Dictionary of Bible Themes » 5000 Humanity » 5125 Parts of the body and clothing » 5148 ear
The organ of hearing; the ear is referred to in various OT rites and is a symbol of attention, alertness or readiness to hear.
The ear in the OT rites
Piercing the ear: a symbol of servanthood
Psalm 40:6 See also Exodus 21:5-6; Deuteronomy 15:16-17
Blood applied to the ear: a symbol of cleansing and ordination
Leviticus 8:23 See also Exodus 29:20; Leviticus 14:14
God's ear as a symbol of his alertness to humanity
Psalm 116:1-2 See also 2 Kings 19:16; 2 Chronicles 7:15; Nehemiah 1:6
God's ear is especially alert to the poor and the oppressed, as well as to the righteous:
Job 34:28; James 5:4 Psalm 5:1; Psalm 31:2; Psalm 34:15; Psalm 88:2; Psalm 130:1-2; Daniel 9:18
God's ear may be turned away from humanity
Psalm 28:1 The refusal to turn an ear towards someone was a symbol of refusing to listen. See also Deuteronomy 1:45; Lamentations 3:56; Ezekiel 8:18 God's attending ear is partly dependent on human attitudes to him.
The human ear used symbolically
Human ears should be open to God
Isaiah 50:4-5; Isaiah 55:3 See also Job 42:5; Psalm 81:8; Isaiah 30:21; Isaiah 32:3; Matthew 13:9 pp Mark 4:9 pp Luke 8:8 “He who has ears” implies a potential willingness to listen; Matthew 13:16; Mark 9:7; Revelation 2:7
Human ears may be closed against God
Zechariah 7:11-13 See also Psalm 58:4-5; Isaiah 6:10
The human ear should also be open to others
Isaiah 48:8; Jeremiah 6:10; Ezekiel 12:2; Acts 7:51,57; 2 Timothy 4:4
Proverbs 21:13
A discerning ear brings knowledge and understanding
See also
Job 12:11; Job 13:1; Job 34:3; Proverbs 18:15
1210 God, human descriptions 1670 symbols 5147 deafness 5159 hearing 5165 listening 5806 compassion 5865 gestures 5946 sensitivity 7745 ordination 8226 discernment 8342 servanthood
