Isaiah 42:18
16 And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.
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.
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?
20 Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Listen, you deaf ones; look, you blind ones, that you may see!
- KJV
- Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.
- WEB
- “Hear, you deaf, and look, you blind, that you may see.
- ASV
- Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.
- DARBY
- Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.
- BLB
- Listen, O deaf ones, and look O blind ones, in order to see.
- ÅB
- Dere døve, hør! Og dere blinde, lukk øynene opp og se!
- OTB
- Hør, dere døve; se, dere blinde, og se!
- B1930
- I døve, hør! Og I blinde, lukk øinene op og se!
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Isaiah 43:8
Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears.
Read in contextMark 7:34–37
And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.
Read in contextIsaiah 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.
Read in contextProverbs 20:12
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.
Read in contextIsaiah 35:5
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
Read in contextRevelation 3:17–18
Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Read in contextLuke 7:22
Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.
Read in contextExodus 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?
Read in context