New International Version so that, “’they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’” New Living Translation so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled: ‘When they see what I do, they will learn nothing. When they hear what I say, they will not understand. Otherwise, they will turn to me and be forgiven.’” English Standard Version so that “‘they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.’” Berean Standard Bible so that, ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven.’” Berean Literal Bible so that: ‘Seeing they might see and not perceive, and hearing they might hear and not understand, lest ever they might return, and they might be forgiven.’”” King James Bible That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them. New King James Version so that ‘Seeing they may see and not perceive, And hearing they may hear and not understand; Lest they should turn, And their sins be forgiven them.’ ” New American Standard Bible so that WHILE SEEING THEY MAY SEE, AND NOT PERCEIVE, AND WHILE HEARING, THEY MAY HEAR, AND NOT UNDERSTAND, OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT RETURN AND IT WOULD BE FORGIVEN THEM.” NASB 1995 so that WHILE SEEING, THEY MAY SEE AND NOT PERCEIVE, AND WHILE HEARING, THEY MAY HEAR AND NOT UNDERSTAND, OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT RETURN AND BE FORGIVEN.” NASB 1977 in order that WHILE SEEING, THEY MAY SEE AND NOT PERCEIVE; AND WHILE HEARING, THEY MAY HEAR AND NOT UNDERSTAND LEST THEY RETURN AND BE FORGIVEN.” Legacy Standard Bible so that WHILE SEEING, THEY MAY SEE AND NOT PERCEIVE, AND WHILE HEARING, THEY MAY HEAR AND NOT UNDERSTAND, LEST THEY RETURN AND BE FORGIVEN.” Amplified Bible so that THEY WILL CONTINUALLY LOOK BUT NOT SEE, AND THEY WILL CONTINUALLY HEAR BUT NOT UNDERSTAND, OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT TURN [from their rejection of the truth] AND BE FORGIVEN.” Berean Annotated Bible so that, ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven <Isa 6:9–10>.’ Christian Standard Bible so that they may indeed look, and yet not perceive; they may indeed listen, and yet not understand; otherwise, they might turn back and be forgiven. ” Holman Christian Standard Bible so that they may look and look, yet not perceive; they may listen and listen, yet not understand; otherwise, they might turn back— and be forgiven.” American Standard Version that seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest haply they should turn again, and it should be forgiven them. Contemporary English Version The reason is, "These people will look and look, but never see. They will listen and listen, but never understand. If they did, they would turn to God and be forgiven." English Revised Version that seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest haply they should turn again, and it should be forgiven them. GOD'S WORD® Translation 'They see clearly but don't perceive. They hear clearly but don't understand. They never return to me and are never forgiven.'" Good News Translation so that, 'They may look and look, yet not see; they may listen and listen, yet not understand. For if they did, they would turn to God, and he would forgive them.'" International Standard Version so that 'they may see clearly but not perceive, and they may hear clearly but not understand, otherwise they might turn around and be forgiven.'" NET Bible so that although they look they may look but not see, and although they hear they may hear but not understand, so they may not repent and be forgiven." New Heart English Bible that 'seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest perhaps they should turn and be forgiven.'" Webster's Bible Translation That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them. Weymouth New Testament that "'They may look and look but not see, and listen and listen but not understand, lest perchance they should return and be pardoned.'" Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Bibleso that, ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven their sins.’” World English Bible that ‘seeing they may see and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not understand, lest perhaps they should turn again, and their sins should be forgiven them.’” Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionthat seeing they may see and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not understand, lest they may turn, and the sins may be forgiven them.” Berean Literal Bible so that: ‘Seeing they might see and not perceive, and hearing they might hear and not understand, lest ever they might return, and they might be forgiven.’”” Young's Literal Translation that seeing they may see and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not understand, lest they may turn, and the sins may be forgiven them.' Smith's Literal Translation That seeing they might see, and not know; and hearing they might hear, and not understand; lest they turn back, and their sins be remitted to them. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThat seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand: lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them. Catholic Public Domain Version ‘so that, seeing, they may see, and not perceive; and hearing, they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they may be converted, and their sins would be forgiven them.’ ” New American Bible so that ‘they may look and see but not perceive, and hear and listen but not understand, in order that they may not be converted and be forgiven.’ ” New Revised Standard Version in order that ‘they may indeed look, but not perceive, and may indeed listen, but not understand; so that they may not turn again and be forgiven.’” