John 12:39

39 For this reason, they could not believe. As Isaiah says in another place,

John 12:39 Meaning and Commentary

John 12:39

Therefore they could not believe
God had determined to leave them to the blindness and hardness of their hearts, and to deny them his grace, which only could cure them of it, and enable them to believe: he had foretold this in prophecy, and they were manifestly the persons spoken of; and therefore considering the decrees of God, the predictions of the prophet, and the hardness of their hearts, they were left unto, it was morally impossible they should believe,

because that Esaias said again,
in ( Isaiah 6:9 Isaiah 6:10 ) .

John 12:39 In-Context

37 Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in front of them. But they still would not believe in him.

38 This happened as Isaiah the prophet had said it would. He had said, "Lord, who has believed what we've been saying? Who has seen the Lord's saving power?" (Isaiah 53:1)

39 For this reason, they could not believe. As Isaiah says in another place,

40 "The Lord has blinded their eyes. He has closed their minds. So they can't see with their eyes. They can't understand with their minds. They can't turn to the Lord. If they could, he would heal them." (Isaiah 6:10)

41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus' glory and spoke about him.