Isaiah 44:18
Isaiah 44:18 in Multiple Translations
They do not comprehend or discern, for He has shut their eyes so they cannot see and closed their minds so they cannot understand.
They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand.
They know not, neither do they consider: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand.
They have no knowledge or wisdom; for he has put a veil over their eyes, so that they may not see; and on their hearts, so that they may not give attention.
How ignorant they are, how dumb! Their eyes have been plastered over so they can't see, their minds closed so they don't have insight.
They haue not knowen, nor vnderstand: for God hath shut their eyes that they cannot see, and their heartes, that they cannot vnderstand.
They have not known, nor do they understand, For He hath daubed their eyes from seeing, Their heart from acting wisely.
They don’t know, neither do they consider, for he has shut their eyes, that they can’t see, and their hearts, that they can’t understand.
They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand.
They have not known, nor understood: for their eyes are covered that they may not see, and that they may not understand with their heart.
Those people are very stupid and ignorant [SAR]. It is as though they are blind and cannot see, and their minds are closed and they cannot think well.
Berean Amplified Bible — Isaiah 44:18
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Isaiah 44:18 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — Isaiah 44:18
Study Notes — Isaiah 44:18
- Context
- Cross References
- Isaiah 44:18 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 44:18
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 44:18
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 44:18
- Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 44:18
- Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 44:18
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Isaiah 44:18
- Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 44:18
- Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 44:18
- Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 44:18
- Sermons on Isaiah 44:18
Context — The LORD Has Chosen Israel
18They do not comprehend or discern, for He has shut their eyes so they cannot see and closed their minds so they cannot understand.
19And no one considers in his heart, no one has the knowledge or insight to say, “I burned half of it in the fire, and I baked bread on its coals; I roasted meat and I ate. Shall I make something detestable with the rest of it? Shall I bow down to a block of wood?” 20He feeds on ashes. His deluded heart has led him astray, and he cannot deliver himself or say, “Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?”Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaiah 6:9–10 | And He replied: “Go and tell this people, ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ Make the hearts of this people calloused; deafen their ears and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed. ” |
| 2 | 2 Corinthians 4:3–4 | And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. |
| 3 | John 12:39–40 | For this reason they were unable to believe. For again, Isaiah says: “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so that they cannot see with their eyes, and understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.” |
| 4 | 2 Thessalonians 2:9–12 | The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by the working of Satan, with every kind of power, sign, and false wonder, and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them. For this reason God will send them a powerful delusion so that they believe the lie, in order that judgment may come upon all who have disbelieved the truth and delighted in wickedness. |
| 5 | Jeremiah 5:21 | “Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear. |
| 6 | Psalms 81:12 | So I gave them up to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices. |
| 7 | Proverbs 2:5–9 | then you will discern the fear of the LORD and discover the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk with integrity, to guard the paths of justice and protect the way of His saints. Then you will discern righteousness and justice and equity—every good path. |
| 8 | Matthew 13:14–15 | In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’ |
| 9 | Romans 1:21–23 | For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. |
| 10 | John 5:44 | How can you believe if you accept glory from one another, yet do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? |
Isaiah 44:18 Summary
[This verse, Isaiah 44:18, is saying that when people choose to worship idols and reject God, He may allow them to become even more confused and unable to understand the truth, similar to the hardening of hearts described in Romans 1:21-25. This is not because God wants them to be unbelievers, but because they have chosen to follow their own desires rather than seeking Him, as warned in 2 Timothy 3:1-5 and 2 Peter 3:3-7. As a result, they may become unable to see the error of their ways or the truth of God's Word, which can only be overcome by the work of the Holy Spirit, as promised in John 16:13-14. We should be careful not to let our own hearts become hardened, and instead seek to understand and obey God's Word, as urged in Hebrews 3:13 and Psalm 119:34.]
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Isaiah 44:18 say that God has shut their eyes and closed their minds?
According to Isaiah 44:18, God has shut their eyes and closed their minds because they have chosen to worship idols and reject the one true God, as seen in their actions described in Isaiah 44:16-17, similar to the hardening of hearts described in Romans 1:21-25 and Ephesians 4:18.
Is this verse saying that God forces people to be unbelievers?
No, this verse is not saying that God forces people to be unbelievers, but rather that as a consequence of their rebellious choices, God gives them over to their own desires, as seen in Romans 1:24-25, and this can lead to a hardening of their hearts, making it more difficult for them to understand and accept the truth, as also warned in Hebrews 3:13 and 2 Corinthians 4:4.
What does it mean to 'not comprehend or discern' in this verse?
To 'not comprehend or discern' means that these individuals lack understanding and spiritual insight, unable to see the error of their ways or the truth of God's Word, similar to the spiritual blindness described in 2 Corinthians 4:4 and Ephesians 4:18, which can only be overcome by the work of the Holy Spirit, as promised in John 16:13-14.
How does this verse relate to the rest of the chapter?
This verse is part of a larger passage, Isaiah 44:6-20, that condemns idolatry and describes the futility of worshipping created things rather than the Creator, as also emphasized in Isaiah 40:18-26 and Romans 1:18-23, and serves as a warning to trust in the one true God, as urged in Isaiah 44:6-8 and Psalm 96:5.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I may be 'shutting my eyes' to the truth of God's Word in my own life, and how can I seek to have my spiritual eyes opened, as promised in Ephesians 1:18 and Psalm 119:18?
- How can I discern when I am being led astray by my own desires or the influences of the world, and what role does the Holy Spirit play in helping me to understand and obey God's truth, as described in John 16:13-14 and 1 Corinthians 2:10-12?
- What are some idols in my life that I may be unknowingly worshipping, and how can I seek to repent and turn to the one true God, as urged in Isaiah 44:6-8 and 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10?
- In what ways can I be a witness to others who may be trapped in spiritual darkness, and how can I pray for them to have their eyes and minds opened to the truth of the Gospel, as commanded in Matthew 28:18-20 and 2 Timothy 2:25-26?
Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 44:18
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 44:18
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 44:18
Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 44:18
Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 44:18
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Isaiah 44:18
Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 44:18
Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 44:18
Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 44:18
Sermons on Isaiah 44:18
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
The Branch by Andrew Murray | The preacher delves into the meaning of 'ungodly' (asebes), describing it as a lack of interest in God and a lifestyle inconsistent with reverence for Him. The term is used in vari |
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The Enemy of Revival - Part 1 (Cd Quality) by Leonard Ravenhill | In this sermon, the preacher starts by quoting a scripture about the children of Israel doing evil in the sight of the Lord and being delivered into the hands of the Philistines fo |
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Virgin Lock Out by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of having a devoted heart towards God. He highlights that many people claim to be followers of God but lack true commitment a |
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Are We Blind Too? by Alistair Begg | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes that the coming of Jesus into the world brings about a division among people. He explains that encountering Jesus and his claims forces indiv |
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Finn-04 Restoration of Israel in the Last Days by Art Katz | In this sermon, the speaker, who is a Jew from New York City, shares his personal journey of living in a remote location in North America. He explains that he was led by the word o |
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Ger-06 the Apocalyptic Perspective by Art Katz | In this sermon, the speaker begins by acknowledging his physical fatigue but emphasizes that God's strength is perfected in weakness. He then prays for God to use him as a vessel a |
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What Is the Secret of Your Strength - Part 1 (Alternative) by Leonard Ravenhill | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the fear and anxieties that people have in today's generation. He emphasizes the importance of stillness and knowing that God is in control. |





