God graciously provides the faculties of hearing and seeing to draw us into deeper relationship with Him.
“The hearing ear and the seeing eye, The LORD has made both of them.” (Proverbs 20:12) reminds us that every faculty we possess—in this case, our ears and our eyes—originates from God Himself. King Solomon, who lived and reigned from approximately 970 to 931 BC, is the traditional author of much of the book of Proverbs. In this verse, Solomon points to the Creator’s handiwork in our body, demonstrating that even our most basic abilities are gifts from the LORD. This truth urges us to honor and revere our Maker, because our capacity to hear and see is not something we can claim for ourselves; it flows from God’s gracious design.
When we recognize “The hearing ear and the seeing eye” (Proverbs 20:12), we also discern that these are more than physical abilities. God’s Word frequently uses sight and hearing as metaphors for understanding and spiritual receptivity. Jesus emphasized this truth by saying, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (Matthew 11:15). In a similar way, the gift of physically seeing calls us to look to God’s works, perceive them, and respond in gratitude and faith. The idea that “The LORD has made both of them” (Proverbs 20:12) carries the deeper invitation to use these senses to witness the Creator’s presence in our daily lives.
This verse challenges us to consider how we direct the gifts of hearing and sight. If our eyes wander away from noble pursuits, or if our ears remain closed to God’s truth, we fail to steward these blessings well. Instead, recognizing hearing and seeing as divine endowments fosters humility and dependence on the LORD, acknowledging Him as the source of our abilities and aligning our minds with His wisdom. In many other passages, the New Testament teaches that our understanding is completed in Christ, who opens our spiritual eyes and ears so we can fully grasp God’s truth (Luke 24:45).
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Proverbs 20:12 meaning
“The hearing ear and the seeing eye, The LORD has made both of them.” (Proverbs 20:12) reminds us that every faculty we possess—in this case, our ears and our eyes—originates from God Himself. King Solomon, who lived and reigned from approximately 970 to 931 BC, is the traditional author of much of the book of Proverbs. In this verse, Solomon points to the Creator’s handiwork in our body, demonstrating that even our most basic abilities are gifts from the LORD. This truth urges us to honor and revere our Maker, because our capacity to hear and see is not something we can claim for ourselves; it flows from God’s gracious design.
When we recognize “The hearing ear and the seeing eye” (Proverbs 20:12), we also discern that these are more than physical abilities. God’s Word frequently uses sight and hearing as metaphors for understanding and spiritual receptivity. Jesus emphasized this truth by saying, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (Matthew 11:15). In a similar way, the gift of physically seeing calls us to look to God’s works, perceive them, and respond in gratitude and faith. The idea that “The LORD has made both of them” (Proverbs 20:12) carries the deeper invitation to use these senses to witness the Creator’s presence in our daily lives.
This verse challenges us to consider how we direct the gifts of hearing and sight. If our eyes wander away from noble pursuits, or if our ears remain closed to God’s truth, we fail to steward these blessings well. Instead, recognizing hearing and seeing as divine endowments fosters humility and dependence on the LORD, acknowledging Him as the source of our abilities and aligning our minds with His wisdom. In many other passages, the New Testament teaches that our understanding is completed in Christ, who opens our spiritual eyes and ears so we can fully grasp God’s truth (Luke 24:45).