John 12:40

Translations

Modern

“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.”

Traditional

He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

Literal

“He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, so that they might not see with the eyes, and understand with the heart, and turn, and I will heal them.”

Latin

Excæcavit oculos eorum, et induravit cor eorum ut non videant oculis, et non intelligant corde, et convertantur, et sanem eos.

Interlinear

Greek

English

“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.”

Notes

John 12:39–40

they were unable to believe: John quotes Isaiah 6:10 to explain Israel's lack of belief (see Matthew 13:13–15; Mark 4:12; Luke 8:10; Acts 28:26–27). When God's revelation comes, we must believe. If we refuse, the light disappears (John 12:35–36). When God’s light departs, the darkness closes over unbelieving hearts. This means that continued rejection leads to deeper spiritual blindness.

John 12:1–50

In this part of John’s Gospel, two stories move forward at the same time.
First, more and more people begin to praise Jesus. Their excitement reaches a high point when crowds welcome him into Jerusalem with shouts of joy (12:12–13).
Second, the religious authorities become more determined to arrest Jesus and put him to death. As public support grows, their opposition grows as well.
John's Gospel describes three events that happened only days before Passover (12:1–11, 12–19, 20–36). Then he explains why most of the people refused to believe and describes the final public message spoken by Jesus (12:37–50).

Theme notes and profiles

Isaiah Hardened Hearts Misunderstanding in the Gospel of John The Messiah The World

Related verses

Isaiah 6:10
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.”
Matthew 13:13–15
This is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.’
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.’
Mark 4:12
…so that, ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven.’”
Isaiah 57:18–19
I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will guide him and restore comfort to him and his mourners,
Hosea 6:1
Come, let us return to the LORD. For He has torn us to pieces, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bind up our wounds.
Isaiah 29:10
For the LORD has poured out on you a spirit of deep sleep. He has shut your eyes, O prophets; He has covered your heads, O seers.
Joshua 11:20
For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts to engage Israel in battle, so that they would be set apart for destruction and would receive no mercy, being annihilated as the LORD had commanded Moses.
Matthew 15:14
Disregard them! They are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”
Hosea 14:4
I will heal their apostasy; I will freely love them, for My anger has turned away from them.
Mark 8:17–18
Aware of their conversation, Jesus asked them, “Why are you debating about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Do you have such hard hearts?
Psalm 147:3
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Glossary

Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Bible, Quotations of the Old Testament in the New Testament Darkness Foreknowledge Hardness of Heart Heart John, Gospel of

Topics

Blindness: Spiritual Deafness of Moral Insensibility Heart: The Unregenerate is Hard Jesus, the Christ: Verifies the Prophecy of Isaiah Concerning the Unbelieving Jews Seeing Spiritual Blindness: Judicially Inflicted Unbelief: General Scriptures Concerning Unbelief: Proceeds From: Judicial Blindness

John 12:40

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