TRV
Translation
King James Version
His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.
Complete Jewish Bible
[Isra'el's] watchmen are, all of them, blind; they don't know anything. They are all dumb dogs, unable to bark, lying there dreaming, loving to sleep.
Berean Standard Bible
Israel’s watchmen are blind, they are all oblivious; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they are dreamers lying around, loving to slumber.
American Standard Version
His watchmen are blind, they are all without knowledge; they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber.
World English Bible Messianic
His watchmen are blind, they are all without knowledge; they are all mute dogs, they can’t bark; dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber.
Geneva Bible (1599)
Their watchmen are all blinde: they haue no knowledge: they are all dumme dogs: they can not barke: they lie and sleepe and delite in sleeping.
Young's Literal Translation
Blind are his watchmen--all of them, They have not known, All of them are dumb dogs, they are not able to bark, Dozing, lying down, loving to slumber.
In the KJVVerse 18,764 of 31,102
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Commentary on Isaiah 56 verses 9–12
9 ¶ All ye beasts of the field, come to devour, yea, all ye beasts in the forest.
10 His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.
11 Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.
12 Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.
From words of comfort the prophet here, by a very sudden change of his style, passes to words of reproof and conviction, and goes on in that strain, for the most part, in the three following chapters; and therefore some here begin a new sermon. He had assured the people that in due time God would deliver them out of captivity, which was designed for the comfort of those that should live when God would do this. Now here he shows what their sins and provocations were, for which God would send them into captivity, and this was designed for the conviction of those that lived in his own time, nearly a hundred years before the captivity, who were now filling up the measure of the nation's sin, and to justify God in what he brought upon them. God will lay them waste by the fierceness of their enemies, for the falseness of their friends.
I. Desolating judgments are here summoned, Isa 56:9. The sheep of God's pasture are now to be made the sheep of his slaughter, to fall as victims to his justice, and therefore the beasts of the field and the forest are called to come and devour. They are beasts of prey, and do it from their own ravenous disposition; but God permits them to do it, nay, he employs them as his servants in doing it, the ministers of his justice, though they mean not so, neither does their heart think so. If this refers primarily to the descent made upon them by the Babylonians, and their devouring them, yet it may look further, to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Jewish nation by the Romans, after these outcasts of them (mentioned Isa 56:8) were gathered in to the Christian church. The Roman armies came upon them as beasts of the forest to devour them, and they quite took away their place and nation. Note, When God has bloody work to do he has beasts of prey within call, to be employed in doing it.
II. The reason of these judgments is here given. The shepherds, who should have been the watchmen of the flock, to discover the approaches of the beasts of prey, to keep them off, and protect the sheep, were treacherous and careless, minded not their business, nor made any conscience of the trust reposed in them, and so the sheep became an easy prey to the wild beasts. Now this may refer to the false prophets that lived in Isaiah's, Jeremiah's, and Ezekiel's time (who flattered the people in their wicked ways, and told them they should have peace though they went on) and to the priests that bore rule by their means. Or it may refer to the wicked princes, the sons of Josiah, that did evil in the sight of the Lord, and other wicked magistrates under them, who betrayed their trust, were vicious and profane, and, instead of making up the breach at which the judgments of God were breaking in upon them, made it wider, and augmented the fierce anger of the Lord instead of doing any thing to turn it away. They should have kept judgment and justice (v. 1), but they abandoned both, Jer 5:1. Or it may refer to those who were the nation's watchmen in our Saviour's time, the chief priests and the scribes, who should have discerned the signs of the times and have given notice to the people of the approach of the Messiah, but who, instead of that, opposed him, and did all they could to keep people from coming to the knowledge of him and to prejudice them against him. It is a very sad character that is here given of these watchmen. Woe unto thee, O land! when thy guides are such. 1. They had no sense or knowledge of their business. They were wretchedly ignorant of their work, and very unfit to teach, being so ill-taught themselves: His watchmen are blind, and therefore utterly unfit to be watchmen. If the seers see not, who shall see for us? If the light that is in us be darkness, how great is that darkness! Christ describes the Pharisees to be blind leaders of the blind, Mat 15:14. The beasts of the field come to devour, and the watchmen are blind, and are not aware of them. They are all ignorant (Isa 56:10), shepherds that cannot understand (Isa 56:11), that know not what is to be done about the sheep, nor can feed them with understanding, Jer 3:15. 