Isaiah 35:5

 Isaiah 35:5

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

a. ASV: Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. [Thomas Nelson & Sons first published the American Standard Version in 1901. This translation of the Bible is in the public domain.]

b. YLT: Then opened are eyes of the blind, And ears of the deaf are unstopped, [The Young's Literal Translation was translated by Robert Young, who believed in a strictly literal translation of God's word. This version of the Bible is in the public domain.]

c. Classic Amplified: Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

d. The Milstein Edition, Later Prophets, Isaiah. With Rabbinic Commentary: Then the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf will be opened.[THE ARTSCROLL SERIES\MILSTEIN EDITION THE LATTER PROPHETS, ISAIAH Ⓒ Copyright 2013 by MESORAH PUBLICATIONS, Ltd.]

e. Peshitta Eastern Text: Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. [HOLY BIBLE FROM THE ANCIENT EASTERN TEXT.Copyright  Ⓒ 1933 by A.J. Holmon Co.; copyright  Ⓒ renewed 1968 by A.J. Holmon Co.; All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. HarperCollins Publishers, 195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007.]

f. Torah, Judaism and Jewish information on the web: www.chabad.org; Online English Translation of the Tanakh (Jewish Bible): Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. [English Translation, Ⓒ Copyright The Judaica Press All rights reserved.]

1. “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.”

a. Then [Strong: 227 'az awz a demonstrative adverb; at that time or place; also as a conjunction, therefore:--beginning, for, from, hitherto, now, of old, once, since, then, at which time, yet.]

b.  [the] eyes [Strong: 5869 `ayin ah'-yin probably a primitive word; an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape):--affliction, outward appearance, + before, + think best, colour, conceit, + be content, countenance, + displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, + favour, fountain, furrow (from the margin), X him, + humble, knowledge, look, (+ well), X me, open(-ly), + (not) please, presence, + regard, resemblance, sight, X thee, X them, + think, X us, well, X you(-rselves).]

c. [of the] blind [Strong: 5787 `ivver iv-vare' intensive from 5786; blind (literally or figuratively):--blind (men, people).]

d. [shall be] opened [Strong: 6491 paqach paw-kakh' a primitive root; to open (the senses, especially the eyes); figuratively, to be observant:--open.]

e. [and the] ears [Strong: 241 'ozen o'-zen from 238; broadness. i.e. (concrete) the ear (from its form in man):--+ advertise, audience, + displease, ear, hearing, + show.]

f. [of the] deaf [Strong: 2795 cheresh khay-rashe' from 2790; deaf (whether literally or spir.):--deaf.]

g. [shall be] unstopped [Strong: 6605 pathach paw-thakh' a primitive root; to open wide (literally or figuratively); specifically, to loosen, begin, plough, carve:--appear, break forth, draw (out), let go free, (en-)grave(-n), loose (self), (be, be set) open(-ing), put off, ungird, unstop, have vent.]

1). John Walvoord, Every Prophecy in the Bible: Those who have been redeemed from their enemies and blessed by the Lord in the future millennial kingdom will rejoice (Isaiah 35:1, 2). It will be a time of great rejoicing when the desert will burst into bloom. In that time God will come and bring vengeance on the wicked but deliverance for the righteous (Isaiah 35:4). The abundant blessings of the millennial kingdom were described in verses Isaiah 35:5-7, “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.” Reference was made again to the international highway that will come through Israel (Isaiah 35:8-10). 

2). J. Vernon McGee: As we come to this chapter, we can thank God that the war of Armageddon is not the end of all things. Chapter 35 is a poetic gem. There is a high sense of poetic justice in this chapter which concludes the section of judgment. The fires of judgment have now burned out, and the sword of justice sheathed. The evening of earth-trouble is ended, and the morning of millennial delights has come. This section closes on the high plane of peace, having been through suffering to peace, through the night to the dawn, through judgment to salvation, through tears of joy in the morning.

3). J. Vernon McGee: Sickness and disease and all affliction are the result of man’s sin. These will be lifted in the kingdom.

4). The context of the chapter clearly puts it immediately after the Battle of Armageddon Isaiah 34:1-8. The scholars (above) that I trust are in agreement with this. However, Biblically, there are references to events that occurred during the life of Christ and immediately after his ascension to heaven as happening during the “last days”. 

a). Acts 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

b). Hebrews 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

2). With that in mind I am going to include some miracles of Christ in this. In fact the Tenth Anniversary Edition of the NIV Study Bible, in these verses Isaiah 35:5,6, has the notation that these miracles are signs of the Messianic Age. 

a). Matthew 9:27-30 And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou son of David, have mercy on us.

9:28 And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.

9:29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.

9:30 And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.

Matthew 9:2-6 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,

9:3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?

9:4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:

9:5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

9:6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.