Isaiah 6:10

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

Make the heart {H3820} of this people {H5971} fat {H8080}, and make their ears {H241} heavy {H3513}, and shut {H8173} their eyes {H5869}; lest they see {H7200} with their eyes {H5869}, and hear {H8085} with their ears {H241}, and understand {H995} with their heart {H3824}, and convert {H7725}, and be healed {H7495}.

Complete Jewish Bible

"Make the heart of this people [sluggish with] fat, stop up their ears, and shut their eyes. Otherwise, seeing with their eyes, and hearing with their ears, then understanding with their hearts, they might repent and be healed!"

Berean Standard Bible

Make the hearts of this people calloused; deafen their ears and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”

American Standard Version

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 turn again, and be healed.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 6:10 presents a challenging aspect of Isaiah's prophetic commission, where God instructs him to deliver a message that will, by its very nature, confirm and deepen the existing spiritual insensitivity of the people of Judah. This verse reveals a divine judgment upon a persistently rebellious nation, explaining that their continued rejection of God's truth will lead to an inability to perceive, understand, and ultimately respond to His call for repentance and spiritual healing. It underscores the profound consequences of spiritual apathy and the sovereign outworking of God's justice in the face of human obstinacy.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Isaiah 6:10 is the climactic and sobering instruction within Isaiah's inaugural vision and call to prophetic ministry. The chapter begins with a magnificent vision of God enthroned in glory, prompting Isaiah's profound sense of unworthiness and confession of sin (`/isaiah/6-5 "Isaiah 6:5 - Isaiah's Confession"`). Following his purification by a seraph (`/isaiah/6-6 "Isaiah 6:6 - Seraph's Purification"`), God asks, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" to which Isaiah responds with humble readiness, "Here am I; send me" (`/isaiah/6-8 "Isaiah 6:8 - Isaiah's Willingness"`). It is immediately after this eager acceptance that God delivers the seemingly paradoxical and harsh commission found in verse 9 and elaborated in verse 10. This commission sets the tone for much of Isaiah's subsequent ministry, explaining why his powerful messages of warning and hope would largely fall on deaf ears, leading to the eventual judgment of exile. The verse serves as a theological explanation for the apparent futility of prophetic ministry when faced with entrenched rebellion.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Isaiah's ministry took place during a tumultuous period in Judah's history, spanning the reigns of Kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (c. 740-681 BC). King Uzziah's reign, though long and prosperous, ended with his leprosy due to presumption (`/2_chronicles/26 "2 Chronicles 26 - King Uzziah's Reign"`), symbolizing a broader spiritual decay within the nation. Judah, though ostensibly God's covenant people, had largely abandoned true worship for idolatry, social injustice, and political alliances that defied God's command for trust in Him alone. The people were steeped in moral corruption and spiritual apathy, having repeatedly ignored the warnings of earlier prophets. Culturally, the "heart," "ears," and "eyes" were understood as the primary organs of perception, understanding, and moral decision-making. To "fatten" the heart, "make heavy" the ears, and "shut" the eyes was a vivid metaphor for rendering someone utterly unresponsive to truth, a condition that had already begun to manifest in Judah due to their persistent sin.

