Mouths, eyes, ears, nose...

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Where in the Bible is this statement from? "they have eyes but they do not see ears and they do not hear"

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The statement "they have eyes but they do not see, ears but they do not hear" appears multiple times in the Bible, often in slightly different forms. It is a recurring theme to describe people who are spiritually unresponsive despite having the faculties to perceive truth. Here are a few key references:

  1. Psalm 115:5-6 (NIV)
    "They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see. They have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell."

  2. Isaiah 6:9-10
    "He said, 'Go and tell this people: "Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving." Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes.'"

  3. Jeremiah 5:21
    "Hear this, you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear."

  4. Ezekiel 12:2
    "Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people."

  5. Matthew 13:13-15 (Jesus quoting Isaiah)
    "This is why I speak to them in parables: 'Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.' In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah."

These verses convey a metaphorical and spiritual meaning, often pointing to people's unwillingness to respond to God's message or recognize His works.

Q. What might be a modern term to describe such people?

 

A modern term to describe people who "have eyes but do not see and ears but do not hear" could be "willfully ignorant" or "closed-minded." These terms capture the idea of having the ability to perceive or understand but choosing not to acknowledge or accept the truth.

Other possible terms include:

  • "Unperceptive" – failing to notice or understand what is evident.

  • "Oblivious" – being unaware or indifferent to what is happening.

  • "Denialists" – actively rejecting evidence or reality.

  • "Spiritually blind" – often used in religious contexts to describe a lack of spiritual awareness.

  • "Cognitively dissonant" – holding conflicting beliefs and ignoring evidence that challenges one's views.

Each term has a slightly different nuance, so the choice would depend on the specific context in which you're describing such people.

Q. Does the Bible suggest ways to avoid being this way?

Yes, the Bible provides numerous teachings and guidance on how to avoid spiritual blindness or being unresponsive to truth. These suggestions focus on cultivating a heart that is open to God, seeking understanding, and living in humility and obedience. Here are some key principles:

1. Seek God Wholeheartedly

  • Jeremiah 29:13: "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
    Actively seeking God helps avoid apathy or blindness to His truth.

2. Ask for Wisdom and Understanding

  • James 1:5: "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you."
    Praying for wisdom and discernment opens the heart and mind to God's guidance.

  • Psalm 119:18: "Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law."
    A prayer for spiritual vision and insight.

3. Stay Humble and Teachable

  • Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
    Humility allows one to learn and perceive truth, rather than clinging to preconceived notions.

  • Matthew 18:3: "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."
    Childlike humility and openness are key to spiritual awareness.

4. Listen and Reflect on God's Word

  • Romans 10:17: "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ."
    Regularly reading and meditating on Scripture sharpens spiritual perception.

  • Psalm 1:2-3: "But whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water."

5. Obey God’s Commands

  • John 14:21: "Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them."
    Obedience to God leads to greater understanding of His will and ways.

6. Be Filled with the Holy Spirit

  • John 16:13: "But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth."
    The Holy Spirit provides insight and prevents spiritual dullness.

7. Guard Your Heart and Mind

  • Proverbs 4:23: "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."
    Avoid influences that harden the heart or distort perception.

  • Philippians 4:8: "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

8. Practice Love and Compassion

  • 1 John 4:7-8: "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."
    Love fosters spiritual clarity and empathy.

By following these principles, the Bible teaches that individuals can cultivate a receptive heart and mind, staying attuned to God's truth and avoiding the pitfalls of spiritual blindness or indifference.

Q. What was the original language Proverbs 4:23 was written in and what was the original word used for heart?

The original language of Proverbs 4:23 was Biblical Hebrew, as it is part of the Old Testament. The phrase "heart" in this verse is translated from the Hebrew word לֵב (lev) or sometimes לֵבָב (levav).

Meaning of "Lev" or "Levav"

  • The Hebrew concept of "lev" is broader than the modern idea of the heart as the seat of emotions. In Biblical Hebrew, "lev" encompasses:

    • Mind: Thoughts, understanding, and intellect.

    • Will: Choices and intentions.

    • Emotions: Feelings and desires.

    • Inner Self: The core of a person's being, their spiritual and moral center.

Proverbs 4:23 in Hebrew

The verse in Hebrew is:
מִכָּל־מִשְׁמָר נְצֹר לִבֶּךָ כִּי־מִמֶּנּוּ תּוֹצְאוֹת חַיִּים
Mi-kol mishmar n’tzor libekha ki mimenu totsa’ot chayim.
Translation: "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."

The term לִבֶּךָ (libekha) means "your heart" and is derived from lev.

Interpretation in Context

In the ancient Hebrew worldview, the "heart" was seen as the control center of a person’s life. It governed thought processes, decisions, and moral character, making it essential to guard and guide it diligently. The phrase implies being vigilant over one’s inner life, as it directs one’s actions and ultimately one’s destiny.

