Isaiah 35:5–10

Every witness, in order

1. 8th–6th century BC (by section; debated)

   The oracle as first spoken or written

   – No copy survives

   No original survives. The oldest copies of Isaiah are the Qumran scrolls: the Great Isaiah Scroll (1QIsa-a, about 125 BC, nearly complete), 1QIsa-b (1Q8) and some twenty other fragmentary manuscripts.

2. c. 125 BC (palaeography; reported)

   Great Isaiah Scroll (1QIsa-a), Qumran Cave 1

   ✓ Contains this passageDescends, through lost copies, from The oracle as first spoken or written

   How the site knows this: Described from a published transcription of the manuscript. Described in the site's own words from Martin Abegg's transcription (ETCBC/CACCHT Dead Sea Scrolls dataset v2.0.5); the transcription itself is not reproduced. Photographs and DJD XXXII not yet checked.

   Hebrew numbering: Isaiah 35:5–10. The healing of blind, deaf, lame and mute as in the Masoretic Text. In v. 8 "and a way" is lacking and the phrase about the unclean differs; v. 9 adds a negative. Otherwise the differences are of spelling (fuller use of vowel letters) and small grammatical forms.

3. 1st century BC (reported)

   4QIsa-b (4Q56), Qumran Cave 4

   ◐ Contains part of itDescends, through lost copies, from The oracle as first spoken or written

   How the site knows this: Described from a published transcription of the manuscript. Described in the site's own words from Martin Abegg's transcription (ETCBC/CACCHT Dead Sea Scrolls dataset v2.0.5); the transcription itself is not reproduced. Photographs and DJD XXXII not yet checked.

   Hebrew numbering: Isaiah 35:5–10. A fragmentary copy: only parts of these verses survive, and in the transcription much of the passage is restored by the editors. What survives of vv. 9–10 agrees with the Masoretic Text.

4. 1st century BC – 1st century AD (reported)

   1QIsa-b (1Q8), Qumran Cave 1

   ◐ Contains part of itDescends, through lost copies, from The oracle as first spoken or written

   How the site knows this: Described from a published transcription of the manuscript. Described in the site's own words from Martin Abegg's transcription (ETCBC/CACCHT Dead Sea Scrolls dataset v2.0.5); the transcription itself is not reproduced. Photographs and DJD XXXII not yet checked.

   Hebrew numbering: Isaiah 35:5–10. Preserves parts of vv. 5–7 in agreement with the Masoretic Text; much is restored.

5. 1st century AD; edition 2010s

   Matthew 11:5 (Greek New Testament; library: Statistical Restoration text)

   ✓ Contains this passageUncertain relationship to the verse (which wording it followed is the question)

   How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: the Greek New Testament editions in the library (Textus Receptus, Byzantine Textform, Statistical Restoration).

   ‘τυφλοὶ ἀναβλέπουσιν’, καὶ χωλοὶ περιπατοῦσιν, λεπροὶ καθαρίζονται, καὶ κωφοὶ ἀκούουσιν, καὶ νεκροὶ ἐγείρονται, καὶ ‘πτωχοὶ εὐαγγελίζονται’.

   the blind see and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised and the poor have good news proclaimed

   Matthew's report of Jesus' words to John's disciples. Words attributed to Jesus. KJV: "The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them."

6. 1st century AD; edition 2010s

   Luke 7:22 (Greek New Testament; library: Statistical Restoration text)

   ✓ Contains this passageUncertain relationship to the verse (which wording it followed is the question)

   How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: the Greek New Testament editions in the library (Textus Receptus, Byzantine Textform, Statistical Restoration).

   Καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς, “Πορευθέντες, ἀπαγγείλατε Ἰωάννῃ ἃ εἴδετε καὶ ἠκούσατε: ‘τυφλοὶ ἀναβλέπουσιν’, χωλοὶ περιπατοῦσιν, λεπροὶ καθαρίζονται, καὶ κωφοὶ ἀκούουσιν, νεκροὶ ἐγείρονται, ‘πτωχοὶ εὐαγγελίζονται’.

   Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have good news proclaimed

   Luke's report of Jesus' words. Words attributed to Jesus. KJV: "Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached."

7. Jerome c. AD 400, from Hebrew; edition 1592

   Latin Vulgate (Clementine)

   ✓ Contains this passageTranslated from the Hebrew text Jerome used

   How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: Clementine Vulgate (1592 edition).

   Tunc aperientur oculi cæcorum, et aures surdorum patebunt; tunc saliet sicut cervus claudus, et aperta erit lingua mutorum: quia scissæ sunt in deserto aquæ, et torrentes in solitudine; et quæ erat arida, erit in stagnum, et sitiens in fontes aquarum. In cubilibus, in quibus prius dracones habitabant, orietur viror calami et junci. Et erit ibi semita et via, et via sancta vocabitur: non transibit per eam pollutus, et hæc erit vobis directa via, ita ut stulti non errent per eam. Non erit ibi leo, et mala bestia non ascendet per eam, nec invenietur ibi; et ambulabunt qui liberati fuerint. Et redempti a Domino convertentur, et venient in Sion cum laude, et lætitia sempiterna super caput eorum: gaudium et lætitiam obtinebunt, et fugiet dolor et gemitus.

