Mark 4:12

12 so that, “ ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’^[a] ”

Mark 4:12 in Other Translations

12 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.

12 so that“they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven. ”

12 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.’ ”

12 These are people - Whose eyes are open but don't see a thing, Whose ears are open but don't understand a word, Who avoid making an about-face and getting forgiven."

12 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.

12 'They see clearly but don't perceive. They hear clearly but don't understand. They never return to me and are never forgiven.'"

12 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. "

12 In that way, " 'They will see but never know what they are seeing. They will hear but never understand. Otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!' " (Isaiah 6:9,10)

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 When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables.

11 He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables

12 so that, “ ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’”

13 Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable?

14 The farmer sows the word.

Cross References

• 1. Isaiah 6:9,10; S Matthew 13:13-15

Footnotes

• [a] Isaiah 6:9,10