Isaiah 43 · Verse 8

Isaiah 43:8

Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears.
Isaiah 43:8, King James Version

Isaiah 43:8 in other translations

BSBBring out a people who have eyes but are blind, and who have ears but are deaf.
WEBBring out the blind people who have eyes, and the deaf who have ears.
ASVBring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears.
YLTHe brought out a blind people who have eyes, And deaf ones who have ears.
DARBYBring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears.
BBESend out the blind people who have eyes, and those who have ears, but they are shut.
WebsterBring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears.

What does Isaiah 43:8 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
8. Solemn challenge given by God to the nations to argue with Him the question of His superiority to their idols, and His power to deliver Israel (Is 41:1). blind people--the Gentiles, who also, like Israel (Is 42:19), are blind (spiritually), though having eyes; that is, natural faculties, whereby they might know God (Ro 1:20, 21) [Lowth]. Or else, the Jews [Vitringa].

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 8 Bring forth the blind people that have eyes "Bring forth the people, blind, although they have eyes" - I understand this of the Gentiles, as the verse following, not of the Jews. Their natural faculties, if they had made a proper use of them, must have led them to the knowledge of the being and attributes of the one true God; "for his eternal power and Godhead," if well attended to, are clearly seen in his works, (Rom 1:20), and would have preserved them from running into the folly and absurdity of worshipping idols. They are here challenged to produce the evidence of the power and foreknowledge of their idol gods; and the Jews are just afterwards, Isa 43:10, appealed to as witnesses for God in this cause, therefore these latter cannot here be meant by the people blind with eyes and deaf with ears.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Isaiah 43:8-13
Idolaters are called to appear in defence of their idols. Those who make them, and trust in them, are like unto them. They have the shape and faculties of men; but they have not common sense. But God's people know the power of his grace, the sweetness of his comforts, the kind care of his providence, and the truth of his promise. All servants of God can give such an account of what he has wrought in them, and done for them, as may lead others to know and believe his power, truth, and love

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Isaiah 43:8 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

הוֹצִ֥יאho.Tzi'bring outH3318
עַם\־'am-a peopleH5971
עִוֵּ֖ר'i.VerblindH5787
וְעֵינַ֣יִםve.'ei.Na.yimand [are] eyesH5869
יֵ֑שׁYeshthereH3426
וְחֵרְשִׁ֖יםve.che.re.Shimand deaf [people]H2795
וְאָזְנַ֥יִםve.'a.ze.Na.yimand earsH241
לָֽמוֹ\׃la.mo[belong] to them

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Isaiah 43:8

  • Isaiah 6:9

    And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.

  • Ezekiel 12:2

    Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house.

  • Isaiah 42:18-20

    Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see. Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the Lord’s servant? Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not.

  • Deuteronomy 29:2-4

    And Moses called unto all Israel, and said unto them, Ye have seen all that the Lord did before your eyes in the land of Egypt unto Pharaoh, and unto all his servants, and unto all his land; The great temptations which thine eyes have seen, the signs, and those great miracles: Yet the Lord hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.

  • 2 Corinthians 4:4-6

    In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

  • Jeremiah 5:21

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

  • Isaiah 44:18-20

    They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand. And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree? He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
6:9; 42:18-20; 44:18-20; De 29:2-4; Jer 5:21; Eze 12:2; 2Co 4:4-6

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Isaiah 43:7

    Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.

  • Isaiah 43:8

    Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears.

  • Isaiah 43:9

    Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth.

Read all of Isaiah 43

Isaiah 43:8 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Sacad al pueblo ciego que tiene ojos, y á los sordos que tienen oídos.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Fais sortir le peuple aveugle qui a des yeux, et les sourds qui ont des oreilles.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Führe heraus das blinde Volk, das doch Augen hat, und die Tauben, die doch Ohren haben!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Educ foras populum cæcum, et oculos habentem; surdum, et aures ei sunt.