* **Key Themes:** Isaiah 6:10 contributes significantly to several major themes within the book of Isaiah and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Sovereignty and Judgment**, demonstrating God's ultimate control over the hearts of humanity, even in judgment. This hardening is not arbitrary but a righteous consequence of persistent human rebellion and rejection of truth. Secondly, it powerfully illustrates the theme of **Spiritual Blindness and Deafness**, a pervasive condition among those who refuse to acknowledge God's revelation. This spiritual dullness prevents them from seeing God's truth, hearing His warnings, and understanding His ways, as also seen in passages like [Jeremiah 5:21](/jeremiah/5-21 "Jeremiah 5:21 - Eyes that See Not, Ears that Hear Not"). Thirdly, the verse underscores the **Consequence of Persistent Rejection**, showing that repeated refusal to heed God's voice can lead to a state where repentance becomes impossible, a principle echoed in [Proverbs 29:1](/proverbs/29-1 "Proverbs 29:1 - He Who Is Often Rebuked"). Finally, it subtly introduces the theme of **The Remnant**, implying that while the majority will be hardened, a faithful few will remain, capable of seeing, hearing, and understanding, a concept developed further in [Isaiah 10:20-22](/isaiah/10-20 "Isaiah 10:20-22 - The Remnant of Israel").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **fat (Hebrew, _shâman'_):** From H8080, meaning "to shine," but by analogy "to be (causatively, make) oily or gross; become (make, wax) fat." In this context, "fat" refers to a spiritual dullness or insensitivity. A "fat heart" is one that is unresponsive, hardened, and impervious to divine truth, much like a body that is overly nourished becomes sluggish and unresponsive to physical demands. It implies a state of spiritual complacency and self-satisfaction that renders one incapable of spiritual discernment.
* **heavy (Hebrew, _kâbad'_):** From H3513, meaning "to be heavy," encompassing senses like "burdensome, severe, dull." When applied to ears, it signifies a dullness of hearing, an inability or unwillingness to perceive spiritual realities or the voice of God. This is not a physical impairment but a spiritual one, where the ears are so weighed down by sin or worldly concerns that they cannot receive and process divine instruction.
* **convert (Hebrew, _shûwb'_):** From H7725, a primitive root meaning "to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively." It is a crucial term for repentance in the Old Testament, signifying a fundamental change of direction, a turning away from sin and back towards God. The verse highlights that the hardening is precisely to prevent this essential turning, which is the prerequisite for spiritual healing.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Make the heart of this people fat,"**: This clause describes the spiritual condition of the people. The "heart" (H3820, _lêb_) in Hebrew thought is the seat of intellect, will, emotion, and moral decision. To "make it fat" (H8080, _shâman_) means to render it dull, insensitive, and unresponsive to God's truth and commands. This is a divine judgment that confirms and solidifies the people's pre-existing spiritual apathy and rebellion.
* **"and make their ears heavy,"**: This continues the description of spiritual dullness. "Ears" (H241, _ʼôzen_) are for hearing and receiving instruction. To "make them heavy" (H3513, _kâbad_) implies making them dull of hearing, unable or unwilling to perceive God's voice or prophetic warnings. They are spiritually deaf to divine revelation.
* **"and shut their eyes;"**: This completes the triad of impaired spiritual senses. "Eyes" (H5869, _ʻayin_) are for seeing and discerning. To "shut" (H8173, _shâʻaʻ_) them means to blind them, preventing spiritual sight and understanding. The people are spiritually blind, unable to discern God's hand in history or His truth in the prophetic word.
* **"lest they see with their eyes,"**: This clause introduces the purpose of the hardening. The divine action (or consequence of their sin) is intended to prevent them from truly "seeing" (H7200, _râʼâh_) with spiritual insight.
* **"and hear with their ears,"**: Similarly, the hardening prevents them from truly "hearing" (H8085, _shâmaʻ_) with understanding and obedience.
* **"and understand with their heart,"**: This emphasizes the deeper cognitive and volitional aspect. The hardening prevents them from "understanding" (H995, _bîyn_), which involves mental separation and discernment, with their "heart" (H3824, _lêbâb_), the core of their being.
* **"and convert,"**: This is the crucial turning point. "Convert" (H7725, _shûwb_) signifies repentance, a turning away from sin and back to God. The divine judgment is specifically designed to prevent this turning for those who have persistently rejected Him.
* **"and be healed."**: The final consequence. "Healed" (H7495, _râphâʼ_) here refers to spiritual restoration, reconciliation with God, and the mending of the broken covenant relationship. Without conversion, spiritual healing is impossible.

#### Literary Devices
Isaiah 6:10 is rich in **Metaphor** and **Symbolism**. The "fat heart," "heavy ears," and "shut eyes" are powerful metaphors for spiritual apathy, dullness, and blindness. These physical ailments symbolize a deep-seated spiritual condition where the people are unwilling or unable to perceive divine truth. The imagery vividly conveys a state of spiritual insensitivity that has rendered them impervious to God's message. There is also a profound **Irony** present: the prophet's mission, which is inherently meant to bring light, understanding, and healing, is paradoxically commissioned to solidify the very spiritual maladies it aims to cure. This highlights the severe consequences of persistent rebellion, where even God's gracious attempts to communicate become a catalyst for judgment. Furthermore, the passage employs **Anthropomorphism**, attributing human-like actions ("make fat," "make heavy," "shut") to God, describing His sovereign response to human sin in terms that emphasize the decisive nature of His judgment.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 6:10 is a foundational text for understanding the biblical concept of divine hardening, a complex theological truth that underscores both God's sovereignty and humanity's responsibility. It teaches that while God can, in His righteous judgment, confirm a people in their rebellion, this hardening is always a response to their persistent and willful rejection of His truth and grace. It is not an arbitrary act but the just consequence of a people who have repeatedly refused to see, hear, and understand. This passage serves as a theological explanation for the apparent ineffectiveness of much of God's prophetic witness throughout Israel's history, revealing that the divine message, intended for salvation, can become a means of judgment for those who resist it. The ultimate goal, "lest they... convert, and be healed," reveals God's desire for healing, which is tragically thwarted by human obstinacy, leading to a judicial hardening.

