Mark 4:12 “so that, ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever heari…”

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.’ ”

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

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.

World English Bible

that ‘seeing they may see and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not understand, lest perhaps they should turn again, and their sins should be forgiven them.’”

American Standard Version

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.

Geneva Bible 1599

That they seeing, may see, and not discerne: and they hearing, may heare, and not vnderstand, least at any time they should turne, and their sinnes should be forgiuen them.

Darby Translation

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.

Young's Literal Translation

that seeing they may see and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not understand, lest they may turn, and the sins may be forgiven them.'

Bible in Basic English

So that seeing they may see, and it will not be clear to them; and hearing it, they will not get the sense; for fear that they may be turned again to me and have forgiveness.

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Cross references

“That seeing”

Isaiah 44:18 Jeremiah 5:21 Deuteronomy 29:4 John 12:37–41 Luke 8:10 Romans 11:8–10

Isaiah 44:18 · BSB

They do not comprehend or discern, for He has shut their eyes so they cannot see and closed their minds so they cannot understand.

Jeremiah 5:21 · BSB

“Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear.

Deuteronomy 29:4 · BSB

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 · BSB

Although Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still did not believe in Him.

Luke 8:10 · BSB

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.’

Romans 11:8–10 · BSB

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.”

“be converted”

2 Timothy 2:25 Hebrews 6:6 Jeremiah 31:18–20 Ezekiel 18:27–32 Acts 3:19

2 Timothy 2:25 · BSB

He must gently reprove those who oppose him, in the hope that God may grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.

Hebrews 6:6 · BSB

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.

Jeremiah 31:18–20 · BSB

I have surely heard Ephraim’s moaning: ‘You disciplined me severely, like an untrained calf. Restore me, that I may return, for You are the LORD my God.

Ezekiel 18:27–32 · BSB

But if a wicked man turns from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he will save his life.

Acts 3:19 · BSB

Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away,

Also

Ezekiel 12:2

Ezekiel 12:2 · BSB

“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.

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

11He replied, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those on the outside everything is expressed in parables,

13Then Jesus said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand any of the parables?

Read Mark 4