Isaiah 56:10
in Isaiah 56Israel’s watchmen are blind, they are all oblivious; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they are dreamers lying around, loving to slumber.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
His watchmen are blind, they are all without knowledge; they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber.
KJV
His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.
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This verse in Isaiah 56
Commentary
14 notes on this verseHis spies, blind all, knew nothing: mute dogs unable to bark, seeing vain things, sleeping, and loving dreams. LXX: See that all are blind: they all do not know, mute dogs cannot bark: dreaming of a bed, loving sleep. That all, he says, beasts should come forth from the forest, and devour those gathered together, whether they succeed into the place of the Jews, the crowd of the Gentiles, their spies are in fact the Scribes and Pharisees: because all the blind have not known the Lord Savior, nor did they want to see the present light.
This site's exposition
Come, all you beasts of the field
on Isaiah 56:9-12
The tone breaks at once with a call to plunder: “Come, all you beasts of the field; eat greedily”. The reason is the failure of those set to guard: “Israel’s watchmen are blind”, “mute dogs, they cannot bark”. The chapter turns from foreigners welcomed to leaders who fail their post.
This site's exposition
Israel’s watchmen are blind
Barnes derives the word for watchmen from a verb meaning to look far, used of sentries on a wall and then of prophets (Ezek 3:17). Jerome reads these blind watchmen as the scribes and Pharisees. Gregory reads the bark of these mute dogs as the preacher's rebuke of sin.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
In souls, pure and cleansed from all defilement, the prophetic gift shines clear. In a foul mirror you cannot see what the reflection is, neither can a soul preoccupied with cares of this life and darkened with the passions of the lust of the flesh receive the rays of the Holy Spirit. Every dream is not a prophecy, as Zechariah says, "The Lord shall make bright clouds and give them showers of rain … for the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have spoken false dreams." Those who, as Isaiah says, "dream and love to sleep in their bed" forget that an instigation of error is sent to "the children of disobedience."
Hence even sacred Scripture, with these sorts of disturbing passions in mind, in many places applies the names of brutes and of wild beasts to those gifted with reason; sometimes it calls them "dogs" on account of their shameful and headstrong behavior—"dumb dogs," since they are "unable even to bark."
The Medieval Church3 voices
Sometimes in sacred speech preachers are understood by dogs. For the tongue of a dog, when it licks a wound, heals it, because holy teachers too, when they instruct us in the confession of our sin, touch as it were the wound of the mind through their tongue; and because by speaking they rescue us from sins, by touching wounds as it were they restore us to health. For that by the name of dogs the tongue of preachers is signified, the Lord says through the Psalmist: "The tongue of your dogs from enemies, from him." For from the unbelieving Jews the holy preachers were chosen, who, coming against thieves and robbers in defense of the truth, gave great barkings, so to speak, for the Lord. Against this it is said of certain reprobates: "Dumb dogs, not able to bark." Because therefore holy preachers condemn sins, but approve the confession of sins, saying: "Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be saved," dogs lick the sores of Lazarus.
Second, he sets out the fault. And first, that of the superiors as to their lack in governing and in foreseeing dangers: his watchmen, for superiors are set over the people to guard them against dangers like a watchman guards against enemies; they are ignorant, …
"They are all stammering dogs" who stutter the praise of God and "cannot bark" against the idols, as against strangers. "They dream, lay down and love to slumber," that is, they love to sleep in the graves and in the places where sacrifices are offered …
6 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
If the light that is in us be darkness, how great is that darkness! Christ describes the Pharisees to be blind leaders of the blind, Matt. xv. The beasts of the field come to devour, and the watchmen are blind, and are not aware of them.
), which seems to be the beginning of a new sermon, by way of reproof and threatening, which is continued in the following chapters. And the word of God was intended for conviction, as well as for comfort and instruction in righteousness. 1 Thus saith the L ORD , Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
Watchmen - Priests and teachers; he mentions only the teachers, because ignorance was most shameful in them, but hereby he supposes the gross ignorance of the people. Bark - They are also slothful and negligent in instructing the people, and do not faithfully reprove them for their sins.
