Isaiah 42:18

KJV

¶ Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.

KJV (with Strong's)

Hear {H8085}, ye deaf {H2795}; and look {H5027}, ye blind {H5787}, that ye may see {H7200}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Listen, you deaf! Look, you blind! - so that you will see!

Berean Standard Bible

Listen, you deaf ones; look, you blind ones, that you may see!

American Standard Version

Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 42:18 delivers a profound divine imperative, directly addressing a spiritually unresponsive Israel. It is a poignant call from God to His people, who, despite being chosen and having witnessed His mighty acts, have become metaphorically deaf and blind to His truth and will. This verse serves as an urgent summons for spiritual awakening, urging those in a state of apathy to genuinely perceive, understand, and respond to the divine revelation that has been abundantly given to them.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Isaiah 42:18 is situated within the "Servant Songs" of Isaiah (chapters 42, 49, 50, 52-53), a pivotal section of the book that introduces the Lord's righteous Servant, often understood as the Messiah. While the preceding verses (e.g., [Isaiah 42:1-9](/isaiah/42 "Isaiah 42:1-9 - The First Servant Song") describe the Servant's mission to bring justice and light to the nations, verses 18-25 pivot sharply to confront the spiritual condition of Israel. God, through the prophet, highlights the paradox of His chosen people, who are meant to be His witnesses ([Isaiah 43:10](/isaiah/43-10 "Isaiah 43:10 - Israel as God's Witness")), yet exhibit profound spiritual dullness. This immediate context underscores the stark contrast between the ideal Servant's perfect obedience and Israel's spiritual failure, setting the stage for both divine lament and a persistent call to repentance.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The book of Isaiah prophesies during a tumultuous period in Israel's history, spanning from the Assyrian threat to the Babylonian exile and the promise of return. The people of Judah, though privileged with God's law and prophetic revelation, frequently succumbed to idolatry, social injustice, and a general spiritual apathy. Their "deafness" and "blindness" were not physical but indicative of their unwillingness to heed God's commands and discern His hand in their history. Culturally, hearing and seeing were fundamental metaphors for understanding, obedience, and spiritual discernment in ancient Israel. To be deaf or blind to God's word was to be utterly cut off from His covenant relationship and His guiding presence, leading to disastrous national consequences, as seen in the impending judgment and exile described elsewhere in Isaiah (e.g., [Isaiah 39](/isaiah/39 "Isaiah 39 - Hezekiah's Folly and Babylonian Captivity Foretold")).

* **Key Themes:** The verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Isaiah. The most prominent is **Spiritual Insensitivity**, where Israel's metaphorical blindness and deafness represent their profound inability to comprehend God's revelation, His mighty works, and His divine will, despite having direct access to it. This theme is further developed as a **Divine Call to Awaken**, an imperative from God for His people to move beyond their spiritual apathy and actively engage with Him. This call implies that true understanding and spiritual sight are indeed possible if they respond in obedience. Lastly, the verse subtly introduces the theme of **Consequences of Unresponsiveness**, as the surrounding context, particularly [Isaiah 42:24-25](/isaiah/42-24 "Isaiah 42:24-25 - God's Judgment on Israel"), reveals that this spiritual neglect led to divine judgment and hardship for Israel, making the call to see and hear an urgent plea to avert further calamity.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Hear (Hebrew, _shâmaʻ'_):** From H8085, this primitive root means "to hear intelligently," often implying "attention" and "obedience." It's not merely auditory perception but a deep, active listening that leads to understanding and compliance. In this context, God is calling for a hearing that transforms into spiritual discernment and responsive action, rather than a passive reception of sound.
* **deaf (Hebrew, _chêrêsh'_):** From H2795, this word describes a state of being "deaf," whether literally or spiritually. Here, it is unequivocally used metaphorically to describe those who are unwilling or unable to perceive divine truth, despite having the physical capacity to hear. It signifies a spiritual dullness or stubbornness that prevents God's message from penetrating the heart and mind.
* **see (Hebrew, _râʼâh'_):** From H7200, this primitive root means "to see," both literally and figuratively. Its numerous applications include "to discern," "to perceive," "to understand," and "to experience." The ultimate purpose of God's call to the blind is not just physical sight, but spiritual insight—a deep understanding and recognition of His character, His works, and His purposes, leading to a transformed perspective and obedient living.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Hear, ye deaf;":** This is a direct, imperative command from God, addressing those who are spiritually unresponsive. The term "deaf" is metaphorical, indicating a people who have closed their ears to God's word, refusing to listen to His commands and prophetic warnings. The command "Hear" (shâmaʻ) is a call not just to auditory perception, but to intelligent, obedient listening—a core concept of the covenant relationship.
* **"and look, ye blind,":** Following the first command, this clause extends the divine imperative to those who are spiritually "blind." Like "deaf," "blind" is a metaphor for a people unable or unwilling to discern God's truth, His mighty acts, or His presence in their midst. The command "look" (nâbaṭ) urges them to gaze intently, to consider, and to perceive with spiritual insight, rather than merely glancing superficially.
* **"that ye may see.":** This final clause expresses the divine purpose and desired outcome of the preceding commands. God's intention in calling the "deaf" to hear and the "blind" to look is so that they might genuinely "see" (râʼâh)—that is, gain spiritual understanding, discernment, and a true perception of His reality. It implies that despite their current condition, spiritual awakening is possible through divine intervention and their responsive obedience.

