Psalm 94:9
New International Version
Does he who fashioned the ear not hear? Does he who formed the eye not see?

New Living Translation
Is he deaf—the one who made your ears? Is he blind—the one who formed your eyes?

English Standard Version
He who planted the ear, does he not hear? He who formed the eye, does he not see?

Berean Standard Bible
He who affixed the ear, can He not hear? He who formed the eye, can He not see?

King James Bible
He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?

New King James Version
He who planted the ear, shall He not hear? He who formed the eye, shall He not see?

New American Standard Bible
He who planted the ear, does He not hear? Or He who formed the eye, does He not see?

NASB 1995
He who planted the ear, does He not hear? He who formed the eye, does He not see?

NASB 1977
He who planted the ear, does He not hear? He who formed the eye, does He not see?

Legacy Standard Bible
He who planted the ear, does He not hear? He who formed the eye, does He not see?

Amplified Bible
He who made the ear, does He not hear? He who formed the eye, does He not see?

Christian Standard Bible
Can the one who shaped the ear not hear, the one who formed the eye not see?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Can the One who shaped the ear not hear, the One who formed the eye not see?

American Standard Version
He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? He that formed the eye, shall he not see?

Contemporary English Version
God gave us ears and eyes! Can't he hear and see?

English Revised Version
He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
God created ears. Do you think he can't hear? He formed eyes. Do you think he can't see?

Good News Translation
God made our ears--can't he hear? He made our eyes--can't he see?

International Standard Version
The one who formed the ear can hear, can he not? The one who made the eyes can see, can he not?

Majority Standard Bible
He who affixed the ear, can He not hear? He who formed the eye, can He not see?

NET Bible
Does the one who makes the human ear not hear? Does the one who forms the human eye not see?

New Heart English Bible
He who implanted the ear, won't he hear? He who formed the eye, won't he see?

Webster's Bible Translation
He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?

World English Bible
He who implanted the ear, won’t he hear? He who formed the eye, won’t he see?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
He who plants the ear, does He not hear? He who forms the eye, does He not see?

Young's Literal Translation
He who planteth the ear doth He not hear? He who formeth the eye doth He not see?

Smith's Literal Translation
He planting the ear, shall he not hear? if he formed the eye, shall he not see?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? or he that formed the eye, doth he not consider?

Catholic Public Domain Version
He who formed the ear, will he not hear? And he who forged the eye, does he not look closely?

New American Bible
Does the one who shaped the ear not hear? The one who formed the eye not see?

New Revised Standard Version
He who planted the ear, does he not hear? He who formed the eye, does he not see?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
He who planted the ear, shall he not hear? He who formed the eye, shall he not see?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
He who planted the ears, does he not hear? He who created the eyes, does he not perceive?
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
He that planted the ear, shall He not hear? He that formed the eye, shall He not see?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
He that planted the ear, does he not hear? or he that formed the eye, does not he perceive?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The LORD Will Not Forget His People
8Take notice, O senseless among the people! O fools, when will you be wise? 9He who affixed the ear, can He not hear? He who formed the eye, can He not see? 10He who admonishes the nations, does He not discipline? He who teaches man, does He lack knowledge?…

Cross References
Proverbs 20:12
Ears that hear and eyes that see—the LORD has made them both.

Isaiah 29:15-16
Woe to those who dig deep to hide their plans from the LORD. In darkness they do their works and say, “Who sees us, and who will know?” / You have turned things upside down, as if the potter were regarded as clay. Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, “He did not make me”? Can the pottery say of the potter, “He has no understanding”?

Jeremiah 5:21
“Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear.

Exodus 4:11
And the LORD said to him, “Who gave man his mouth? Or who makes the mute or the deaf, the sighted or the blind? Is it not I, the LORD?

Job 34:21-22
For His eyes are on the ways of a man, and He sees his every step. / There is no darkness or deep shadow where the workers of iniquity can hide.

1 Samuel 16:7
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.”

Proverbs 15:3
The eyes of the LORD are in every place, observing the evil and the good.

Hebrews 4:13
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

Matthew 13:13-15
This is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.’ / In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: ‘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.’

