Isaiah 42:18

18 Ye deaf men, hear; and ye blind men, behold to see. (Ye deaf, hear; and ye blind, look and see!)

Isaiah 42:18 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 42:18

Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.
] Jarchi and Kimchi think these words are spoken to Israel, who, as Aben Ezra says, were deaf and blind in heart; but they are rather an exhortation to the Gentiles that remained impenitent and unbelieving, and who were deaf to the voice of the Gospel, and blind as to the knowledge of it; and the purport of the exhortation is, that they would make use of their external hearing and sight, which they had, that they might attain to a spiritual hearing and understanding of divine things; "for faith comes by hearing, and hearing the word of God", ( Romans 10:17 ) to hear the Gospel preached, and to look into the Scriptures, and read the word of God, are the means of attaining light and knowledge in spiritual things; and these are within the compass of natural men, who are internally deaf and blind.

Isaiah 42:18 In-Context

16 And I shall lead out blind men into the way, which they know not, and I shall make them to go in paths, which they knew not; I shall set the darknesses of them before them into light, and shrewd things into rightful things; I did these words to them, and I forsook not them. (And I shall lead out the blind by the way, which they know not, and I shall make them to go on paths, which they knew not; I shall turn their darkness into light before them, and make depraved, or crooked, ways into straight ways; I shall do these things for them, and I shall not desert them.)
17 (But others,) They (shall) be turned aback; (yea,) be they shamed with shame, that trust in a graven image; which say to a molten image, Ye be our gods.
18 Ye deaf men, hear; and ye blind men, behold to see. (Ye deaf, hear; and ye blind, look and see!)
19 Who is blind, no but my servant? and deaf, but he to whom I sent my messengers? Who is blind, but he that is sold? and who is blind, but the servant of the Lord?
20 Whether thou that seest many things, shalt not keep (it in thy mind)? Whether thou that hast open ears, shalt not hear?
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.