Isaiah 35:5

¶ Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

Then the eyes {H5869} of the blind {H5787} shall be opened {H6491}, and the ears {H241} of the deaf {H2795} shall be unstopped {H6605}.

Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped;

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

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

Isaiah 35:5 is a powerful prophetic declaration, painting a vivid picture of miraculous restoration and divine intervention. It is part of a larger passage (Isaiah 35) that describes the glorious transformation of creation and humanity, often interpreted as a vision of the Messianic age and the ultimate kingdom of God.

Context

This verse is nestled within a chapter that begins with the wilderness and solitary place being glad, and the desert rejoicing and blossoming like a rose (Isaiah 35:1). It speaks of a future era of joy, strength, and redemption for Israel, following a period of judgment. The chapter culminates in the establishment of the "Highway of Holiness" (Isaiah 35:8), a safe path for the redeemed to return to Zion. Verse 5 specifically addresses the removal of severe physical disabilities, symbolizing a complete restoration brought about by God Himself.

Key Themes

  • Divine Healing and Restoration: The primary theme is God's power to miraculously heal and restore what is broken. This is not merely an improvement but a complete reversal of debilitating conditions.
  • Messianic Prophecy: This verse is widely regarded as a significant Messianic prophecy, pointing to the works of the coming Messiah. Jesus Christ directly fulfilled these prophecies during His earthly ministry, as evidenced by His response to John the Baptist's disciples (Matthew 11:5), where He declared, "The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them."
  • Physical and Spiritual Transformation: While initially referring to physical healing, many commentators also see a profound spiritual dimension. The opening of blind eyes can symbolize spiritual enlightenment and understanding, while the unstopping of deaf ears represents an ability to hear and respond to God's truth. This aligns with the concept of overcoming spiritual blindness to the gospel.
  • Hope and Assurance: The verse offers immense hope, assuring God's people that their suffering and limitations will not be permanent in His ultimate plan of redemption.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew verbs used for "opened" (paqaḥ, פָּקַח) and "unstopped" (pataḥ, פָּתַח) convey a direct, decisive, and complete action. They suggest an immediate and perfect restoration, not a gradual improvement. The "unstopping" of the ears implies that they were completely closed, and now are fully functional, able to perceive sound clearly.

Practical Application

Isaiah 35:5 offers enduring comfort and a call to faith for believers today:

  1. Hope in God's Power: It reminds us that God is capable of performing miracles, bringing healing and wholeness even in seemingly impossible situations. This applies to physical ailments, but also to emotional and spiritual brokenness.
  2. Spiritual Discernment: The verse encourages us to pray for spiritual sight and hearing, that our eyes may be opened to God's truth in His Word and His presence, and our ears unstopped to hear His voice and guidance.
  3. Anticipation of God's Kingdom: It points to the future glory of God's kingdom, where all sorrow, pain, and infirmity will be removed. This gives us a blessed hope for the new heaven and new earth where there will be no more tears or suffering.

Ultimately, Isaiah 35:5 is a powerful testament to God's restorative love and His ultimate plan to bring complete healing and joy to His people.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Isaiah 42:6

    I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;

  • Isaiah 42:7

    To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, [and] them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

  • Luke 7:20

    When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?

  • Luke 7:23

    And blessed is [he], whosoever shall not be offended in me.

  • Isaiah 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.

  • Matthew 11:3

    And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?

  • Matthew 11:5

    The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
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