His watchmen are blind,.... A sad character of watchmen; who, of all men, ought to have good sight, to see who is coming, to discover an enemy, to discern approaching danger, and so be capable of giving notice thereof.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
His watchmen are blind - Kimchi observes, “The flock is intrusted to the care of these watchmen. The wild beasts come; these dogs bark not; and the wild beasts devour the flock. Thus they do not profit the flock. Yea, they injure it; for the owner trusts in them, that they will watch and be faithful; but they are not. These are the false teachers and careless shepherds.” Dumb dogs, they cannot bark - See note on Isa 62:6. Sleeping “Dreamers” - הזים hozim, ενυπνιαζομενοι, Septuagint.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
His watchmen - The prophet proceeds to specify the sins which had thus induced God to send the desolating armies of foreign nations. The first is specified in this verse, the apathy, indifference, and unfaithfulness, which prevailed among those who were appointed to guard their interests and defend the cause of truth. The word rendered ‘his watchmen’ (צפוּ tsophâv) is derived from צפה tsâphâh, “to look about; to view from a distance; to see afar.” It is applied appropriately to those who were stationed on the walls of a city, or on a tower, in order that they might see the approach of an enemy 1Sa 14:16; 2Sa 13:34; 2Sa 18:24. It is then applied to prophets, who are as it were placed on an elevated post of observation, and who are able to cast the eye far into future scenes, and to predict future events (Jer 6:17; Eze 3:17; the note at Isa 21:6-11; Isa 52:8; compare Isa 62:6). Here it refers undoubtedly to the public teachers of the Jews who had failed to perceive the crimes and dangers of the people; or who, if they had seen them, had neglected to warn them of the prevalence of sin, and of the dangers to which they were exposed. Are blind - They have become willfully blind to the existence of idolatry and vice, or they are so corrupt in sentiment and practice, that they fail to notice the existence of the prevailing sins. They are all ignorant - Hebrew, ‘They do not know.’ This may either mean that they were not possessed of the proper qualifications for the office of prophets, or that they were so immersed in sin themselves, and so indolent, that they did not observe the existence of the national sins. In either case, they were unfit for the station. They are all dumb dogs - Dogs are appointed to guard a house or flock, and to give notice of the approach of a robber by night Job 30:1. They are thus an emblem of a prophet - appointed to announce danger. […]
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
His lookouts are all blind Since he said, “Seek the Lord,” and the entire section, and they do not heed, he returns and says, Behold the prophets cry out to them ([Mss.:] to you) and announce concerning repentance, so that it will be good for them.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
And the dogs are of greedy disposition wanting to fill their stomachs [engrote talent in O.F.], sick with hunger.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 5 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
15 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| צֹפָ֞יו | tzafiu | watchmen its | H6822 → | 36 times |
| עִוְרִ֤ים | ʾivrim | [are] blind | H5787 → | 26 times |
| כֻּלָּם֙ | kulam | all of them | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| לֹ֣א | lo' | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| יָדָ֔עוּ | yadau | they know | H3045 → | 945 times |
| כֻּלָּם֙ | kulam | all of them | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| כְּלָבִ֣ים | kelavim | [are] dogs | H3611 → | 32 times |
| אִלְּמִ֔ים | ʾilemim | dumb | H483 → | |
| לֹ֥א | lo' | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| יוּכְל֖וּ | yukhelu | they are able | H3201 → | 194 times |
| לִנְבֹּ֑חַ | linboach | to bark | H5024 → | |
| הֹזִים֙ | hozim | [they] dream | H1957 → | |
| שֹֽׁכְבִ֔ים | shokhevim | [they] lie down | H7901 → | 212 times |
| אֹהֲבֵ֖י | ʾohavei | [they] love | H157 → | 211 times |
| לָנֽוּם׃ | lanum | <of> to slumber | H5123 → |
צֹפָ֞יוwatchmen its
tzafiuH6822 →36 times
עִוְרִ֤ים[are] blind
ʾivrimH5787 →26 times
כֻּלָּם֙all of them
kulamH3605 →5413 times
לֹ֣אnot
lo'H3808 →5168 times
יָדָ֔עוּthey know
yadauH3045 →945 times
כֻּלָּם֙all of them
kulamH3605 →5413 times
כְּלָבִ֣ים[are] dogs
kelavimH3611 →32 times
אִלְּמִ֔יםdumb
ʾilemimH483 →
לֹ֥אnot
lo'H3808 →5168 times
יוּכְל֖וּthey are able
yukheluH3201 →194 times
לִנְבֹּ֑חַto bark
linboachH5024 →
הֹזִים֙[they] dream
hozimH1957 →
שֹֽׁכְבִ֔ים[they] lie down
shokhevimH7901 →212 times
אֹהֲבֵ֖י[they] love
ʾohaveiH157 →211 times
לָנֽוּם׃<of> to slumber
lanumH5123 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Philippians 3:2Watch out for those dogs, those workers of evil, those mutilators of the flesh!
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 11:13
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.
- Titus 1:16
They profess to know God, but by their actions they deny Him. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed.
- Revelation 22:15
But outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
- Isaiah 56:10–11
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.
- 2 Corinthians 11:13
Through
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.
it leads to
- Titus 2:15
Speak these things as you encourage and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.
- Hosea 8:1
Put the ram’s horn to your lips! An eagle looms over the house of the LORD, because the people have transgressed My covenant and rebelled against My law.
- Acts 20:26–27
Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.
- Ezekiel 3:17–21
“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from My mouth, give them a warning from Me.
- Titus 2:15
Where this verse is studied
About Isaiah
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Isaiah; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Basil of Caesarea, LETTER 210:6; Gregory the Dialogist, Forty Gospel Homilies, Homily 40; Ishodad of Merv, COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 56:10; Jerome, Commentary on Isaiah; John Chrysostom, HOMILIES ON GENESIS 12:10; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Isaiah.