Isaiah 42:20
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
Seeing many things, but you observe not; opening the ears, but he hears not.
American King James Version (AKJV)
Seeing many things, but you observe not; opening the ears, but he hears not.
American Standard Version (ASV)
Thou seest many things, but thou observest not; his ears are open, but he heareth not.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
Seeing much, but keeping nothing in mind; his ears are open, but there is no hearing.
Webster's Revision
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.
English Revised Version (ERV)
Thou seest many things, but thou observest not; his ears are open, but he heareth not.
Clarke's Isaiah 42:20 Bible Commentary
Seeing many things "Thou hast seen indeed" - The text has ראית רבית raith rabith, which the Masoretes in the marginal Keri have corrected to ראות רבות reoth rabboth; as indeed one hundred and seven MSS., and five editions, now have it in the text. This was probably the reading of most of the MSS. of their time; which, though they approved of it, out of some superstition they would not admit into their standard text. But these wretched critics, though they perceived there was some fault, yet did not know where the fault lay, nor consequently how to amend it; and yet it was open enough to a judicious eye: רבות rabboth, sic veteres; et tamen forte legendum, ראות reoth, vide cap. Isaiah 6:9." - Secker. That is, ראית ראות raith, reoth, seeing, thou shalt see. I believe no one will doubt of admitting this as the true reading.
But he heareth not "Yet thou wilt not hear" - For ישמע yishma, read תשמע tishma, in the second person; so all the ancient Versions and forty MSS. of Kennicott's, (four of them ancient), and seventeen of De Rossi's, and perhaps five more. Two others have תשמעו tishmeu, second person plural.
Barnes's Isaiah 42:20 Bible Commentary
Seeing many things - That is, the people, the Jews, spoken of here as the servants of God. They had had an opportunity of observing many things pertaining to the law, the government, and the dealing of Yahweh. They had often witnessed his interposition in the days of calamity, and he often rescued them from peril. These things they could not but have observed, much as they had chosen to disregard the lessons which they were calculated to convey.
But thou observest not - Thou dost not keep them (תשׁמר tı̂shmor); thou dost not regard them.
Opening the ears - Thou hast thine ears open. They heard the words of the law, and the instructions conveyed by tradition from their fathers, but they did not lay them to heart, or give heed to them (see the note at Isaiah 6:10).
Wesley's Isaiah 42:20 Bible Commentary
42:20 Heareth not - Thou dost not seriously consider the plain word, and the wonderful works of God.