44:17 44:17

Isaiah 44:18

44:19 44:19

Bible Versions

They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; [and] their hearts, that they cannot understand.
They have not known {H3045} nor understood {H995}: for he hath shut {H2902} their eyes {H5869}, that they cannot see {H7200}; and their hearts {H3826}, that they cannot understand {H7919}.
Such people know nothing, understand nothing. Their eyes are sealed shut, so that they can't see; their hearts too, so they can't understand.
They do not comprehend or discern, for He has shut their eyes so they cannot see and closed their minds so they cannot understand.
They know not, neither do they consider: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand.

Context

Isaiah 44:18 is situated within a section of the book (chapters 40-48) where the prophet Isaiah contrasts the power and uniqueness of the one true God with the futility and foolishness of idol worship. The verses immediately preceding this one (Isaiah 44:9-17) vividly describe the process of making an idol from wood – using part of the tree for fuel and part to carve a god. This verse then speaks to the spiritual state of those involved in such practices, explaining why they persist in such obvious folly. It highlights a profound lack of perception and understanding regarding the truth about God and the vanity of idols.

Key Themes

  • Spiritual Blindness: The primary theme is the inability of people, particularly those engaged in idolatry or rejecting God, to see and understand spiritual truth. Their physical eyes may be open, but their spiritual perception is shut.
  • Divine Action or Permission: The phrase "he hath shut their eyes" suggests God's role in this condition. This can be understood as God actively causing blindness as a judgment for persistent rebellion and rejection, or as God removing His restraining grace, allowing their chosen path of ignorance and sin to result in spiritual insensitivity. This concept is echoed in New Testament passages discussing those who refuse to believe, such as John 12:40 or Romans 11:8.
  • Ignorance and Lack of Understanding: The verse explicitly states "They have not known nor understood." This isn't just a lack of information but a deep-seated inability or unwillingness to grasp the truth, affecting both the mind ("known," "see") and the heart ("understood").
  • The Consequence of Idolatry: The blindness described here is presented as a direct result or consequence of engaging in the foolish act of creating and worshipping idols, highlighting the destructive spiritual impact of misplaced worship.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew words used are significant. "Known" (yada’) implies experiential knowledge, while "understood" (biyn) suggests discerning and comprehending. The phrase "he hath shut" uses the verb tach, which means to smear over, plaster, or shut up, indicating a deliberate covering or closing. The "eyes" (‘eynayim) are the organs of perception, and "hearts" (libbam - their heart, singular used collectively) refers to the inner person, the seat of intellect, will, and emotion. In Hebrew thought, the heart is crucial for understanding and moral decision-making. The blindness affects both outward perception and inner comprehension.

Reflection and Application

Isaiah 44:18 serves as a stark warning about the dangers of spiritual insensitivity. Whether through blatant idolatry or the worship of modern substitutes (wealth, power, self, ideas), focusing on created things instead of the Creator can lead to a state where one is genuinely unable to perceive spiritual reality. This verse reminds us that true understanding is not merely intellectual but requires a spiritual openness and a heart receptive to God. It underscores the need for God's grace to open our eyes and hearts, as only He can remove the spiritual blindness that prevents us from knowing and understanding His truth. We should pray for ourselves and others that God would "open their eyes" that they might see the truth of the gospel (Acts 26:18).

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.

  • 2 Corinthians 4:3

    But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

  • 2 Corinthians 4:4

    In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

  • Isaiah 6:9

    ¶ And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.

  • Isaiah 6:10

    Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.

  • John 12:39

    Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,

  • John 12:40

    He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with [their] eyes, nor understand with [their] heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

  • 2 Thessalonians 2:9

    [Even him], whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
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