Bible Strands
Isaiah 56:10
Israel’s watchmen are blind, they are all oblivious; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they are dreamers lying around, loving to slumber.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The prophet addresses the nation of Israel, contrasting its corrupt leadership with the surrounding calls to righteous living and impending judgment.
The words — The Hebrew צֹפָ֞יו (tza.fi/u) literally means “its watchmen,” carrying a possessive suffix, while אִלְּמִים ('i.le.Mim) translates to “dumb” or “mute.”
The thread — This motif of failed spiritual oversight appears in Isaiah 29:10 regarding prophets with shut eyes, Ezekiel 33:6 regarding watchmen who omit warning, and Isaiah 58:1 regarding the command to loudly declare transgression.
Why it lands — The text plainly states that leaders who lack discernment and refuse to speak require readers to reject comfortable inaction and prioritize clear, unvarnished warning.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 29:10 For the LORD has poured out on you a spirit of deep sleep. He has shut your eyes, O prophets; He has covered your heads, O seers.
- Ezekiel 33:6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and fails to blow the horn to warn the people, and the sword comes and takes away a life, then that one will be taken away in his iniquity, but I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood.’
- Isaiah 58:1 “Cry aloud, do not hold back! Raise your voice like a ram’s horn. Declare to My people their transgression and to the house of Jacob their sins.
- Matthew 15:14 Disregard them! They are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”
- Philippians 3:2 Watch out for those dogs, those workers of evil, those mutilators of the flesh!
- Hosea 9:7 The days of punishment have come; the days of retribution have arrived—let Israel know it. The prophet is called a fool, and the inspired man insane, because of the greatness of your iniquity and hostility.
- Nahum 3:18 O king of Assyria, your shepherds slumber; your officers sleep. Your people are scattered on the mountains with no one to gather them.
- Mark 13:34 It is like a man going on a journey who left his house, put each servant in charge of his own task, and instructed the doorkeeper to keep watch.
- Proverbs 6:4 Allow no sleep to your eyes or slumber to your eyelids.
- Proverbs 24:30 I went past the field of a slacker and by the vineyard of a man lacking judgment.