Mark 4:12

12 that beholding they may behold and not see, and hearing they may hear and not understand, lest it may be, they should be converted and they should be forgiven.

Mark 4:12 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 4:12

That seeing they may see
Which the end and reason of his speaking to them in parables. The passage referred to is in ( Isaiah 6:9 Isaiah 6:10 ) . (See Gill on Matthew 13:14). (See Gill on Matthew 13:15).

Mark 4:12 In-Context

10 And when he was alone, those about him with the twelve asked him [as to] the parables.

11 And he said to them, To you is given [to know] the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to them who are without, all things are done in parables,

12 that beholding they may behold and not see, and hearing they may hear and not understand, lest it may be, they should be converted and they should be forgiven.

13 And he says to them, Do ye not know this parable? and how will ye be acquainted with all the parables?

14 The sower sows the word:

Footnotes

• [a] Or 'perhaps:' see Matt. 13.29; 15.32; 25.9; Acts 5.39; 'perhaps' is, I suspect, the sense: see also Matt. 5.25.
• [b] See Isa. 6.9-10.