2. What little knowledge they had they made no use of it; no one was the better for it. As they were blind watchmen, that could not discern the danger, so they were dumb dogs, that would not give warning of it. And why are the dogs set to guard the sheep if they cannot bark to waken the shepherd and frighten the wolf? Such were these; those that had the charge of souls never reproved men for their faults, nor told them what would be in the end thereof, never gave them notice of the judgments of God that were breaking in upon them. They barked at God's prophets, and bit them too, and worried the sheep, but made no opposition to the wolf or thief. 3. They were very lazy, and would take no pains. They loved their ease, and hated business, were always sleeping, lying down and loving to slumber. They were not overcome and overpowered by sleep, as the disciples, through grief and fatigue, but they lay down on purpose to invite sleep, and said, Soul, take thy ease. Yet a little sleep. It is bad with a people when their shepherds slumber (Nah 3:18), and it is well for God's people that their shepherd, the keeper of Israel, neither slumbers nor sleeps. 4. They were very covetous and eager after the world - greedy dogs that can never have enough. If they had ever so much, they would think it too little. They so love silver as never to be satisfied with silver, Ecc 5:10. All their enquiry is what they shall get, not what they shall do. Let them have the wages, and they care not whether the work be done or no; they feed not the flock, but fleece it. They are every one looking to his own way, minding his own private interests, and have no regard at all to the public welfare. It was St. Paul's complaint of the watchmen in his time (Phi 2:21), All seek their own, not the things that are Jesus Christ's. Every one is for propagating his own opinion, advancing his own party, raising his own family, and having every thing to his own mind, while the common concerns of the public are wretchedly neglected and postponed. They look every one to his gain from his quarter, from his end or part of the work. They are for fain from every quarter (Rem rem quocunque modo rem - Money, money, by fair means or by foul we must have money), but especially from their own quarter, where they will be sure to take care that they lose nothing, nor miss any thing that is to be got. If any one put not into their mouths they not only will do him no service, but they prepare war against him, Mic 3:5. 5. They were perfect epicures, given to their pleasures, never so much in their element as in their drunken revels (Isa 56:12): Come (say they), I will fetch wine (they have that at command; their cellars are better furnished than their closets) and we will fill ourselves, or be drunk, with strong drink. They were often drunk, not overseen (as we say) or overtaken in drink, but designedly. The watchmen did thus invite and encourage one another to drink to excess, or they courted the people to sit and drink with them, and so confirmed those in their wicked ways, and hardened their hearts, whom they should have reproved. How could they think it any harm to be drunk when the watchmen themselves joined with them and led them to it! 6. They were very secure and confident of the continuance of their prosperity and ease; they said, "Tomorrow shall be as this day and much more abundant; we shall have as much to spend upon our lusts tomorrow as we have today." They had no thought at all of their own frailty and mortality, though they were shortening their days and hastening their deaths by their excesses. They had no dread of the judgments of God, though they were daily provoking him and making themselves liable to his wrath and curse. They never considered the uncertainty of all the delights and enjoyments of sense, how they perish in the using and pass away with the lusts of them. They resolved to continue in this wicked course, whatever their consciences said to the contrary, to be as merry tomorrow as they are today. But boast not thyself of tomorrow when perhaps this night thy soul shall be required of thee.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 9–12. Public domain.
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Basil of CaesareaAD 379
LETTER 210:6
In souls, pure and cleansed from all defilement, the prophetic gift shines clear. In a foul mirror you cannot see what the reflection is, neither can a soul preoccupied with cares of this life and darkened with the passions of the lust of the flesh receive the rays of the Holy Spirit. Every dream is not a prophecy, as Zechariah says, “The Lord shall make bright clouds and give them showers of rain … for the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have spoken false dreams.” Those who, as Isaiah says, “dream and love to sleep in their bed” forget that an instigation of error is sent to “the children of disobedience.”
John ChrysostomAD 407
HOMILIES ON GENESIS 12:10
Hence even sacred Scripture, with these sorts of disturbing passions in mind, in many places applies the names of brutes and of wild beasts to those gifted with reason; sometimes it calls them “dogs” on account of their shameful and headstrong behavior—“dumb dogs,” since they are “unable even to bark.”
