The Meaning of Isaiah 32:3 Explained

Isaiah 32:3

KJV: And the eyes of them that see shall not be dim, and the ears of them that hear shall hearken.

YLT: And not dazzled are the eyes of beholders, And the ears of hearers do attend.

Darby: And the eyes of them that see shall not be dim, and the ears of them that hear shall hearken;

ASV: And the eyes of them that see shall not be dim, and the ears of them that hear shall hearken.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the eyes  of them that see  shall not be dim,  and the ears  of them that hear  shall hearken. 

What does Isaiah 32:3 Mean?

Context Summary

Isaiah 32:1-8 - A Nobler Future For The Nation
Isaiah continues to denounce the contemplated alliance with Egypt. His compatriots put their trust in horses and chariots, and refused the help of their fathers' God. Yet was He not so wise as the Egyptians, and equally as strong! And were they not running a fearful risk in rejecting One who would not recall His words of threatened punishment to those who refused His help? At best, the Egyptians were men, and not God, and their cavalry, flesh. If only they would trust Him, God would defy their foes, as a lion defies a company of unarmed shepherds, Isaiah 31:4. The mother-bird hovers over her brood to protect it from the kestrel; so would He spread His covering wing over Jerusalem, Isaiah 31:5. We may have deeply revolted, yet we may turn back to God with the certainty that He will receive and rescue us, Isaiah 31:6.
Sennacherib fell by the sword of his sons. Compare Isaiah 32:8 with 2 Kings 19:36-37. How different is our glorious King, whose many-sided nature meets all our needs! Isaiah 32:2. Before Him all men are unveiled in their true characters. Only those who are royal in heart shall stand before Him, Isaiah 31:8. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 32

1  The blessings of Christ's kingdom
9  Desolation is foreshown
14  Restoration is promised to succeed

What do the individual words in Isaiah 32:3 mean?

And not will be dim the eyes of those who see and the ears of those who hear will listen
וְלֹ֥א תִשְׁעֶ֖ינָה עֵינֵ֣י רֹאִ֑ים וְאָזְנֵ֥י שֹׁמְעִ֖ים תִּקְשַֽׁבְנָה

וְלֹ֥א  And  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
תִשְׁעֶ֖ינָה  will  be  dim 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine plural
Root: שָׁעָה  
Sense: to look at or to, regard, gaze at or about.
עֵינֵ֣י  the  eyes 
Parse: Noun, cdc
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
רֹאִ֑ים  of  those  who  see 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
וְאָזְנֵ֥י  and  the  ears 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, fdc
Root: אֹזֶן  
Sense: ear, as part of the body.
שֹׁמְעִ֖ים  of  those  who  hear 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
תִּקְשַֽׁבְנָה  will  listen 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine plural
Root: קָשַׁב  
Sense: to hear, be attentive, heed, incline (of ears), attend (of ears), hearken, pay attention, listen.