Isaiah 35:5

5 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.

Isaiah 35:5 in Other Translations

KJV
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
ESV
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
NLT
5 And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind and unplug the ears of the deaf.
MSG
5 Blind eyes will be opened, deaf ears unstopped,
CSB
5 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped.

Isaiah 35:5 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 35:5

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened
Which was literally fulfilled in the first coming of Christ, ( Matthew 9:27 ) ( 12:22 ) ( 20:30 ) ( John 9:1 John 9:30 ) and spiritually, both among Jews and Gentiles; especially the latter, under the ministry of the apostles, when those who were blind as to spiritual things had no knowledge of God in Christ; nor of the way of salvation by him; nor of the plague of their own hearts; nor of the work of the Spirit of God upon the soul; nor of the truths of the Gospel; through the power of divine grace had the eyes of their understanding opened, so as to see their sinfulness and vileness; their emptiness of all that is good, and their impotency to do anything that is spiritual; their want of righteousness; their need of Christ, and the fulness and suitableness of him as a Saviour; and to have some light into the truths of the Gospel, and a glimpse of heaven and eternal glory: and this will still have a greater accomplishment in the latter day, when the blind Jews are converted, and the fulness of the Gentiles brought in: and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped;
which was literally true of some when Christ came in the flesh, ( Matthew 11:5 ) ( Mark 7:32 Mark 7:35 ) and spiritually of many who had not ears to hear in a spiritual sense; stopped what ears they had to the charming voice of the Gospel; and, though they might externally hear, did not understand it: yet these having ears given them to hear, and their ears and hearts opened by the Spirit of God, heard the Gospel spiritually, profitably, pleasantly, comfortably, and with wonder and astonishment; and a multitude of such instances there will be in the latter day glory. Jarchi interprets it of such who were blind as to the knowledge of the fear of God, and deaf to the voice of the prophets.

Isaiah 35:5 In-Context

3 Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way;
4 say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.”
5 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
6 Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.
7 The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs. In the haunts where jackals once lay, grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.

Cross References 2

  • 1. S Psalms 146:8; Matthew 11:5; John 9:6-7; Acts 26:18
  • 2. Isaiah 29:18; Isaiah 42:18; Isaiah 50:4
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