#### Literary Devices
Isaiah 42:18 is rich in literary devices that amplify its urgent message. The most prominent is **Metaphor**, where physical impairments (deafness and blindness) are used to describe a profound spiritual condition of insensitivity and inability to perceive divine truth. This creates a vivid and accessible image of Israel's spiritual apathy. The verse also employs **Parallelism**, specifically synonymous parallelism, by pairing "Hear, ye deaf" with "look, ye blind," reinforcing the same core message of spiritual dullness from two complementary sensory perspectives. The use of **Imperative** verbs ("Hear," "look") conveys the urgency and authority of God's command, demanding an immediate and active response from His people. Furthermore, there is a subtle **Irony** at play: those who are physically capable of hearing and seeing are spiritually incapable, highlighting the tragic disconnect between outward form and inward reality.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 42:18 speaks profoundly to the human condition of spiritual insensitivity, a recurring theme throughout biblical theology. It underscores God's persistent desire for humanity to genuinely perceive and respond to His revelation, even when they are willfully unresponsive. This divine call to awaken transcends the specific historical context of Israel, serving as a timeless invitation for all people to open their hearts and minds to God's truth. The verse highlights that spiritual perception is not merely intellectual assent but requires an active, obedient engagement with the divine, leading to a transformation of understanding and life. It also implicitly points to the necessity of divine grace to overcome such deep-seated spiritual maladies, as true seeing and hearing are ultimately gifts from God.

* [Matthew 13:13](/matthew/13-13 "Matthew 13:13 - Jesus Explains Parables")
* [2 Corinthians 3:14-16](/2_corinthians/3-14 "2 Corinthians 3:14-16 - The Veil Over Hearts")
* [Ephesians 5:14](/ephesians/5-14 "Ephesians 5:14 - Call to Spiritual Awakening")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah 42:18 serves as a potent mirror for contemporary believers, prompting deep introspection into our own spiritual attentiveness. In a world saturated with noise and distractions, it is easy for spiritual dullness to creep into our lives, making us metaphorically deaf to God's still, small voice and blind to His active presence. This verse challenges us to move beyond passive hearing and looking, urging us to cultivate an active, discerning heart that eagerly seeks to understand and obey God's Word. It reminds us that true spiritual sight is not a given, but a continuous process requiring intentional engagement, humble prayer for divine illumination, and a willingness to respond obediently to what God reveals. Our spiritual vitality depends on our readiness to truly "hear" and "see" the Lord in every aspect of our lives, allowing His truth to transform our perspective and guide our actions.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be spiritually "deaf" or "blind" to God's truth or guidance?**
* **What practical steps can I take to cultivate a more attentive heart and mind to God's Word and Spirit?**
* **How does my understanding of God's character impact my willingness to "hear" and "see" His will for my life?**

### FAQ
**What does "spiritual deafness" and "spiritual blindness" mean in a biblical sense?**

Answer: In a biblical sense, "spiritual deafness" and "spiritual blindness" refer to a person's inability or unwillingness to perceive, understand, and respond to divine truth. It's not a physical ailment but a metaphorical description of a heart and mind closed off to God's revelation. For example, in [Matthew 13:13](/matthew/13-13 "Matthew 13:13 - Jesus Explains Parables"), Jesus explains that He speaks in parables because people "seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand." This condition can stem from stubbornness, sin, apathy, or a spiritual veil, as described in [2 Corinthians 3:14](/2_corinthians/3-14 "2 Corinthians 3:14 - The Veil Over Hearts"), which prevents understanding until one turns to the Lord. It signifies a profound lack of spiritual discernment and responsiveness to God's voice and His works in the world.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Isaiah 42:18, with its poignant call to the spiritually deaf and blind, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While the immediate context addresses Israel's spiritual dullness, the very next verse, [Isaiah 42:19](/isaiah/42-19 "Isaiah 42:19 - The Blind Servant"), introduces the paradox of God's Servant who is Himself "blind" and "deaf" in a unique sense—He perfectly identifies with the brokenness of humanity. Jesus, the true Servant of the Lord, came not only to open the eyes of the physically blind and the ears of the physically deaf, as recorded in numerous Gospel accounts (e.g., [Mark 7:32-35](/mark/7-32 "Mark 7:32-35 - Jesus Heals a Deaf Man")), but primarily to address the deeper spiritual malady. He declared Himself the "light of the world" ([John 8:12](/john/8-12 "John 8:12 - Jesus, the Light of the World")), offering spiritual sight to those who dwell in darkness. His parables often highlighted the spiritual blindness of those who claimed to see ([John 9:39-41](/john/9-39 "John 9:39-41 - Spiritual Blindness of the Pharisees")). Through His atoning sacrifice and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, Christ enables believers to truly "hear" His voice and "see" the glory of God, transforming hearts of stone into hearts of flesh ([Ezekiel 36:26](/ezekiel/36-26 "Ezekiel 36:26 - A New Heart and Spirit")). Thus, the divine imperative of Isaiah 42:18 is not merely a command but a prophetic promise realized in the redemptive work of Christ, who empowers His followers to overcome spiritual insensitivity and walk in the light of His truth ([Ephesians 5:8](/ephesians/5-8 "Ephesians 5:8 - Walk as Children of Light")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Isaiah 43:8

¶ Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears.

Isaiah 35:5

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

Proverbs 20:12

¶ The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.

Mark 7:34

And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.

Mark 7:37

And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.

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.

Revelation 3:17

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: