The Meaning of Isaiah 44:18 Explained

Isaiah 44:18

KJV: They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand.

YLT: They have not known, nor do they understand, For He hath daubed their eyes from seeing, Their heart from acting wisely.

Darby: They have no knowledge, and understand not; for he hath plastered their eyes, that they may not see; and their hearts, that they may not understand.

ASV: They know not, neither do they consider: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

They have not known  nor understood:  for he hath shut  their eyes,  that they cannot see;  [and] their hearts,  that they cannot understand. 

What does Isaiah 44:18 Mean?

Context Summary

Isaiah 44:12-20 - The Folly Of Idolatry
We are here conducted to a metal idol factory, Isaiah 44:12. As we enter, we are forewarned that we shall find the workmen vain, and their delectable things unprofitable. With this caution, we watch the image being made beneath the heavy blows of the hammer, wielded by the swarthy smith. After a few hours of work he becomes tired and thirsty. But surely an idol can never impart perennial energy and help, if its manufacturer is so easily exhausted.
Next, we are led into a factory of wooden idols, Isaiah 44:13, where a carpenter is at work, drawing a pattern on a block of timber. The floor is littered with shavings, and the idol that is to receive worship and exercise authority is handled very unceremoniously. Lastly we follow an individual into the forest, where he saws part of a tree for firewood and the rest for his household effigy. What folly! These men are hungry for some object of worship, but they feed their hunger on ashes; and they cannot be made to realize that they are deceiving themselves. The true bread is Christ. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 44

1  God comforts the church with his promises
7  The vanity of idols
9  And folly of idol makers
21  He exhorts to praise God for his redemption and omnipotence

What do the individual words in Isaiah 44:18 mean?

Not they do know nor understand for He has shut so that they cannot see their eyes so that they cannot understand [And] their hearts
לֹ֥א יָדְע֖וּ וְלֹ֣א יָבִ֑ינוּ כִּ֣י טַ֤ח מֵֽרְאוֹת֙ עֵֽינֵיהֶ֔ם מֵהַשְׂכִּ֖יל לִבֹּתָֽם

יָדְע֖וּ  they  do  know 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
וְלֹ֣א  nor 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יָבִ֑ינוּ  understand 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: בִּין  
Sense: to discern, understand, consider.
טַ֤ח  He  has  shut 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: טוּחַ 
Sense: to spread over, overlay, plaster, cover over, coat, besmear.
מֵֽרְאוֹת֙  so  that  they  cannot  see 
Parse: Preposition-m, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
עֵֽינֵיהֶ֔ם  their  eyes 
Parse: Noun, cdc, third person masculine plural
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
מֵהַשְׂכִּ֖יל  so  that  they  cannot  understand 
Parse: Preposition-m, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
Root: שָׂכַל 
Sense: to be prudent, be circumspect, wisely understand, prosper.
לִבֹּתָֽם  [And]  their  hearts 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: לִבָּה  
Sense: heart.