* [Matthew 13:14-15](/matthew/13-14 "Matthew 13:14-15 - Jesus Explains Parables")
* [John 12:40](/john/12-40 "John 12:40 - John's Application of Isaiah's Prophecy")
* [Acts 28:26-27](/acts/28-26 "Acts 28:26-27 - Paul's Application to Roman Jews")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah 6:10 serves as a profound and sobering mirror for personal and communal spiritual health. It compels us to critically examine the state of our own hearts, ears, and eyes in relation to God's Word. Are we truly open, receptive, and eager to receive divine truth, or have we allowed the distractions, comforts, and sins of the world to "fatten" our hearts, "make heavy" our ears, and "shut" our eyes? This verse is a stark warning that persistent apathy, willful ignorance, or outright rebellion against God's revealed truth can lead to a spiritual condition where genuine repentance and healing become increasingly difficult, if not impossible. It highlights the critical importance of cultivating a humble, teachable spirit, one that actively seeks to hear, see, and understand God's will. Our response to God's word today determines our spiritual trajectory; to ignore or reject it is to risk a deepening of spiritual insensitivity, preventing the very healing and restoration God desires to offer.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be allowing my "heart to become fat," my "ears heavy," or my "eyes shut" to God's truth?**
* **What specific actions can I take to cultivate a more receptive and humble spirit towards God's Word and His leading?**
* **How does the concept of divine hardening, as seen in Isaiah 6:10, challenge or affirm my understanding of God's justice and sovereignty?**
* **Considering the phrase "lest they... convert, and be healed," what does this verse teach me about the absolute necessity and profound blessing of repentance?**

### FAQ
**Does God literally cause people to be spiritually dull and unresponsive?**

Answer: This is a complex theological question. While the language of Isaiah 6:10 ("Make... fat," "make... heavy," "shut") appears to describe a direct divine action, biblical scholars generally understand this as a judicial hardening. It's not that God arbitrarily makes people insensitive, but rather that He confirms and intensifies the spiritual dullness that they have already chosen for themselves through persistent rebellion and rejection of His truth. God's message, intended to bring light and life, becomes a catalyst for judgment for those who continually refuse to respond. It's a consequence of their own free will and ongoing sin, where God's righteous judgment allows them to experience the full effect of their chosen path. This is similar to how Pharaoh's heart was hardened in Exodus; God hardened what was already hard (`/exodus/7-3 "Exodus 7:3 - God Hardens Pharaoh's Heart"`).

**How does Isaiah 6:10 relate to New Testament teachings about spiritual blindness and the Gospel?**

Answer: Isaiah 6:10 is one of the most frequently quoted Old Testament passages in the New Testament, particularly by Jesus and the apostles, to explain why many rejected the Gospel. Jesus quotes it in [Matthew 13:14-15](/matthew/13-14 "Matthew 13:14-15 - Jesus Explains Parables") to explain why He spoke in parables: to reveal truth to those open to it, and to obscure it from those whose hearts were already hardened, thus fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy. John applies it in [John 12:40](/john/12-40 "John 12:40 - John's Application of Isaiah's Prophecy") to explain the widespread unbelief among the Jewish people despite Jesus's miracles. Paul also uses it in [Acts 28:26-27](/acts/28-26 "Acts 28:26-27 - Paul's Application to Roman Jews") when addressing the Jewish leaders in Rome, demonstrating that their rejection of the Gospel was a continuation of this ancient spiritual blindness. The New Testament uses Isaiah 6:10 to show that the pattern of spiritual insensitivity and judicial hardening, first seen in Isaiah's day, continued into the time of Christ and the early church, explaining why the message of salvation was rejected by so many, particularly those who were most familiar with God's law.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Isaiah 6:10, with its stark portrayal of spiritual blindness and hardening, finds its ultimate and profound fulfillment in the person and ministry of Jesus Christ. While Isaiah's commission explained the rejection of God's message in his day, it prophetically foreshadowed the greater spiritual resistance encountered by the Lord of Glory Himself. Jesus, the Light of the World (`/john/8-12 "John 8:12 - Jesus, Light of the World"`), came to open blind eyes and unstop deaf ears, yet many, particularly those who should have recognized Him, remained hardened. His parables, as explained in [Matthew 13:10-17](/matthew/13-10 "Matthew 13:10-17 - Purpose of Parables"), served precisely the purpose described in Isaiah 6:10: to reveal truth to those with "ears to hear" and "eyes to see," while simultaneously obscuring it from those whose hearts were already "fat," ears "heavy," and eyes "shut." The tragic irony is that the very presence of God incarnate, the ultimate revelation of truth, solidified the judgment upon those who stubbornly refused to believe (`/john/3-19 "John 3:19 - Light Has Come Into the World"`). However, for those who *do* turn, Christ is the ultimate physician (`/matthew/9-12 "Matthew 9:12 - Jesus Heals the Sick"`), offering true spiritual sight, hearing, understanding, and complete healing through His atoning sacrifice on the cross and resurrection. He is the one who enables genuine conversion (`/acts/3-19 "Acts 3:19 - Repent and Be Converted"`) and offers the spiritual healing that Isaiah 6:10 describes as being withheld from the unrepentant, demonstrating that God's desire for healing is ultimately realized in those who embrace His Son.

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

Matthew 13:15

For this people's heart is waxed gross, and [their] ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with [their] eyes, and hear with [their] ears, and should understand with [their] heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

Acts 28:27

For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with [their] eyes, and hear with [their] ears, and understand with [their] heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

Jeremiah 5:21

Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not:

Jeremiah 6:10

To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear [is] uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the LORD is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it.

John 3:19

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

John 3:20

For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

Zechariah 7:11

But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.