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleFor seeing they see, and yet do not perceive; and hearing they hear, and yet do not understand; if they return, their sins would be forgiven. Aramaic Bible in Plain English “So that seeing they shall see and not see, and hearing they shall hear and they shall not understand, unless perhaps they shall be converted and their sins shall be forgiven them.” NT Translations Anderson New Testamentthat they may surely see, and not perceive; and that they may surely hear, and not understand; lest they should turn to me, and their sins should be forgiven them. Godbey New Testament Haweis New Testament That seeing they may see, yet not perceive; and hearing may hear, yet not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins be forgiven them. Mace New Testament tho' they see, they will not perceive, and tho' they hear they will not understand: as if they were afraid of parting with their vices, in order to be pardoned. Weymouth New Testament that "'They may look and look but not see, and listen and listen but not understand, lest perchance they should return and be pardoned.'" Worrell New Testament Worsley New Testament Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context The Purpose of Jesus' Parables…11He replied, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those on the outside everything is expressed in parables, 12so that, ‘ they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven.’” 13Then Jesus said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand any of the parables?… Cross References so that, 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.” John 12:40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so that they cannot see with their eyes, and understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.” 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.’ ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, Ezekiel 12:2 “Son of man, you are living in a rebellious house. They have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious house. Jeremiah 5:21 “Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear. Psalm 115:5-6 They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see; / they have ears, but cannot hear; they have noses, but cannot smell; and ever hearing but never understanding; Deuteronomy 29:4 Yet to this day the LORD has not given you a mind to understand, eyes to see, or ears to hear. John 8:43 Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you are unable to accept My message. Hebrews 5:11-14 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain, because you are dull of hearing. / Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to reteach you the basic principles of God’s word. You need milk, not solid food! / For everyone who lives on milk is still an infant, inexperienced in the message of righteousness. … otherwise they might turn and be forgiven.’ Acts 3:19 Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away, 2 Chronicles 7:14 and if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. Isaiah 55:7 Let the wicked man forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon. Matthew 13:14-15 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.’ Luke 8:10 He replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, ‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’ John 12:39-40 For this reason they were unable to believe. For again, Isaiah says: / “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so that they cannot see with their eyes, and understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.” 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.” Treasury of Scripture That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them. That seeing. Deuteronomy 29:4 Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day. Isaiah 6:9,10 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not… Isaiah 44:18 They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand. be converted. Jeremiah 31:18-20 I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God… Ezekiel 18:27-32 Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive… Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; Jump to Previous Beholding Clear Converted Fear Forgiven Forgiveness Haply Hear Hearing Indeed Otherwise Pardoned Perceive Perceiving Perchance Perhaps Sense Sins Time Turn Turned UnderstandJump to Next Beholding Clear Converted Fear Forgiven Forgiveness Haply Hear Hearing Indeed Otherwise Pardoned Perceive Perceiving Perchance Perhaps Sense Sins Time Turn Turned UnderstandMark 4 1. The parable of the sower,14. and the meaning thereof. 21. We must communicate the light of our knowledge to others. 26. The parable of the seed growing secretly; 30. and of the mustard seed. 35. Jesus stills the storm on the sea. so that, Jesus’ use of parables both revealed the kingdom of God to His disciples and exposed the unbelief of those who rejected Him. Their inability to understand was not caused by a lack of evidence but reflected hearts already resistant to God’s revelation. Isa 6:9-10 And He replied: “Go and tell this people, ‘Be ever hearing,… ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, Many witnessed Jesus’ works and heard His teaching, yet refused to recognize the authority and identity displayed before them. Their outward observation did not lead to faith. Ezk 12:2 “Son of man, you are living in a rebellious house… and ever hearing but never understanding; Israel had received God’s law and the testimony of the prophets, but many listeners did not receive Jesus as the promised Messiah. Their spiritual hardness kept them from grasping the meaning of His message. Deu 29:4 Yet to this day the LORD has not given you… otherwise they might turn and be forgiven.’” Genuine understanding leads to repentance, a turning from sin to God, and forgiveness. Those who persistently reject the light they have received remain in their blindness, while those who respond in faith receive mercy. Act 3:19 Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped… Persons / Places / Events 1. Jesus ChristThe central figure in the Gospel of Mark, Jesus is teaching in parables to the crowds and explaining the deeper meanings to His disciples. 