Proverbs 20:12 Meaning and Explanation
“The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Both the ability to hear and the ability to see come from God as divine gifts.
The Context of Proverbs 20:12
Proverbs connects physical faculties to divine intention and responsibility.
What Does Proverbs 20:12 Mean?
The capacity to perceive the world—through hearing and sight—originates with God. He is the maker of these faculties. This statement emphasizes that human sensory equipment is not a natural accident but a divine provision, something given to us.
The implicit message is that because both faculties come from God, we should use them rightly. We hear and see as gifts from the divine; this awareness should shape how we employ them—to discern truth, to understand others, and to respond wisely to what we perceive.
Proverbs 20:12 in the Original Language
'Made' (עָשָׂה, asah) — to fashion or create; God actively formed these capacities.
Frequently Asked Questions About Proverbs 20:12
What does Proverbs 20:12 mean?
Both the ability to hear and the ability to see come from God as divine gifts.
What is the context of Proverbs 20:12?
Proverbs connects physical faculties to divine intention and responsibility.