Read & explore together
Israel Is Deaf and Blind
Isaiah 42:18–25 confronts God’s people with a hard truth. They are called deaf and blind because they do not respond to Yahweh. The passage explains both their guilt and the judgement that has fallen on them.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
Within this passage, Yahweh speaks directly, calling for hearing and seeing. He describes his servant, messenger, Jacob, and Israel as unresponsive, while affirming the honour of his law. The passage then links the people’s plunder, captivity, battle, and burning to their sin and disobedience.
Isaiah 42:18–25Main takeaway
Isaiah 42:18–25 teaches that Yahweh’s law is right, and refusing his ways leads to judgement that people must take seriously.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Called to hear and seeThe passage opens with a command to the deaf and blind to hear, look, and see. The words show that the issue is not presented as simple lack of sight or hearing, but as failure to respond to Yahweh’s call.
Explanation
The passage opens with a command to the deaf and blind to hear, look, and see. The words show that the issue is not presented as simple lack of sight or hearing, but as failure to respond to Yahweh’s call. The people are summoned to attention.
02The servant who does not listenYahweh then asks who is as blind as his servant and as deaf as his messenger. The people are described as seeing many things without observing, and having open ears without listening.
Explanation
Yahweh then asks who is as blind as his servant and as deaf as his messenger. The people are described as seeing many things without observing, and having open ears without listening. The language exposes a deep spiritual dullness in those meant to belong to Yahweh.
03Yahweh’s law remains honourableThe fault does not lie with Yahweh or his instruction. The passage says it pleased Yahweh, for his righteousness’ sake, to magnify the law and make it honourable.
Explanation
The fault does not lie with Yahweh or his instruction. The passage says it pleased Yahweh, for his righteousness’ sake, to magnify the law and make it honourable. His standard is upheld even while his people fail to walk in his ways and disobey it.
04Plundered people who do not take it to heartThe people are robbed, trapped, hidden in prisons, and made captives, with no one calling for restoration.
Explanation
The people are robbed, trapped, hidden in prisons, and made captives, with no one calling for restoration. The text says Yahweh gave Jacob and Israel over because they sinned and disobeyed his law. Even battle and burning did not bring understanding, and they did not take it to heart.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What commands begin this passage, and what do they show about the people’s need?
Look at the opening call to hear, look, and see, then compare it with the description of people who do not truly respond.
02How does the passage describe Yahweh’s law?
Find the verse that says Yahweh magnified the law and made it honourable, then notice the contrast with the people’s disobedience.
03According to the passage, why did Jacob and Israel become plunder?
The text directly answers this by naming sin, refusal to walk in Yahweh’s ways, and disobedience to his law.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Isaiah 42:18–25
18“Hear, you deaf, and look, you blind, that you may see.
19Who is blind, but my servant? Or who is as deaf as my messenger whom I send? Who is as blind as he who is at peace, and as blind as Yahweh’s servant?
20You see many things, but don’t observe. His ears are open, but he doesn’t listen.
21It pleased Yahweh, for his righteousness’ sake, to magnify the law and make it honorable.
22But this is a robbed and plundered people. All of them are snared in holes, and they are hidden in prisons. They have become captives, and no one delivers, and a plunder, and no one says, ‘Restore them!’
23Who is there among you who will give ear to this? Who will listen and hear for the time to come?
24Who gave Jacob as plunder, and Israel to the robbers? Didn’t Yahweh, he against whom we have sinned? For they would not walk in his ways, and they disobeyed his law.
25Therefore he poured the fierceness of his anger on him, and the strength of battle. It set him on fire all around, but he didn’t know. It burned him, but he didn’t take it to heart.”