b><br>As a community of believers, we should encourage one another to remain spiritually vigilant and responsive to God's word.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_isaiah_42.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Isaiah 42</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/do_isaiah_35's_promises_conflict_with_other_prophecies.htm">Do the promises of restoration in Isaiah 35 conflict with other biblical prophecies about judgment and desolation of the land?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_christianity_prioritize_faith.htm">Why does Christianity demand faith when critical thinking and evidence are more reliable ways of knowing truth?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/evidence_for_isaiah_35_5-6_healings.htm">Isaiah 35:5-6 speaks of miraculous healings--what historical or archaeological evidence supports these specific events?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/one_or_two_blind_men_in_jericho.htm">Were there one or two blind men in Jericho?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/isaiah/42.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(18) <span class= "bld">Hear, ye deaf . . .</span>--The words form the beginning of a new section. The prophet feels or sees that the great argument has not carried conviction as it ought to have done. The people to whom Jehovah speaks through him are still spiritually blind and deaf, and that people is ideally the servant of the Lord (<a href="/isaiah/41-8.htm" title="But you, Israel, are my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.">Isaiah 41:8</a>), in whom the pattern of the personal servant ought to have been reproduced. (Comp. <a href="/context/john/9-39.htm" title="And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.">John 9:39-41</a>.)<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/isaiah/42.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 18-25.</span> - ADDRESS TO CAPTIVE ISRAEL, CALLING UPON THEM TO TURN TO GOD, AND REMINDING THEM THAT THEY HAVE DESERVED THEIR AFFLICTIONS. By some critics the earlier verses of this passage (vers. 19-21) are regarded as having reference to the "Servant of the Lord" depicted in vers. 1-7, and as calling on the captive Jews to consider his voluntary humiliation, and the object of it. But this view seems to be strained. It requires "deaf" and "blind' to be taken in completely different senses in the two consecutive verses, 18 and 19. Probably Delitzsch and Mr. Cheyne are right in taking the whole passage of captive Israel, and especially of that "outer circle" which was least deserving of God's favour and most open to rebuke and reproach. These "blind" and "deaf" ones are warned that it is high time for them to unclose their eyes and open their ears, and are reminded that all their recent and present sufferings arise from their former "blindness" and disobedience. <span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 18.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Hear, ye deaf</span>. The "deaf" are not absolutely without hearing, nor the "blind" absolutely without sight. They can "hear" and "see," if they choose to do so. When they do not see, it is because they "wink with their eyes" (<a href="/matthew/13-15.htm">Matthew 13:15</a>); when they do not hear, it is because, like the deaf adder, they "stop their ears" (<a href="/psalms/58-4.htm">Psalm 58:4</a>). This, at any rate, is the case with the majority. There may be some who have deadened their moral vision altogether, and have no longer any "ears to hear." God, however, addresses the mass of Israel as still possessed of moral discernment, if they will but use it, and calls upon them to wake up out of sleep - to "hear" and "see." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/isaiah/42-18.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">“Listen,</span><br /><span class="heb">שְׁמָ֑עוּ</span> <span class="translit">(šə·mā·‘ū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural<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">you deaf,</span><br /><span class="heb">הַחֵרְשִׁ֖ים</span> <span class="translit">(ha·ḥê·rə·šîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Adjective - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2795.htm">Strong's 2795: </a> </span><span class="str2">Deaf</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and look,</span><br /><span class="heb">הַבִּ֥יטוּ</span> <span class="translit">(hab·bî·ṭū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5027.htm">Strong's 5027: </a> </span><span class="str2">To scan, look intently at, to regard</span><br /><br /><span class="word">you blind,</span><br /><span class="heb">וְהַעִוְרִ֖ים</span> <span class="translit">(wə·ha·‘iw·rîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw, Article | Adjective - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5787.htm">Strong's 5787: </a> </span><span class="str2">Blind</span><br /><br /><span class="word">that you may see.</span><br /><span class="heb">לִרְאֽוֹת׃</span> <span class="translit">(lir·’ō·wṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7200.htm">Strong's 7200: </a> </span><span class="str2">To see</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/isaiah/42-18.htm">Isaiah 42:18 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/isaiah/42-18.htm">Isaiah 42:18 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/isaiah/42-18.htm">Isaiah 42:18 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/isaiah/42-18.htm">Isaiah 42:18 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/isaiah/42-18.htm">Isaiah 42:18 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/isaiah/42-18.htm">Isaiah 42:18 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/isaiah/42-18.htm">Isaiah 42:18 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/isaiah/42-18.htm">Isaiah 42:18 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/isaiah/42-18.htm">Isaiah 42:18 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/isaiah/42-18.htm">Isaiah 42:18 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/isaiah/42-18.htm">OT Prophets: Isaiah 42:18 Hear you deaf and look you blind (Isa Isi Is)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/isaiah/42-17.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Isaiah 42:17"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Isaiah 42:17" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/isaiah/42-19.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Isaiah 42:19"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Isaiah 42:19" /></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>