Deuteronomy 29:4

4 "Yet to this day 1the LORD has not given you a heart to know, nor eyes to see, nor ears to hear.

Deuteronomy 29:4 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 29:4

Yet the Lord hath not given you an heart to perceive
They had some of them seen the above miracles with their bodily eyes, but had not discerned with the eyes of their understanding the power of God displayed in them, the goodness of God to them on whose behalf they were wrought, in order to obtain their deliverance, and the vengeance of God on the Egyptians for detaining them; so Jarchi interprets it of an heart to know the mercies of the Lord, and to cleave unto him:

and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day;
to see and observe the gracious dealings of God with them, and to hearken to his voice and obey it: so the understanding heart, the seeing eye, and hearing ear, in things spiritual, are from the Lord, are special gifts of his grace, which he bestows on some, and not on others; see ( Proverbs 20:12 ) . The Targum of Jonathan is,

``the Word of the Lord did not give you an heart''

Deuteronomy 29:4 In-Context

2 And Moses summoned all Israel and said to them, "You have seen all that the LORD did before your eyes in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh and all his servants and all his land;
3 the great trials which your eyes have seen, those great signs and wonders.
4 "Yet to this day the LORD has not given you a heart to know, nor eyes to see, nor ears to hear.
5 "I have led you forty years in the wilderness; your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandal has not worn out on your foot.
6 "You have not eaten bread, nor have you drunk wine or strong drink, in order that you might know that I am the LORD your God.

Cross References 1

  • 1. Isaiah 6:9, 10; Ezekiel 12:2; Matthew 13:14; Acts 28:26, 27; Romans 11:8
New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California.  All rights reserved.