JeromeAD 420
Commentary on Isaiah
(Verses 10-12.) His spies, blind all, knew nothing: mute dogs unable to bark, seeing vain things, sleeping, and loving dreams. And the most shameless dogs knew not satisfaction: the shepherds themselves ignored understanding: all turned aside unto their own way, each to his own greed, from the highest even unto the lowest. Come, let us take wine, and be filled with drunkenness, and it shall be as today, so tomorrow, and much more. LXX: See that all are blind: they all do not know, mute dogs cannot bark: dreaming of a bed, loving sleep. And impudent dogs have ignored satisfaction. And they are evil, not understanding intelligence: they have followed all their own ways. Each together from its summit. Come, let us take wine, and let us become drunk, and let tomorrow be such a great day, even more so. That all, he says, beasts should come forth from the forest, and devour those gathered together, whether they succeed into the place of the Jews, the crowd of the Gentiles, their spies are in fact the Scribes and Pharisees: because all the blind have not known the Lord Savior, nor did they want to see the present light. To whom the Lord spoke: Foolish and blind, what is more, gold or the altar that sanctifies the gold (Matthew 23:17)? And again: Blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel (ibid., 24); and: Blind leading the blind, both fall into a pit (Matthew 15:14). But as for why they are called watchmen and we have read above. In that place where according to the LXX it says: The voice of your watchmen has been lifted up (Isaiah 52:8), it is written in Hebrew: The voice of your watchmen. Of whom was Ezekiel, to whom God speaks: Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel (Ezekiel 3:17). But those watchmen were not blind. In fact, they were called seers. But these of whom the Prophet is now speaking, are not only blind watchmen, but they are also called dumb dogs, unable to bark. For those who were supposed to protect the flock of the Lord, and drive away the wolves, and bark for the Lord, they love dreams and take pleasure in demonic visions. And it is understood: They cannot speak the truth, but only lies. And they are not satisfied with this, those who slept in the care of the flock of the Lord, and could not bark, and loved the bed, which indicates the pleasure of the body; but among themselves, they did not know the shamelessness of their souls, who are never satisfied with their own error. Those who devour the people of the Lord like the bread, and the houses of widows: and serve their gluttony and lust. For they cannot say: The commandment of the Lord enlightens the eyes (Ps. 18:9), nor know what is written: The wisdom of a man enlightens his face (Prov. 17:24). And they are mute dogs against enemies, of whom it is written: Do not give what is holy to dogs (Matt. 7:6). And they are sleeping dogs, who do not know the commandment: Do not give sleep to your eyes, and slumber to your eyelids (Ps. 131); and again: Watch, because you do not know at what hour your Lord will come (Matt. 24:42). And for this reason, giving a place to the devil, they are shameless dogs, who are never satisfied. For they vomit what they have eaten, and they return to their vomit (Prov. XXVI). Of whom Peter the Apostle also speaks: That true proverb has happened to them: The dog has returned to its own vomit, and the sow that was washed to the wallowing in the mire (II Pet. II, 22). The following discourse shows that these spies and dogs are the same as the shepherds: The shepherds themselves have neglected understanding. For the Hebrew word 'Roim' (also spelled 'Rom') which is written with four letters, 'resh' and 'ayin' and 'yod' and 'mem', if it is read as 'roim', it means shepherds; if it is read as 'raim', it sounds like the worst. We have said this to show the reasons for the various interpretations. For everyone has sought their own things, and not the things that are of God, nor have they walked in the way of the Lord (Philippians 2), of which it is written: Seek what the good way is, and walk in it (Jeremiah 6:16). But according to what is read in the Book of Judges: There was no king in Israel; everyone did what he thought was right, and followed his own errors (Judges 17:6), and what follows: Everyone to his own greed, from the greatest to the least: come, let us take wine, and let us fill ourselves with drunkenness, and it will be as today, so also tomorrow, and much more, is not found in the Seventy Interpreters, but is added from the Hebrew, indicated by the shining stars. Finally, no interpreter of the Church has discussed these verses, but they leap and pass over it as if it were an open pit. However, what he says is this, that is, because they have turned away from the way of the Lord, they have followed their own paths. Therefore, greed burns from top to bottom, from leaders to the common people, so that after they have started to strike their fellow servants and eat and drink with the drunkards, they say: Come, let us take wine and be filled with drunkenness. Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. And it will be as today, so also tomorrow: and much more (I Corinthians XV, 2). This is what has been said above: They did not know satiety; nor are they satisfied with past pleasure, but they prepare for future delights, much greater than those they had previously enjoyed. If this is said of the leaders of the Jews, because of whom the people were devoured by beasts, let us avoid the examples of the wicked, let us not be drunk with wine, in which there is luxury, nor overwhelmed by pleasures; let us not be silent in speaking, but let us be fierce dogs against our adversaries; rather, let us follow the ways of God rather than our own, and let us heed the Scripture that warns us: Taste and see that the Lord is good (Wisdom I, 1). And again: The best intelligence is for those who do it. And if we were dogs, let us not despair of salvation, hearing the words of the Canaanite woman saying to the Lord: Yes, Lord, for even the little dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table (Matthew XV, 27). For this reason, having obtained mercy, she hears from the Lord: O woman, great is your faith: let it be done to you as you wish. For she could have said with the Prophet: I have run in the way of your commandments (Psalm CXVIII, 32). Again: Lead me on the straight path.
Gregory the DialogistAD 604
Forty Gospel Homilies, Homily 40
Sometimes in sacred speech preachers are understood by dogs. For the tongue of a dog, when it licks a wound, heals it, because holy teachers too, when they instruct us in the confession of our sin, touch as it were the wound of the mind through their tongue; and because by speaking they rescue us from sins, by touching wounds as it were they restore us to health. For that by the name of dogs the tongue of preachers is signified, the Lord says through the Psalmist: "The tongue of your dogs from enemies, from him." For from the unbelieving Jews the holy preachers were chosen, who, coming against thieves and robbers in defense of the truth, gave great barkings, so to speak, for the Lord. Against this it is said of certain reprobates: "Dumb dogs, not able to bark." Because therefore holy preachers condemn sins, but approve the confession of sins, saying: "Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be saved," dogs lick the sores of Lazarus.
Ishodad of MervAD 850
COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 56:10
“They are all stammering dogs” who stutter the praise of God and “cannot bark” against the idols, as against strangers. “They dream, lay down and love to slumber,” that is, they love to sleep in the graves and in the places where sacrifices are offered to demons, and there they expect from them visions, dreams and ghosts.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Isaiah 56:10 delivers a scathing prophetic indictment against the spiritual leaders of Israel, metaphorically portraying them as ineffective "watchmen" who are blind, ignorant, and silent like "dumb dogs." Instead of vigilantly guarding and guiding the people, they are depicted as lethargic and self-indulgent, preoccupied with their own ease rather than the spiritual well-being of the flock. This verse serves as a powerful condemnation of dereliction of duty among those entrusted with divine oversight, highlighting a profound failure of discernment, warning, and care that leaves God's people vulnerable.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Isaiah 56:10 is rich in powerful Metaphor and vivid Imagery, primarily comparing the spiritual leaders of Israel to "watchmen" and "dogs." The metaphor of "watchmen" (tsophim) immediately evokes a sense of responsibility, vigilance, and the crucial duty of warning a community of impending danger. By describing these watchmen as "blind" and "ignorant," the prophet employs a striking Irony: those appointed to see and know are precisely those who lack discernment. This irony is further amplified by the subsequent metaphor of "dumb dogs." Dogs, especially in their role as guard animals, are known for their protective instincts and their bark as a warning. To call them "dumb dogs" that "cannot bark" is a biting Oxymoron, highlighting their utter uselessness and failure to fulfill their most basic and expected function. The cumulative effect of "sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber" uses Repetition and Parallelism to emphasize their profound spiritual lethargy, self-indulgence, and dereliction of duty, creating a damning portrait of leaders consumed by apathy rather than vigilance. The language is sharp and accusatory, designed to provoke a strong emotional and spiritual response to the severity of their negligence.