Ear

The ears appear in a variety of expressions in both Testaments. To speak to someone's ears was to speak to them or speak in their hearing (Genesis 44:18; Genesis 50:4 ). To incline the ear was to listen (2 Kings 19:16 ) or even to obey (Jeremiah 11:8 ). To give ear was to pay careful attention (Job 32:11 ). To turn the ears toward wisdom (Proverbs 2:2 ) was to desire understanding. Dull, heavy, closed, or uncircumcised ears expressed inattentiveness and disobedience (Isaiah 6:10; Jeremiah 6:10; Acts 7:51 ). To stop the ears was to refuse to listen (Acts 7:57 ). Open ears were obedient, hearing ears. Open ears are a gift of God (Psalm 40:6 ) who sometimes uses adversity to open deaf ears (Job 36:15 ). To awake the ears was to make someone teachable (Isaiah 50:4 ). To uncover or open the ear was to reveal something (Isaiah 50:5 ). To let words sink into ones ears was to thoroughly understand (Luke 9:44 ). Sometimes the functions of the mind were attributed to the ear. Thus the ear exercised judgment (Job 12:11 ) and understanding (Job 13:1 ).