2. The Disciples Followers of Jesus who are given the privilege of understanding the mysteries of the Kingdom of God, unlike the general crowds. 3. The Crowds The larger group of people who follow Jesus and hear His teachings but do not always understand the deeper spiritual truths. 4. Isaiah the Prophet The original source of the quote Jesus uses, found in Isaiah 6:9-10, which speaks to the spiritual blindness and deafness of the people. 5. The Kingdom of God The central theme of Jesus' teaching, often explained through parables to reveal truths to those who are spiritually receptive. Teaching Points Understanding Spiritual TruthsSpiritual perception is a gift from God. We must seek the Holy Spirit's guidance to truly understand and apply God's Word. The Purpose of Parables Parables reveal truths to those who are open and conceal them from those who are hardened. We should examine our hearts to ensure we are receptive to God's teachings. The Danger of Spiritual Blindness Persistent unbelief can lead to a hardened heart. We must remain vigilant and responsive to God's call to avoid spiritual dullness. Repentance and Forgiveness The ultimate goal of understanding is repentance and forgiveness. We should continually turn to God, seeking His mercy and grace. The Role of Prophecy Prophecies like Isaiah's serve as warnings and calls to repentance. We should heed these warnings and align our lives with God's will. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Mark 4:12?2. How does Mark 4:12 illustrate the purpose of Jesus speaking in parables? 3. What role does spiritual blindness play in understanding Mark 4:12? 4. How does Isaiah 6:9-10 connect to the message in Mark 4:12? 5. How can we ensure our hearts are receptive to God's truth in Mark 4:12? 6. What steps can we take to avoid the hardening of hearts described here? 7. Why does Mark 4:12 suggest that understanding is intentionally withheld from some people? 8. How does Mark 4:12 align with the concept of free will? 9. What is the theological significance of Jesus speaking in parables in Mark 4:12? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Mark 4? (12) That seeing they may see. . . .--St. Mark characteristically gives the words of Isaiah 6:9, but not as a quotation, and perhaps in a less accurate form, and omits the addition in Matthew, "Blessed are your ears . . ." The form in this instance, at first sight, suggests the thought that our Lord's purpose was to produce the blindness and deafness of which He speaks. The real meaning of the words is, however, plain. This was to be the result of the wilful blindness of those who rejected Him; and the acceptance of a foreseen result was, in Hebrew forms of thought, expressed as the working out of an intention. (See Notes on Matthew 13:14-15.)Mark 4:12 teaches that parables reveal truth to receptive hearts while confirming blindness in the hardened. Seeing without perceiving and hearing without understanding expose a willful resistance foretold in Isaiah. Yet the invitation remains: if they would only turn, they would be forgiven. The verse is both a warning against spiritual dullness and a reminder that forgiveness stands ready for all who respond in humble faith. Parallel Commentaries ... Greek so that,ἵνα (hina) Conjunction Strong's 2443: In order that, so that. Probably from the same as the former part of heautou; in order that. ‘they may be ever seeing βλέπωσιν (blepōsin) Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Plural Strong's 991: (primarily physical), I look, see, perceive, discern. A primary verb; to look at. [but] καὶ (kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. never μὴ (mē) Adverb Strong's 3361: Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether. perceiving, ἴδωσιν (idōsin) Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Plural Strong's 3708: Properly, to stare at, i.e. to discern clearly; by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear. and Καὶ (Kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. ever hearing ἀκούωσιν (akouōsin) Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Plural Strong's 191: To hear, listen, comprehend by hearing; pass: is heard, reported. A primary verb; to hear. [but] καὶ (kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. never μὴ (mē) Adverb Strong's 3361: Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether. understanding; συνιῶσιν (syniōsin) Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Plural Strong's 4920: To consider, understand, perceive. From sun and hiemi; to put together, i.e. to comprehend; by implication, to act piously. otherwise Μή‿ (Mē) Adverb Strong's 3361: Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether. they might turn ἐπιστρέψωσιν (epistrepsōsin) Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Plural Strong's 1994: From epi and strepho; to revert. and Καὶ (Kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. be forgiven.’” ἀφεθῇ (aphethē) Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 863: From apo and hiemi; to send forth, in various applications. Additonal Resources Mark 4:12 Blue Letter BibleMark 4:12 Bible Gateway Mark 4:12 Bible.com Mark 4:12 NIV |
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