Isaiah 6:9-10
And He replied: “Go and tell this people, ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ / 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.”

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.”

Mark 8:18
‘Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear?’ And do you not remember?

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.’

Revelation 3:22
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

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.


Treasury of Scripture

He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?

he that planted

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?

Proverbs 20:1,12
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise…

hear

Psalm 11:4
The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD'S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.

Psalm 17:3
Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.

Psalm 44:21
Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.

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Psalm 94
1. The prophet, calling for justice, complains of tyranny and impiety.
8. He teaches God's providence
12. He shows the blessedness of affliction
16. God is the defender of the afflicted.














He who affixed the ear, can He not hear?
This phrase emphasizes God's omniscience and creative power. The rhetorical question suggests that the Creator, who designed the human ear, is fully capable of hearing. In biblical context, this is a reminder of God's awareness of human actions and prayers. The ear, as a symbol of hearing, is often used in Scripture to denote understanding and obedience (Proverbs 20:12). Theologically, this underscores God's intimate involvement with His creation, as seen in Genesis 1, where God creates with purpose and precision. The idea that God hears is a recurring theme, assuring believers of His attentiveness (Psalm 34:15).

He who formed the eye, can He not see?
This phrase highlights God's ability to see all things, reinforcing His omnipresence and omniscience. The eye, a complex organ, signifies perception and insight. In the cultural context of ancient Israel, seeing was associated with knowledge and judgment. This rhetorical question challenges any notion that God is unaware of human affairs. Biblically, God's sight is often linked to His justice and righteousness (Proverbs 15:3). The formation of the eye also points to God's intricate design in creation, as described in Psalm 139:13-16. This assurance of God's watchful presence is echoed in the New Testament, where Jesus, as the embodiment of God, sees and knows the hearts of men (John 2:24-25).

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Psalmist
The author of Psalm 94, traditionally attributed to David or another inspired writer, who is addressing the justice and omniscience of God.

2. God
The Creator, who is being described as the one who formed the ear and the eye, emphasizing His ability to hear and see all things.

3. The Oppressors
Implied in the broader context of Psalm 94, these are the wicked who act unjustly, thinking they can escape God's notice.

4. The Righteous
Those who are suffering under oppression and are seeking God's justice and deliverance.

5. Israel
The nation often addressed in the Psalms, representing God's chosen people who are in need of His protection and justice.
Teaching Points
God's Omniscience
God is fully aware of all that happens in the world. We can take comfort in knowing that nothing escapes His notice, including our struggles and injustices we face.

Accountability
Since God sees and hears everything, we are accountable to Him for our actions. This should encourage us to live righteously and justly.

Trust in Divine Justice
Even when it seems like the wicked prosper, we can trust that God sees their actions and will bring about justice in His perfect timing.

Encouragement for the Oppressed
Those who are suffering can find solace in the fact that God is aware of their plight and is a righteous judge who will act on their behalf.

Reflection on Creation
Recognizing God as the Creator of our senses should lead us to worship Him and use our abilities to honor Him.Verse 9. - He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see? This argument for a real, personal, intelligent God appears here, for the first time. It is of irresistible force. "Can it be possible that God, who planned and made the curious mechanism of hearing and vision, is himself without those faculties, or something analogous to them? Must he not hear those cries, and see those outrages, which men, who are his creatures, see and hear? Is it conceivable that he can be an unobservant and apathetic God?" (Cheyne).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
He who affixed
הֲנֹ֣טַֽע (hă·nō·ṭa‘)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5193: To strike in, fix, to plant

the ear,
אֹ֭זֶן (’ō·zen)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 241: Broadness, the ear

can He not
הֲלֹ֣א (hă·lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

hear?
יִשְׁמָ֑ע (yiš·mā‘)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

He who
אִֽם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

formed
יֹ֥צֵֽר (yō·ṣêr)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3335: To mould into a, form, as a, potter, to determine

the eye,
עַ֝֗יִן (‘a·yin)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

can He not
הֲלֹ֣א (hă·lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

see?
יַבִּֽיט׃ (yab·bîṭ)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5027: To scan, look intently at, to regard


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OT Poetry: Psalm 94:9 He who implanted the ear won't he (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 94:8
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