God made both the hearing ear and the seeing eye, so we should use these gifts gratefully and accountably.
Solomon names two faculties as gifts in Proverbs 20:12: The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the LORD has made both of them (v. 12). The verse turns gratitude and accountability toward the same point.
The hearing ear and the seeing eye are the two faculties Proverbs has been training all along—listening, the precondition of receiving instruction, and observing, the precondition of reading reality. Solomon calls attention to the source of both.
The LORD has made both of them. These faculties are not self-generated, so we should be grateful for them. The reminder also carries a second weight: the One who made them sees and hears as well, perfectly, and our use of these gifts is open before Him.
Set to dark mode
Proverbs 20:12 meaning
Solomon names two faculties as gifts in Proverbs 20:12: The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the LORD has made both of them (v. 12). The verse turns gratitude and accountability toward the same point.
The hearing ear and the seeing eye are the two faculties Proverbs has been training all along—listening, the precondition of receiving instruction, and observing, the precondition of reading reality. Solomon calls attention to the source of both.
The LORD has made both of them. These faculties are not self-generated, so we should be grateful for them. The reminder also carries a second weight: the One who made them sees and hears as well, perfectly, and our use of these gifts is open before Him.