Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Ears that hear and eyes that see— the LORD has made them both. New Living Translation Ears to hear and eyes to see— both are gifts from the LORD. English Standard Version The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the LORD has made them both. Berean Standard Bible Ears that hear and eyes that see—the LORD has made them both. King James Bible The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them. New King James Version The hearing ear and the seeing eye, The LORD has made them both. New American Standard Bible The hearing ear and the seeing eye, The LORD has made both of them. NASB 1995 The hearing ear and the seeing eye, The LORD has made both of them. NASB 1977 The hearing ear and the seeing eye, The LORD has made both of them. Legacy Standard Bible The hearing ear and the seeing eye, Yahweh has made both of them. Amplified Bible The hearing ear and the seeing eye, The [omnipotent] LORD has made both of them. Christian Standard Bible The hearing ear and the seeing eye — the LORD made them both. Holman Christian Standard Bible The hearing ear and the seeing eye— the LORD made them both. American Standard Version The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Jehovah hath made even both of them. Contemporary English Version Hearing and seeing are gifts from the LORD. English Revised Version The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them. GOD'S WORD® Translation The ear that hears, the eye that sees- the LORD made them both. Good News Translation The LORD has given us eyes to see with and ears to listen with. International Standard Version The ear that hears and the eye that sees— the LORD surely made them both. Majority Standard Bible Ears that hear and eyes that see?the LORD has made them both. NET Bible The ear that hears and the eye that sees--the LORD has made them both. New Heart English Bible The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, The LORD has made even both of them. Webster's Bible Translation The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them. World English Bible The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Yahweh has made even both of them. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionA hearing ear, and a seeing eye—YHWH has even made both of them. Young's Literal Translation A hearing ear, and a seeing eye, Jehovah hath made even both of them. Smith's Literal Translation The hearing ear and the seeing eye, Jehovah made, also them two. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThe hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made them both. Catholic Public Domain Version The hearing ear and the seeing eye: the Lord has made them both. New American Bible The ear that hears, the eye that sees— the LORD has made them both. New Revised Standard Version The hearing ear and the seeing eye— the LORD has made them both. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThe hearing ear and the seeing eye, the LORD has made even both of them. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated The ear that hears and the eye that sees; LORD JEHOVAH has made them. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, The LORD hath made even both of them. Brenton Septuagint Translation The ear hears, and the eye sees: even both of them are the Lord's work. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Wine is a Mocker…11Even a young man is known by his actions—whether his conduct is pure and upright. 12Ears that hear and eyes that see— the LORD has made them both. 13Do not love sleep, or you will grow poor; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of food.… Cross References Psalm 94:9 He who affixed the ear, can He not hear? He who formed the eye, can He not see? Isaiah 29:18 On that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll, and out of the deep darkness the eyes of the blind will see. Matthew 13:16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. Mark 8:18 ‘Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear?’ And do you not remember? Isaiah 6:10 Make the hearts of this people calloused; deafen their ears and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” Jeremiah 5:21 “Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear. Ezekiel 12:2 “Son of man, you are living in a rebellious house. They have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious house. Romans 11:8 as it is written: “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see, and ears that could not hear, to this very day.” Deuteronomy 29:4 Yet to this day the LORD has not given you a mind to understand, eyes to see, or ears to hear. Matthew 11:15 He who has ears, let him hear. Revelation 2:7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will grant the right to eat from the tree of life in the Paradise of God. 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 Rather, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.” / But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. John 12:40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so that they cannot see with their eyes, and understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.” Acts 28:26-27 ‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.” / For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’ Psalm 115:4-6 Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. / They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see; / they have ears, but cannot hear; they have noses, but cannot smell; Treasury of Scripture The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD has made even both of them. Exodus 4:11 And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD? Psalm 94:9 He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see? Psalm 