Board index ‹ Specific Bible verses, texts, and passages ‹ Proverbs

[Love and Mercy]

KJV: The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.

NIV: Ears that hear and eyes that see— the LORD has made them both.

When you see does it hurt? When you hear is it deafening? Comforting? What are you looking at? When I look at what's in the world it is painful. When I focus on God it is comfort.

[jimwalton]

All the proverb is claiming is that the effectiveness of the senses is a blessing from God. Elsewhere in Proverbs, the ear is a means by which we hear wisdom (Prov. 2.2; 4.20; 5.1, 13; 18.15; 22.17; 23.12; 28.9), and the eye is meant to delight in the ways of the Lord (Prov. 23.26), not lead us into sin (Prov. 4.25; 6.13, 17; 16.30; 17.24; 21.4), so an underlying meaning is that we should pursue wisdom and godliness.