The Meaning of Isaiah 42:20 Explained

Isaiah 42:20

KJV: Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not.

YLT: Seeing many things, and thou observest not, Opening ears, and he heareth not.

Darby: seeing many things, And thou observest not? with opened ears, he heareth not.

ASV: Thou seest many things, but thou observest not; his ears are open, but he heareth not.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Seeing  {08675;07200:08804} many things,  but thou observest  not; opening  the ears,  but he heareth  not. 

What does Isaiah 42:20 Mean?

Verse Meaning

As the Lord had told Isaiah at the beginning of his ministry ( Isaiah 6:9), the Israelites saw but did not perceive, and heard but did not comprehend (cf. Deuteronomy 29:2-4). The Israelites" response to the Mosaic Law is primarily in view.
"The cardinal sin of the people of God is to possess the divine word and to ignore it." [1]

Context Summary

Isaiah 42:14-25 - A Deaf And Blind Messenger
There are times in our lives when God seems to hold His peace. Evil is rife, bad men prosper, society lies under the spell of vice. It is only temporary, however. Then God comes forth out of the silence, and shows Himself "strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him." He brings the blind "by a way that they knew not," and makes "the crooked places straight."
These wonderful things are wrought not for the wise and holy alone, but for the blind and the deaf, who nevertheless desire to serve Him. See Isaiah 42:19. God's help is not conditioned by our merit, but by our faith. In the eyes of men we may be the least fit to claim divine succor. But our deficiencies and failures constitute our most eloquent claim-God knew what we were, before He ever stooped to identify Himself with us. He is pleased to help us "for His righteousness' sake." His name and character must be maintained. Therefore He has magnified the law and made it honorable by the matchless obedience and death of His only begotten Son. See Galatians 4:4-5. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 42

1  The office of Christ, graced with meekness and constancy
5  God's promise unto him
10  An exhortation to praise God for his Gospel
13  God will manifest himself, and check idolatry
18  He reproves the people of incredulity

What do the individual words in Isaiah 42:20 mean?

- Seeing many things but not you do observe Opening the ears but not he does hear
[ראית] (רָא֥וֹת) רַבּ֖וֹת וְלֹ֣א תִשְׁמֹ֑ר פָּק֥וֹחַ אָזְנַ֖יִם וְלֹ֥א יִשְׁמָֽע

[ראית]  - 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: אֲבַטִּיחַ  
Sense: watermelon, Egyptian fruit.
(רָא֥וֹת)  Seeing 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive absolute
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
רַבּ֖וֹת  many  things 
Parse: Adjective, feminine plural
Root: רַב 
Sense: much, many, great.
וְלֹ֣א  but  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
תִשְׁמֹ֑ר  you  do  observe 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַר  
Sense: to keep, guard, observe, give heed.
פָּק֥וֹחַ  Opening 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive absolute
Root: פָּקַח  
Sense: to open (the eyes).
אָזְנַ֖יִם  the  ears 
Parse: Noun, fd
Root: אֹזֶן  
Sense: ear, as part of the body.
וְלֹ֥א  but  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יִשְׁמָֽע  he  does  hear 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.