John 12:39

39 First they wouldn't believe, then they couldn't - again, just as Isaiah said:

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 All these God-signs he had given them and they still didn't get it, still wouldn't trust him.

38 This proved that the prophet Isaiah was right: God, who believed what we preached? Who recognized God's arm, outstretched and ready to act?

39 First they wouldn't believe, then they couldn't - again, just as Isaiah said:

40 Their eyes are blinded, their hearts are hardened, So that they wouldn't see with their eyes and perceive with their hearts, And turn to me, God, so I could heal them.

41 Isaiah said these things after he got a glimpse of God's cascading brightness that would pour through the Messiah.