119:18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. Jump to Previous Ear Ears Equally Eye Eyes Hear Hearing Lord's WorkJump to Next Ear Ears Equally Eye Eyes Hear Hearing Lord's WorkProverbs 20 1. Proper LivingEars that hear This phrase emphasizes the importance of spiritual discernment and the ability to understand God's truth. In biblical context, hearing is often associated with obedience and receptivity to God's word. Deuteronomy 6:4-5, known as the Shema, begins with "Hear, O Israel," underscoring the call to listen and obey. In the New Testament, Jesus frequently says, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear" (Matthew 11:15), urging listeners to truly understand His teachings. The ability to hear spiritually is a gift from God, enabling believers to discern His voice amidst the noise of the world. and eyes that see— the LORD has made them both. Persons / Places / Events 1. SolomonTraditionally attributed as the author of Proverbs, Solomon was the son of King David and known for his wisdom. His proverbs often provide practical insights into living a life that honors God. 2. The LORD (Yahweh) The covenant name of God in the Old Testament, emphasizing His role as the Creator and Sustainer of all things, including human faculties like hearing and sight. 3. Ancient Israel The cultural and historical context in which the Proverbs were written, where wisdom literature was a key component of teaching and moral instruction. Teaching Points Acknowledging God's SovereigntyRecognize that our abilities to see and hear are gifts from God, reminding us of His sovereignty and creative power. Spiritual Perception Beyond physical sight and hearing, seek to develop spiritual discernment to understand God's will and purpose in our lives. Gratitude for God's Gifts Cultivate a heart of gratitude for the senses and faculties God has given us, using them to glorify Him and serve others. Responsibility to Listen and See With the gift of hearing and sight comes the responsibility to listen to God's Word and see His work in the world, responding in obedience and faith. Stewardship of Our Senses Use our senses wisely and righteously, avoiding things that corrupt or distract us from God's truth.(12) The Lord hath made even both of them.--And, therefore, they are to be used as He would have them. (Comp. our Lord's constant warning, "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.") The proverb may also remind us of the admonition in Proverbs 15:3, and Psalm 94:9, to remember God's constant watchfulness over us.Verse 12. - The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made even both of them. This apothegm, which seems to be nothing but a trite truism, brings to notice many important consequences. First, there is the result noted in Psalm 94:9, "He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? He that formed the eye, shall he not see?" Hence we learn the sleepless providence of God. So 'Pirke Aboth,' "Know that which is above thee, an eye that seeth all, an ear that heareth all." We learn also that all things are directed and overruled by God (comp. Proverbs 15:3; Proverbs 16:4). Then there is the thought that these powers of ours, being the gift of God, should be used piously and in God's service. "Mine ears hast thou opened... Lo, I come... I delight to do thy will, O my God" (Psalm 40:6, etc.). The eye should be blind, the ear deaf, to all that might defile or excite to evil (see Isaiah 33:15). But it is the Lord alone that enables the spiritual organs to receive the wondrous things of God's Law; they must be educated by grace to enable them to perform their proper functions. "God hath given us eyes," says St. Chrysostom ('Hom. 22 in 1 Corinthians'), "not that we may look wantonly, but that, admiring his handiwork, we may worship the Creator. And that this is the use of our eyes is evident from the things which are seen. For the lustre of the sun and of the sky we see from an immeasurable distances, but a woman's beauty one cannot discern so far off. Seest thou that for this end our eye was chiefly given? Again, he made the ear, that we should entertain not blasphemous words, but saving doctrines. Wherefore you see, when it receives anything dissonant, both our soul shudders and our very body also. And if we hear anything cruel or merciless, again our flesh creeps; but if anything decorous and kind, we even exult and rejoice." "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear." Septuagint, "The ear heareth and the eye sooth, and both are the works of the Lord." Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Earsאֹ֣זֶן (’ō·zen) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 241: Broadness, the ear that hear שֹׁ֭מַעַת (ma·‘aṯ) Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently and eyes וְעַ֣יִן (wə·‘a·yin) Conjunctive waw | Noun - common singular Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain that see— רֹאָ֑ה (rō·’āh) Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular Strong's 7200: To see the LORD יְ֝הוָ֗ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel has made עָשָׂ֥ה (‘ā·śāh) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 6213: To do, make them both. שְׁנֵיהֶֽם׃ (šə·nê·hem) Number - mdc | third person masculine plural Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number) Links Proverbs 20:12 NIVProverbs 20:12 NLT Proverbs 20:12 ESV Proverbs 20:12 NASB Proverbs 20:12 KJV Proverbs 20:12 BibleApps.com Proverbs 20:12 Biblia Paralela Proverbs 20:12 Chinese Bible Proverbs 20:12 French Bible Proverbs 20:12 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Proverbs 20:12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye (Prov. 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