Isaiah 29:18

Authorized King James Version

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And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness.

Original Language Analysis

וְשָׁמְע֧וּ hear H8085
וְשָׁמְע֧וּ hear
Strong's: H8085
Word #: 1 of 11
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
בַיּוֹם And in that day H3117
בַיּוֹם And in that day
Strong's: H3117
Word #: 2 of 11
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
הַה֛וּא H1931
הַה֛וּא
Strong's: H1931
Word #: 3 of 11
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
הַחֵרְשִׁ֖ים shall the deaf H2795
הַחֵרְשִׁ֖ים shall the deaf
Strong's: H2795
Word #: 4 of 11
deaf (whether literally or spiritual)
דִּבְרֵי the words H1697
דִּבְרֵי the words
Strong's: H1697
Word #: 5 of 11
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
סֵ֑פֶר of the book H5612
סֵ֑פֶר of the book
Strong's: H5612
Word #: 6 of 11
properly, writing (the art or a document); by implication, a book
וּמֵאֹ֣פֶל out of obscurity H652
וּמֵאֹ֣פֶל out of obscurity
Strong's: H652
Word #: 7 of 11
dusk
וּמֵחֹ֔שֶׁךְ and out of darkness H2822
וּמֵחֹ֔שֶׁךְ and out of darkness
Strong's: H2822
Word #: 8 of 11
the dark; hence (literally) darkness; figuratively, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness
עֵינֵ֥י and the eyes H5869
עֵינֵ֥י and the eyes
Strong's: H5869
Word #: 9 of 11
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
עִוְרִ֖ים of the blind H5787
עִוְרִ֖ים of the blind
Strong's: H5787
Word #: 10 of 11
blind (literally or figuratively)
תִּרְאֶֽינָה׃ shall see H7200
תִּרְאֶֽינָה׃ shall see
Strong's: H7200
Word #: 11 of 11
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)

Analysis & Commentary

And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book (וְשָׁמְעוּ בַיּוֹם־הַהוּא הַחֵרְשִׁים דִּבְרֵי־סֵפֶר, veshame'u vayom-hahu hachereshim divrey-sefer)—the חֵרְשִׁים (chereshim, deaf) will שָׁמַע (shama, hear) the sealed book's דִּבְרֵי (divrey, words). And the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness (וּמֵאֹפֶל וּמֵחֹשֶׁךְ עֵינֵי עִוְרִים תִּרְאֶינָה, ume'ofel umechoshekh eyney ivrim tire'enah)—the עִוְרִים (ivrim, blind) will רָאָה (ra'ah, see) emerging from אֹפֶל (ofel, gloom) and חֹשֶׁךְ (choshekh, darkness).

Jesus explicitly identified His ministry with this prophecy. In Nazareth He read Isaiah 61:1-2 (Luke 4:18-21) and healed deaf-mutes and blind people as signs of the Kingdom's arrival (Matthew 11:5). But the healing transcends physical restoration—it's spiritual. The sealed book (v. 11) becomes readable; judicial blindness (v. 10) is reversed. This is new creation, regeneration, the Holy Spirit opening eyes to see and ears to hear (2 Corinthians 4:6, Ephesians 1:18). What was impossible under law becomes reality through grace.

Historical Context

Jesus's healing miracles validated His Messianic identity precisely because Isaiah prophesied these as Kingdom-inauguration signs. When John the Baptist sent disciples asking, 'Are you the one?' Jesus responded by pointing to these fulfillments (Matthew 11:2-6). The early church continued experiencing this: spiritually dead people came alive, understanding Scripture previously 'sealed' to them.

Questions for Reflection

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