Isaiah 56:10

Sin

⁸ Thus declares the Lord GOD, who gathers the dispersed of Israel: “I will gather to them still others besides those already gathered.”

⁹ Come, all you beasts of the field; eat greedily, all you beasts of the forest.

Israel’s watchmen are blind, they are all oblivious; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they are dreamers lying around, loving to slumber.

¹¹ Like ravenous dogs, they are never satisfied. They are shepherds with no discernment; they all turn to their own way, each one seeking his own gain:

¹² “Come, let me get the wine, let us imbibe the strong drink, and tomorrow will be like today, only far better!”

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: Israel’s watchmen are blind, they are all oblivious; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they are dreamers lying around, loving to slumber.
KJV: His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.
WEB: His watchmen are blind. They are all without knowledge. They are all mute dogs. They can’t bark— dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber.
ASV: His watchmen are blind, they are all without knowledge; they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber.
DARBY: His watchmen are all of them blind, they are without knowledge; they are all dumb dogs that cannot bark, dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber:
BLB: His watchmen [are] blind—all of them! They do not know; all of them [are] mute dogs, they are not able to bark, dreaming lying down, loving to sleep.

ÅB: Israels vektere er blinde alle sammen, de vet intet. Alle sammen er de stumme hunder, som ikke kan gjø; de ligger og drømmer og holder av å sove;
OTB: Hans vektere er blinde, de mangler alle kunnskap; de er alle stumme hunder, ute av stand til å bjeffe; de ligger rundt og drømmer, elsker å sove.
B1930: Israels vektere er blinde alle sammen, de vet intet. Alle sammen er de stumme hunder, som ikke kan gjø; de ligger og drømmer og holder av å sove;

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Isaiah 29:10
For the LORD has poured out on you a spirit of deep sleep. He has shut your eyes, O prophets; He has covered your heads, O seers.
Read in context
Ezekiel 33:6
But if the watchman sees the sword coming and fails to blow the horn to warn the people, and the sword comes and takes away a life, then that one will be taken away in his iniquity, but I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood.’
Read in context
Matthew 15:14
Disregard them! They are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”
Read in context
Philippians 3:2
Watch out for those dogs, those workers of evil, those mutilators of the flesh!
Read in context
Isaiah 58:1
“Cry aloud, do not hold back! Raise your voice like a ram’s horn. Declare to My people their transgression and to the house of Jacob their sins.
Read in context
Hosea 9:7–8
The days of punishment have come; the days of retribution have arrived— let Israel know it. The prophet is called a fool, and the inspired man insane, because of the greatness of your iniquity and hostility.
Read in context
Nahum 3:18
O king of Assyria, your shepherds slumber; your officers sleep. Your people are scattered on the mountains with no one to gather them.
Read in context
Mark 13:34–37
It is like a man going on a journey who left his house, put each servant in charge of his own task, and instructed the doorkeeper to keep watch.
Read in context