Q. What if the original meaning was "soul"?

The Hebrew word לֵב (lev) in Proverbs 4:23 does not directly translate to "soul" in the way we understand it today, but it is closely tied to the essence of a person's inner being, which could conceptually overlap with what some might call the "soul."

If the original intent of lev were closer to the meaning of "soul," it would shift the focus slightly from guarding thoughts, emotions, and decisions (the functions of the heart) to safeguarding one’s entire spiritual essence or life force.

The Hebrew Concept of "Soul"

The Hebrew word most commonly translated as "soul" in the Bible is נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh). This term is used to describe:

  • The essence of life: The "breath" or "life force" that animates the body.

  • The whole person: In some contexts, it represents the totality of a being.

  • Desires or cravings: In poetic or figurative contexts, it may refer to deep yearnings or passions.

If Proverbs 4:23 had used "nefesh" instead of "lev," the verse might emphasize safeguarding one's spiritual life or vitality instead of specifically the intellectual and emotional center.

Possible Reinterpretation

If "soul" were the intended meaning, the verse might be understood more broadly as:

  • Guarding the entirety of one's being, not just thoughts and emotions.

  • A call to spiritual vigilance, focusing on the eternal and transcendent aspects of life.

  • Protecting one’s connection to God, which is central to Biblical understanding of the soul.

Broader Biblical Context

Interestingly, Deuteronomy 6:5, part of the Shema (a key Jewish prayer), uses both lev (heart) and nefesh (soul):
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength."

This shows a complementary relationship between the "heart" and the "soul," suggesting that both need to be safeguarded in the pursuit of a faithful and righteous life.

If Proverbs 4:23 had meant "soul," the verse would still align with the broader Biblical theme of safeguarding one's spiritual life as the wellspring of all actions and outcomes.

Q. Where in the original hebrew of the Bible is nefesh used?

 

The Hebrew word נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh) appears frequently in the Bible and is used in various contexts to convey meanings such as "soul," "life," "being," or "person." Below are some significant examples of nefesh in the Hebrew Bible, along with the contexts in which it is used:

1. Genesis 2:7

"Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being."

  • Hebrew: וַיְהִי הָאָדָם לְנֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה (vayehi ha-adam le-nefesh chayah)

  • Here, nefesh refers to a "living being" or "soul," highlighting the breath of life given by God.

2. Leviticus 17:11

"For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement by the life."

  • Hebrew: כִּי נֶפֶשׁ הַבָּשָׂר בַּדָּם הִוא (ki nefesh ha-basar ba-dam hi)

  • Nefesh is used here to denote "life," specifically the life force that resides in the blood.

3. Psalm 42:1-2

"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God."

  • Hebrew: כֵּן תַּעֲרֹג נַפְשִׁי אֵלֶיךָ אֱלֹהִים (ken ta'arog nafshi eleikha Elohim)

  • Nefesh here reflects deep spiritual longing or the innermost being seeking God.

4. Exodus 1:5

"The descendants of Jacob numbered seventy in all; Joseph was already in Egypt."

  • Hebrew: וַיְהִי כָּל־נֶפֶשׁ יֹצְאֵי יֶרֶךְ יַעֲקֹב שִׁבְעִים נָפֶשׁ (vayehi kol-nefesh yotzei yerekh Yaakov shiv'im nefesh)

  • Nefesh is used to mean "person" or "individual," referring to the seventy people who came from Jacob’s family.

5. Deuteronomy 6:5

"Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength."

  • Hebrew: וּבְכָל־נַפְשְׁךָ (u’v’khol nafsh’kha)

  • Nefesh is used to mean "soul," representing the entirety of one’s being and life.

6. Jonah 2:7

"When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, LORD, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple."

  • Hebrew: בְּהִתְעַטֵּף עָלַי נַפְשִׁי (b’hit’atef alai nafshi)

  • Nefesh refers to "life" or the "soul," expressing Jonah’s desperation.

7. Job 33:22

"Their soul draws near to the pit, and their life to the messengers of death."

  • Hebrew: וַתִּקְרַב לַשַּׁחַת נַפְשָׁם (vatikrav la-shachat nafsham)

  • Nefesh is used to mean "soul" or "life," emphasizing a life in peril.

8. Numbers 31:19

"Anyone who has killed someone or touched someone who was killed must stay outside the camp seven days."

  • Hebrew: כָּל־הֹרֵג נֶפֶשׁ (kol horeg nefesh)

  • Nefesh refers to a "person" or "soul," emphasizing the sanctity of life.

Summary of Usage

  • As "Life Force" or "Vitality: Genesis 2:7, Leviticus 17:11

  • As "Soul" or "Inner Being: Psalm 42:1-2, Deuteronomy 6:5

  • As "Person" or "Individual: Exodus 1:5, Numbers 31:19

  • As "Life in Peril: Job 33:22, Jonah 2:7

The word nefesh has a rich and flexible usage in Hebrew, encompassing the physical, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of life. It provides a holistic view of what it means to be a living, breathing being created by God.


 

 

 

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