Isaiah 59:10

We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if [we had] no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the night; [we are] in desolate places as dead [men].

We grope {H1659} for the wall {H7023} like the blind {H5787}, and we grope {H1659} as if we had no eyes {H5869}: we stumble {H3782} at noonday {H6672} as in the night {H5399}; we are in desolate {H820} places as dead {H4191} men.

We grope for the wall like the blind; like people without eyes we feel our way; we stumble at noonday as if it were dusk, we are in dark places like the dead.

Like the blind, we feel our way along the wall, groping like those without eyes. We stumble at midday as in the twilight; among the vigorous we are like the dead.

We grope for the wall like the blind; yea, we grope as they that have no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the twilight; among them that are lusty we are as dead men.

Commentary

Isaiah 59:10 is a poignant verse from a chapter where the prophet Isaiah articulates a powerful confession of sin on behalf of the nation of Israel. It vividly portrays the spiritual and moral decay that has afflicted the people, leading to a state of profound confusion and helplessness.

Context

Chapter 59 of Isaiah begins by clarifying that God's power is not diminished, nor is He unable to hear His people; rather, their own sins and iniquities have created a barrier between them and their God. Verses 3-8 detail the pervasive wickedness: hands defiled with blood, lips speaking lies, injustice, violence, and deceit. Following this indictment, verses 9-15a, including verse 10, shift to a collective lament and confession. The people acknowledge the consequences of their actions, admitting their inability to find justice, light, or truth. This verse is a stark admission of their self-inflicted spiritual blindness.

Key Themes

  • Spiritual Blindness and Moral Confusion: The imagery of groping for a wall like the blind and stumbling at midday perfectly illustrates a people who, despite having access to God's truth, are unable to discern right from wrong. They are spiritually lost, even in what should be the clearest light.
  • Helplessness and Despair: The act of "groping" signifies a profound lack of direction and stability. They are unable to navigate life's path, metaphorically stumbling and finding themselves in "desolate places" or situations of despair.
  • Consequences of Sin: The verse powerfully conveys that sin leads to a state of spiritual desolation and a separation from the life-giving presence of God, leaving them feeling like "dead men" in terms of spiritual vitality and hope.
  • Confession and Acknowledgment: Despite the grim picture, the very act of this confession (along with the preceding verses) indicates a crucial, albeit painful, awareness of their fallen state, a necessary first step towards repentance.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV uses strong, evocative language to convey the depth of Israel's spiritual plight:

  • "Grope" (Hebrew: maggeshesh): This word vividly describes the fumbling, uncertain movements of someone without sight, searching desperately for stability or direction. It emphasizes the complete disorientation of the people.
  • "Stumble" (Hebrew: kashal): To totter, to fall, to be weak. It implies an inability to maintain one's footing, leading to repeated failures and mishaps.
  • "Noon day" (Hebrew: tsohorayim): The brightest part of the day, when visibility is at its peak. The fact that they stumble even at noon highlights the unnatural and self-imposed nature of their spiritual blindness; they are blind not because of external darkness, but because of internal moral corruption.
  • "As dead men": This phrase conveys a profound sense of spiritual lifelessness and despair. Their condition is akin to being spiritually inert, without the vitality or guidance that comes from God.

Practical Application

Isaiah 59:10 serves as a timeless warning and a call to introspection for all people:

  • Self-Examination: Do we, like ancient Israel, sometimes grope in spiritual darkness despite having the light of God's Word? It prompts us to examine our own lives for areas where sin might be causing spiritual blindness and hindering our walk with God.
  • Need for Divine Guidance: This verse underscores our inherent inability to navigate life successfully without God's guidance. Just as a blind person needs a guide, we need the light of Christ to illuminate our path and prevent us from stumbling.
  • Consequences of Unconfessed Sin: The passage reminds us that continued sin leads to spiritual confusion, despair, and a sense of separation from God, illustrating the truth that the wages of sin is death, even spiritual death.
  • Call to Repentance: The acknowledgment of their blindness and helplessness is a crucial step towards seeking God's forgiveness and restoration. It reminds us that true understanding begins with confessing our spiritual shortcomings and turning back to the Lord. As Jesus taught, those who acknowledge their spiritual need are the ones who can truly see (John 9:39-41).
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Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 28:29 (5 votes)

    And thou shalt grope at noonday, as the blind gropeth in darkness, and thou shalt not prosper in thy ways: and thou shalt be only oppressed and spoiled evermore, and no man shall save [thee].

  • Job 5:14 (4 votes)

    They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope in the noonday as in the night.

  • Lamentations 3:6 (3 votes)

    He hath set me in dark places, as [they that be] dead of old.

  • John 12:40 (2 votes)

    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.

  • Proverbs 4:19 (2 votes)

    The way of the wicked [is] as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

  • John 12:35 (2 votes)

    Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.

  • 1 John 2:11 (2 votes)

    But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.