Isaiah 42:18

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 42:18-25

The prophet, having spoken by way of comfort and encouragement to the believing Jews who waited for the consolation of Israel, here turns to those among them who were unbelieving, for their conviction and humiliation. Among those who were in captivity in Babylon there were some who were as the evil figs in Jeremiah's vision, who were sent thither for their hurt, to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth, for a reproach and a proverb, Jer. 24:9. In them there was a type of the Jews who... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 42:18

Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see. Jarchi and Kimchi think these words are spoken to Israel, who, as Aben Ezra says, were deaf and blind in heart; but they are rather an exhortation to the Gentiles that remained impenitent and unbelieving, and who were deaf to the voice of the Gospel, and blind as to the knowledge of it; and the purport of the exhortation is, that they would make use of their external hearing and sight, which they had, that they might attain to a spiritual... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 42:10-25

A new song to Jehovah. Caught up in his ecstasy to a high place of vision, the prophet sees all the nations of mankind deriving blessing from the ministry of Israel, and calls upon them to join in a song of praise. God's goodness in providing a Redeemer demands the thanksgiving of all the world. I. THE SONG AND THE SINGERS . The new song is named in the Psalter ( Psalms 96:1 ; Psalms 98:1 ), meaning a song inspired by the sense of new mercies. All parts of the earth are to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 42:18

Hear, ye deaf . The "deaf" are not absolutely without hearing, nor the "blind" absolutely without sight. They can "hear" and "see," if they choose to do so. When they do not see, it is because they "wink with their eyes" ( Matthew 13:15 ); when they do not hear, it is because, like the deaf adder, they "stop their ears" ( Psalms 58:4 ). This, at any rate, is the case with the majority. There may be some who have deadened their moral vision altogether, and have no longer any "ears to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 42:18-25

ADDRESS TO CAPTIVE ISRAEL , CALLING UPON THEM TO TURN TO GOD , AND REMINDING THEM THAT THEY HAVE DESERVED THEIR AFFLICTIONS . By some critics the earlier verses of this passage ( Isaiah 42:19-21 ) are regarded as having reference to the "Servant of the Lord" depicted in Isaiah 42:1-7 , and as calling on the captive Jews to consider his voluntary humiliation, and the object of it. But this view seems to be strained. It requires "deaf" and "blind' to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 42:18-25

The blindness of Israel. The "blindness" of Israel is a subject of continual remark in Scripture from the time of Moses ( Deuteronomy 28:28 , Deuteronomy 28:29 ) to that of St. Paul ( Romans 11:25 ). Four things may be noted of it. I. IT IS SELF - CAUSED . The Israelites "blinded themselves," and so became blind ( Isaiah 29:9 , with the comment). They "winked with their eyes," closed them against the light which shone on them from on high, and thus gradually by disuse... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 42:18

Hear, ye deaf - This is evidently an address to the Jews, and probably to the Jews of the time of the prophet. He had been predicting the coming of the Messiah, and the influence of his religion on the Gentile world. He had said that God would go forth to destroy the idolatry of the pagan nations, and to convince them of the folly of the worship of images, and to confound them for putting their trust in them. He seems here to have recollected that this was the easily-besetting sin of his own... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 42:18-20

Isaiah 42:18-20. Hear, ye deaf, &c. O you, whosoever you are, whether Jews or Gentiles, who shall resist this clear light, and obstinately continue in your former errors, attend diligently to my words, and consider these mighty works of God. Who is blind but my servant? But no people under heaven are so blind as the Jews, who call themselves my servants and people, who will not receive their Messiah, though he be recommended to them with such evident and illustrious signs and... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Isaiah 42:1-25

Success and failure of God’s servant (42:1-25)In the previous chapter the servant of Yahweh was identified with Israel (see 41:8). Israel is probably again the servant who is identified here, but the ideals outlined in this song never became a reality in the nation. They did, to some extent, characterize the faithful remnant, but they found their perfect expression only in the one who embodied the ideals God desired, Jesus Christ. The prophet foresees that this servant of Yahweh, though... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Isaiah 42:18

Hear. Note the call to hear in the Structure, corresponding with the call in Isaiah 42:23 . read more

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