   Latin numbering: Isaiah 35:5–10. Jerome translated Isaiah from Hebrew (c. AD 400).

8. AD 1008

   Masoretic Text (Leningrad Codex)

   ✓ Contains this passageDescends, through lost copies, from The oracle as first spoken or written

   How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: Westminster Leningrad Codex, a digital transcription of the Leningrad Codex.

   אָ֥ז תִּפָּקַ֖חְנָה עֵינֵ֣י עִוְרִ֑ים וְאָזְנֵ֥י חֵרְשִׁ֖ים תִּפָּתַֽחְנָה׃ אָ֣ז יְדַלֵּ֤ג כָּֽאַיָּל֙ פִּסֵּ֔חַ וְתָרֹ֖ן לְשׁ֣וֹן אִלֵּ֑ם כִּֽי־נִבְקְע֤וּ בַמִּדְבָּר֙ מַ֔יִם וּנְחָלִ֖ים בָּעֲרָבָֽה׃ וְהָיָ֤ה הַשָּׁרָב֙ לַאֲגַ֔ם וְצִמָּא֖וֹן לְמַבּ֣וּעֵי מָ֑יִם בִּנְוֵ֤ה תַנִּים֙ רִבְצָ֔הּ חָצִ֖יר לְקָנֶ֥ה וָגֹֽמֶא׃ וְהָיָה־שָׁ֞ם מַסְל֣וּל וָדֶ֗רֶךְ וְדֶ֤רֶךְ הַקֹּ֙דֶשׁ֙ יִקָּ֣רֵא לָ֔הּ לֹֽא־יַעַבְרֶ֥נּוּ טָמֵ֖א וְהוּא־לָ֑מוֹ הֹלֵ֥ךְ דֶּ֛רֶךְ וֶאֱוִילִ֖ים לֹ֥א יִתְעֽוּ׃ לֹא־יִהְיֶ֨ה שָׁ֜ם אַרְיֵ֗ה וּפְרִ֤יץ חַיּוֹת֙ בַּֽל־יַעֲלֶ֔נָּה לֹ֥א תִמָּצֵ֖א שָׁ֑ם וְהָלְכ֖וּ גְּאוּלִֽים׃ וּפְדוּיֵ֨י יְהוָ֜ה יְשֻׁב֗וּן וּבָ֤אוּ צִיּוֹן֙ בְּרִנָּ֔ה וְשִׂמְחַ֥ת עוֹלָ֖ם עַל־רֹאשָׁ֑ם שָׂשׂ֤וֹן וְשִׂמְחָה֙ יַשִּׂ֔יגוּ וְנָ֖סוּ יָג֥וֹן וַאֲנָחָֽה׃

   Then the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped (v. 5)

   Hebrew numbering: Isaiah 35:5–10.

9. 1611

   King James Bible

   ✓ Contains this passageTranslated from printed Masoretic Hebrew

   How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: King James Version (1769 text).

   Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes. And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

10. Greek translation c. 2nd century BC; French 1872

    Greek Isaiah (library: Giguet's French)

    ✓ Contains this passageTranslated from the Old Greek Isaiah

    How the site knows this: Known here only through a translation.

    Alors s’ouvriront les yeux des aveugles, et les oreilles des sourds ouïront. Alors le boiteux sautera comme un cerf; la langue nouée parlera facilement, parce que l’onde aura jailli dans le désert, et un torrent sur une terre altérée. Et les champs arides seront changés en nappes d’eau, et il y aura des fontaines sur une terre altérée; là seront la joie des oiseaux, le séjour du roseau et des étangs. Là il y aura une voie pure, qu’on nommera la voie sainte, et jamais être impur n’y passera; et il n’y aura point de voie impure, mais les dispersés y marcheront et ne s’égareront pas. Il n’y aura pas de lion; nulle bête farouche n’y viendra ou n’y sera trouvée; mais là marcheront les hommes rachetés Et rassemblés par le Seigneur; là sera leur refuge, et ils rentreront à Sion, transportés d’allégresse; et une joie perpétuelle couronnera leurs têtes; on verra sur leur front la louange et le ravissement; la joie aura pris possession d’eux; la douleur, la tristesse, les gémissements se seront enfuis.

    Greek (digital file) numbering: Isaiah 35:5–10. Giguet's 1872 French of a printed Greek text (D check only); a C check needs Ziegler's Göttingen Isaiah or Rahlfs–Hanhart.