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 56:10 offers a profound theological statement on the nature of spiritual leadership and accountability. It underscores God's expectation that those entrusted with guiding His people will be characterized by vigilance, discernment, and selfless service, not by personal comfort or spiritual apathy. The failure of these "watchmen" is not merely a practical oversight but a deep theological breach, as it directly impacts the spiritual health and safety of the covenant community. Their blindness and ignorance signify a departure from divine truth, while their silence as "dumb dogs" represents a betrayal of their prophetic duty to speak God's word, warn against sin, and call for righteousness. This dereliction of duty leaves the flock vulnerable to spiritual dangers, false teachings, and moral decay, demonstrating that negligent leadership is a grave offense against God and His people. The passage implicitly highlights God's justice in holding leaders accountable for their stewardship, emphasizing that divine appointment comes with weighty responsibility.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah 56:10 serves as a timeless and sobering warning for all who are called to positions of spiritual influence, whether in the church, the home, or any sphere of leadership. It challenges us to examine our own vigilance and discernment, asking whether we are truly "watchmen" who are alert to spiritual dangers and committed to speaking truth, or if we have become complacent, prioritizing personal comfort over the well-being of those we are called to serve. For congregants, this verse encourages prayerful discernment regarding those who lead them, fostering a healthy expectation of biblical faithfulness and vigilance, and also prompts self-reflection on our own spiritual alertness. It calls us to be proactive in identifying and addressing spiritual apathy within ourselves and our communities, ensuring that the flock of God is not left vulnerable due to the silence or slumber of its guardians. Ultimately, it is a call to radical faithfulness, urging all believers to embrace their role in upholding righteousness and warning against spiritual compromise, recognizing that true leadership is marked by selfless dedication and a clear, uncompromised voice for God's truth, reflecting the character of Christ.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Who are the "watchmen" referred to in Isaiah 56:10?
Answer: The "watchmen" (Hebrew: tsophim) in Isaiah 56:10 refer primarily to the spiritual and political leaders of Israel during the prophet's time. This would typically include priests, prophets, elders, and possibly even kings or other officials who were responsible for guiding the nation in God's ways and protecting them from spiritual and physical dangers. They were meant to be vigilant guardians, discerning God's will and warning the people of sin, idolatry, or impending judgment. The prophet's scathing indictment is against those who, despite their designated role, had become spiritually blind, ignorant, and negligent, failing to fulfill their divine mandate. This concept of a watchman's responsibility, and the grave consequences of neglecting it, is clearly articulated in passages like Ezekiel 33:1-9.
Why are the leaders called "dumb dogs" that "cannot bark"?
Answer: The metaphor of "dumb dogs" (Hebrew: kĕlābîm 'illĕmîm) is a powerful and highly pejorative image. Dogs in ancient Israel were often used as guard animals, valued for their ability to bark and alert their owners to intruders or danger. To call them "dumb" or "silent" (H483, ʼillêm') means they are utterly useless for their most basic and vital function. In the context of spiritual leadership, this means the leaders failed to speak out against sin, injustice, or false teaching. They did not "bark" a warning to the people, leaving them vulnerable to spiritual harm and moral decay. This imagery emphasizes their profound dereliction of duty and their failure to protect the flock entrusted to their care, a stark contrast to the expected role of a true shepherd or prophet, as seen in Jeremiah 6:17.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Isaiah 56:10, with its scathing indictment of negligent watchmen, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment not in a direct prophecy, but in the stark contrast it provides to the perfect Shepherd, Jesus Christ. While the Old Testament watchmen were blind, ignorant, and self-serving, Jesus embodies the vigilant, discerning, and self-sacrificial leader. He is the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep, unlike the hirelings who flee when danger approaches. He is not "blind" or "ignorant" but is the full revelation of God, the Light of the World who illuminates truth and exposes darkness. Far from being "dumb dogs" who cannot bark, Jesus is the Living Word of God, who spoke with unparalleled authority, warning of sin and judgment while proclaiming the way to eternal life. His ministry was characterized by tireless vigilance and compassion, never "sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber," but constantly seeking and saving the lost (Luke 19:10). Thus, Isaiah's condemnation of failed leadership serves as a powerful backdrop, highlighting the unparalleled perfection and faithfulness of Christ, who perfectly fulfilled the role of the ultimate Watchman and Shepherd for His people, ensuring their eternal safety and guidance.