Mark 4:12

Translations

Modern

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

Traditional

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.

Literal

…so that: ‘Seeing they might see and not perceive, and hearing they might hear and not understand, lest ever they might return, and they might be forgiven.’””

Latin

…ut videntes videant, et non videant: et audientes audiant, et non intelligant: nequando convertantur, et dimittantur eis peccata.

Interlinear

Greek

English

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

Notes

Mark 4:11–12

The true followers of Jesus could understand the secret of the kingdom of God. They knew the kingdom had arrived (1:14–15). They knew that the Christ, the Son of God, was among them (1:1). To those on the outside, it seemed like riddles.

When Jesus answered the disciples’ question, he showed that he used parables to keep outsiders from understanding. This was so that they would be unable to repent and be forgiven.
The quotation from Isaiah 6:9–10 in the Greek Old Testament version implies this was a deliberate judgment on the hearers. Jesus taught in parables, and outsiders did not believe. This fulfilled what the Scriptures had said would happen.
The teaching of Jesus about the Kingdom of God was sensitive (it could sound like a political threat and worry Roman rulers). Because of this, teaching in parables helped make his message less likely to cause conflict.

Mark 4:1–34

In this section, Mark gathers several teaching parables of Jesus. A parable is a short story that teaches a spiritual truth.

Theme notes and profiles

The Secret of the Messiah

Events

Seaside Parables and Miraclec. AD 28

Related verses

Isaiah 6:9–10
And He replied: “Go and tell this people, ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’
Isaiah 44:18
They do not comprehend or discern, for He has shut their eyes so they cannot see and closed their minds so they cannot understand.
Matthew 13:14–15
In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
Jeremiah 5:21
“Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear.
Deuteronomy 29:4
Yet to this day the LORD has not given you a mind to understand, eyes to see, or ears to hear.
John 12:37–41
Although Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still did not believe in Him.
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.’
2 Timothy 2:25
He must gently reprove those who oppose him, in the hope that God may grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.
Ezekiel 12:2
“Son of man, you are living in a rebellious house. They have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious house.
Hebrews 6:6
…and then have fallen away—to be restored to repentance, because they themselves are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting Him to open shame.
Romans 11:8–10
…as it is written: “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see, and ears that could not hear, to this very day.”
Acts 28:25–27
They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit was right when He spoke to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet:

Mark 4:12

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Events

Related verses

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Glossary

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