Isaiah 42:20
New International Version
You have seen many things, but you pay no attention; your ears are open, but you do not listen.”

New Living Translation
You see and recognize what is right but refuse to act on it. You hear with your ears, but you don’t really listen.”

English Standard Version
He sees many things, but does not observe them; his ears are open, but he does not hear.

Berean Standard Bible
Though seeing many things, you do not keep watch. Though your ears are open, you do not hear.”

King James Bible
Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not.

New King James Version
Seeing many things, but you do not observe; Opening the ears, but he does not hear.”

New American Standard Bible
You have seen many things, but you do not retain them; Your ears are open, but no one hears.

NASB 1995
You have seen many things, but you do not observe them; Your ears are open, but none hears.

NASB 1977
You have seen many things, but you do not observe them; Your ears are open, but none hears.

Legacy Standard Bible
You have seen many things, but you do not keep them; Your ears are open, but none hears.

Amplified Bible
You have seen many things, but you do not observe them; Your ears are open, but no one hears.

Christian Standard Bible
Though seeing many things, you pay no attention. Though his ears are open, he does not listen.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Though seeing many things, you do not obey. Though his ears are open, he does not listen.”

American Standard Version
Thou seest many things, but thou observest not; his ears are open, but he heareth not.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
I beheld much and you do not observe, and I opened ears and you are not hearing

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Ye have often seen, and have not taken heed; your ears have been opened, and ye have not heard.

Contemporary English Version
who sees and hears so much, but pays no attention.

Douay-Rheims Bible
20. Thou that seest many things, wilt thou not observe them? thou that hast ears open, wilt thou not hear?

English Revised Version
Thou seest many things, but thou observest not; his ears are open, but he heareth not.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
You have seen much, but you do not observe anything. Your ears are open, but you hear nothing.

Good News Translation
Israel, you have seen so much, but what has it meant to you? You have ears to hear with, but what have you really heard?"

International Standard Version
You've seen many things, but you pay no attention. His ears are open, but he doesn't listen.

JPS Tanakh 1917
Seeing many things, thou observest not; Opening the ears, he heareth not.

Literal Standard Version
Seeing many things, and you do not observe, | Opening ears, and he does not hear.

Majority Standard Bible
Though seeing many things, you do not keep watch. Though your ears are open, you do not hear.”

New American Bible
You see many things but do not observe; ears open, but do not hear.

NET Bible
You see many things, but don't comprehend; their ears are open, but do not hear."

New Revised Standard Version
He sees many things, but does not observe them; his ears are open, but he does not hear.

New Heart English Bible
You see many things, but do not observe. His ears are open, but he doesn't listen.

Webster's Bible Translation
Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not.

World English Bible
You see many things, but don’t observe. His ears are open, but he doesn’t listen.

Young's Literal Translation
Seeing many things, and thou observest not, Opening ears, and he heareth not.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Israel is Deaf and Blind
19Who is blind but My servant, or deaf like the messenger I am sending? Who is blind like My covenant partner, or blind like the servant of the LORD? 20Though seeing many things, you do not keep watch. Though your ears are open, you do not hear.” 21The LORD was pleased, for the sake of His righteousness, to magnify His law and make it glorious.…

Cross References
Matthew 13:13
This is why I speak to them in parables: 'Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.'

Romans 2:21
you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?


Treasury of Scripture

Seeing many things, but you observe not; opening the ears, but he hears not.

seeing

Isaiah 1:3
The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.

Isaiah 48:6-8
Thou hast heard, see all this; and will not ye declare it? I have shewed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them…

Numbers 14:22
Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice;

opening

Isaiah 58:2
Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God.

Jeremiah 42:2-5
And said unto Jeremiah the prophet, Let, we beseech thee, our supplication be accepted before thee, and pray for us unto the LORD thy God, even for all this remnant; (for we are left but a few of many, as thine eyes do behold us:) …

Ezekiel 33:31
And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.

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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.














(20) Seeing many things . . .--With a clear vision into the future, the prophet sees that the future Israel will be as far from the ideal as his contemporaries had been. In the actual work of the Servant we find the fulfilment of his vision. Scribes and Pharisees are as those who "learn nothing and forget nothing," on whom all the lessons of experience are cast away, reproducing the state from which Isaiah started (Isaiah 6:10; Matthew 13:14; Mark 4:12; Luke 8:10; John 12:40; Acts 28:26). The transfer of the words to the sufferings of the Christ, who bore them as though He neither heard nor saw, is scarcely tenable. . . . Verse 20. - Seeing many things, but, etc. Israel had "seen many things;" i.e. passed through a long experience, but not profited by it - not been "observant," as they should have been. They had had their ears open in a certain sense, and heard the words that the prophets addressed to them, but had not taken in their true import. (The mixture of persons is like that in Isaiah 1:29 and Isaiah 14:30.)

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Though seeing
רָא֥וֹת (rā·’ō·wṯ)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 7200: To see

many things,
רַבּ֖וֹת (rab·bō·wṯ)
Adjective - feminine plural
Strong's 7227: Much, many, great

you do not
וְלֹ֣א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

observe.
תִשְׁמֹ֑ר (ṯiš·mōr)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 8104: To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to

Though your ears
אָזְנַ֖יִם (’ā·zə·na·yim)
Noun - fd
Strong's 241: Broadness, the ear

are open,
פָּק֥וֹחַ (pā·qō·w·aḥ)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 6491: To open, to be observant

you hear
יִשְׁמָֽע׃ (yiš·mā‘)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

nothing.”
וְלֹ֥א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 42:20 You see many things but don't observe (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 42:19
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