English Standard Version
Isaiah 59:10
10We grope for the wall like the blind; we grope like those who have no eyes; we stumble at noon as in the twilight, among those in full vigor we are like dead men.
Isaiah 59:10 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men.
- New International Version (NIV)Like the blind we grope along the wall, feeling our way like people without eyes. At midday we stumble as if it were twilight; among the strong, we are like the dead.
- New King James Version (NKJV)We grope for the wall like the blind, And we grope as if we had no eyes; We stumble at noonday as at twilight; We are as dead men in desolate places.
- New Living Translation (NLT)We grope like the blind along a wall, feeling our way like people without eyes. Even at brightest noontime, we stumble as though it were dark. Among the living, we are like the dead.
Context of Isaiah 59:10
8The way of peace they do not know, and there is no justice in their paths; they have made their roads crooked; no one who treads on them knows peace. 9Therefore justice is far from us, and righteousness does not overtake us; we hope for light, and behold, darkness, and for brightness, but we walk in gloom. We grope for the wall like the blind; we grope like those who have no eyes; we stumble at noon as in the twilight, among those in full vigor we are like dead men. 11We all growl like bears; we moan and moan like doves; we hope for justice, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far from us. 12For our transgressions are multiplied before you, and our sins testify against us; for our transgressions are with us, and we know our iniquities:
Read all of Isaiah 59Isaiah 59:10 word by word
נְגַֽשְׁשָׁ֤ה כַֽעִוְרִים֙ קִ֔יר וּכְאֵ֥ין עֵינַ֖יִם נְגַשֵּׁ֑שָׁה כָּשַׁ֤לְנוּ בַֽצָּהֳרַ֙יִם֙ כַּנֶּ֔שֶׁף בָּאַשְׁמַנִּ֖ים כַּמֵּתִֽים׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- We gropeגָּשַׁשׁgâshash · to gropeH1659
- for the wallקִירqîyr qir qîyrâh · wallH7023
- like the blindעִוֵּר‛ivvêr · blindH5787
- no eyesעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eyeH5869
- we stumbleכָּשַׁלkâshal · to stumbleH3782
- at noondayצֹ֫הַרtsôhar · middayH6672
- as in the nightנֶ֫שֶׁףnesheph · twilightH5399
- in desolateאַשְׁמַנִּים'ashmân · strongH820
- places as deadמוּתmûth · to dieH4191
Cross-references for Isaiah 59:10
- Deuteronomy 28:29and you shall grope at noonday, as the blind grope in darkness, and you shall not prosper in your ways. And you shall be only oppressed and robbed continually, and there shall be no one to help you.
- Job 5:14They meet with darkness in the daytime and grope at noonday as in the night.
- Proverbs 4:19The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.
- Jeremiah 13:16Give glory to the Lord your God before he brings darkness, before your feet stumble on the twilight mountains, and while you look for light he turns it into gloom and makes it deep darkness.
- Lamentations 4:14They wandered, blind, through the streets; they were so defiled with blood that no one was able to touch their garments.
- Amos 8:9"And on that day," declares the Lord God, "I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight.
- John 11:9Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.
- John 12:35So Jesus said to them, "The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.
- 1 John 2:11But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
- Lamentations 3:6he has made me dwell in darkness like the dead of long ago.
Commentaries on Isaiah 59:10
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 10We stumble at noon day as in the night "We stumble at mid-day, as in the twilight" - I adopt here an emendation of Houbigant, נשגגה nishgegah, instead of the second, נגששה negasheshah, the repetition of which has a poverty and inelegance extremely unworthy of the prophet, and unlike his manner. The mistake is of long standing, being prior to all the ancient versions. It was a very easy and obvious mistake, and I have little doubt of our having recovered…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 10We grope for the wall like the blind - A blind man, not being able to see his way, feels along by a wall, a fence, or any other object that will guide him. They were like the blind. They had no distinct views of truth, and they were endeavoring to feel their way along as well as they could. Probably the prophet here alludes to the threatening made by Moses in Deuteronomy 28:28-29, And the Lord shall smite thee with madness, and blindness, and astonishment…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-15Verses 9-15 If we shut our eyes against the light of Divine truth, it is just with God to hide from our eyes the things that belong to our peace. The sins of those who profess themselves God's people, are worse than the sins of others. And the sins of a nation bring public judgments, when not restrained by public justice. Men may murmur under calamities, but nothing will truly profit while they reject Christ and his gospel.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 10the blind: See Isaiah 6:10; Deuteronomy 28:29.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1010. grope--fulfilling Moses' threat (De 28:29). stumble at noon ... as ... night--There is no relaxation of our evils; at the time when we might look for the noon of relief, there is still the night of our calamity. in desolate places--rather, to suit the parallel words "at noonday," in fertile (literally, "fat"; Ge 27:28) fields [Gesenius] (where all is promising) we are like the dead (who have no hope left them); or, where others are prosperous, we…Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 59:10
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Isaiah 59
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
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