Isaiah 42:18 bbe — Give ear, you whose ears are shut; and let your eyes be open, you blind, so that you may see.

Bible in Basic English

"Give ear, you whose ears are shut; and let your eyes be open, you blind, so that you may see."

— Isaiah 42:18, Bible in Basic English

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Isaiah 42:18 in Other Translations

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Isaiah 42 — Context

15

I will make waste mountains and hills, drying up all their plants; and I will make rivers dry, and pools dry land.

16

And I will take the blind by a way of which they had no knowledge, guiding them by roads strange to them: I will make the dark places light before them, and the rough places level. These things will I do and will not give them up.

17

They will be turned back and be greatly shamed who put their hope in pictured images, who say to metal images, You are our gods.

18

Give ear, you whose ears are shut; and let your eyes be open, you blind, so that you may see.

19

Who is blind, but my servant? who has his ears stopped, but he whom I send? who is blind as my true one, or who has his ears shut like the Lord's servant?

20

Seeing much, but keeping nothing in mind; his ears are open, but there is no hearing.

21

It was the Lord's pleasure, because of his righteousness, to make the teaching great and give it honour.

Isaiah 42:18 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Isaiah 42:18 say?
Isaiah 42:18 in the Bible in Basic English reads: “Give ear, you whose ears are shut; and let your eyes be open, you blind, so that you may see.”
Where is Isaiah 42:18 in the Bible?
Isaiah 42:18 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Isaiah, chapter 42, verse 18.
Who wrote Isaiah?
Isaiah is traditionally attributed to Isaiah son of Amoz. Many critical scholars propose multiple authors ("Deutero-" and "Trito-Isaiah") for chapters 40–66; conservative scholarship holds to single Isaianic authorship. It was written c. 740–680 BC.
What is the book of Isaiah about?
Isaiah is the most quoted prophet in the New Testament — a sweeping vision of God's holiness, Judah's sin, coming judgment, and a promised Servant who would bear the iniquity of many. From "Holy, holy, holy" to "by his stripes we are healed," Isaiah speaks the gospel before the gospel.
What are the major themes of Isaiah?
Isaiah explores themes including Holiness, Judgment, Servant of the LORD, Hope, Salvation, Restoration. These themes shape the meaning and context of Isaiah 42:18.
What translation should I read Isaiah 42:18 in?
Isaiah 42:18 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Isaiah 42:18?
Isaiah 42:18 reads (BBE): “Give ear, you whose ears are shut; and let your eyes be open, you blind, so that you may see.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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