Isaiah 6:10
Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.
Study Note
Study Note
God's mysterious commission to Isaiah — to dull the hearts and close the eyes and ears of the people so they cannot repent and be healed — is among the most theologically difficult statements in the prophetic literature. It appears to command the very hardening that results from persistent rejection, indicating that divine judgment can work through the continuation of sin rather than by external intervention. The passage is quoted six times in the New Testament (Matthew 13:14-15; Mark 4:12; Luke 8:10; John 12:40; Acts 28:26-27; Romans 11:8), always in connection with Israel's failure to believe the gospel, making it the most cited OT text on the mystery of unbelief. Far from implying arbitrary reprobation, the verse reflects the principle that persistent rejection of light increases the inability to receive it.
Other Translations
Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn again, and be healed.
Declare fat the heart of this people, And its ears declare heavy, And its eyes declare dazzled, Lest it see with its eyes, And with its ears hear, and its heart consider, And it hath turned back, and hath health.'
Make the hearts of this people fat, and let their ears be stopped, and their eyes shut; for fear that they may see with their eyes, and be hearing with their ears, and their heart may become wise, and they may be turned to me and made well.
Cross References
And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.
But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let them go.
And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh: and the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, so that he would …
And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get …
But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the Lord thy God hardened his spirit, …
But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then …
They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.
Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law.
And the Lord shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the Lord, …
For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets …