John 12:40

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John 12:38–42 · Berean Standard Bible

38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: “Lord, who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

39 For this reason they were unable to believe. For again, Isaiah says:

40 “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.”

41 Isaiah said these things because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about Him.

42 Nevertheless, many of the leaders believed in Him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue.

Greek words

Data created by STEPBible.org based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

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Cross-references

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge lists these related verses. Scripture text comes from the Berean Standard Bible.

John 9:39

Then Jesus declared, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind may see and those who see may become blind.”

1 Kings 22:20

And the LORD said, ‘Who will entice Ahab to march up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one suggested this, and another that.

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.

Ezekiel 14:9

But if the prophet is enticed to speak a message, then it was I the LORD who enticed him, and I will stretch out My hand against him and destroy him from among My people Israel.

Matthew 13:13

This is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.’

Matthew 13:14

In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.

Matthew 13:15

For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’

Matthew 15:14

Disregard them! They are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”

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.’”

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.’

Acts 28:26

‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”

Romans 11:8

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.”

Romans 11:9

And David says: “May their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution to them.

Romans 11:10

May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever.”

Romans 11:11

I ask then, did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Certainly not! However, because of their trespass, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous.

Exodus 4:21

The LORD instructed Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders that I have put within your power. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go.

Exodus 7:3

But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I will multiply My signs and wonders in the land of Egypt,

Exodus 7:13

Still, Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, just as the LORD had said.

Exodus 14:4

And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart so that he will pursue them. But I will gain honor by means of Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD.” So this is what the Israelites did.

Exodus 14:8

And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out defiantly.

Exodus 14:17

And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. Then I will gain honor by means of Pharaoh and all his army and chariots and horsemen.

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.

Romans 9:18

Therefore God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy, and He hardens whom He wants to harden.

Romans 11:7

What then? What Israel was seeking, it failed to obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened,

Deuteronomy 29:4

Yet to this day the LORD has not given you a mind to understand, eyes to see, or ears to hear.

Psalms 135:10

He struck down many nations and slaughtered mighty kings:

Psalms 135:11

Sihon king of the Amorites, Og king of Bashan, and all the kings of Canaan.

Psalms 135:12

He gave their land as an inheritance, as a heritage to His people Israel.

Psalms 135:13

Your name, O LORD, endures forever, Your renown, O LORD, through all generations.

Psalms 135:14

For the LORD will vindicate His people and will have compassion on His servants.

Psalms 135:15

The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by the hands of men.

Psalms 135:16

They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see;

Psalms 135:17

they have ears, but cannot hear; nor is there breath in their mouths.

Psalms 135:18

Those who make them become like them, as do all who trust in them.

Isaiah 26:11

O LORD, Your hand is upraised, but they do not see it. They will see Your zeal for Your people and be put to shame. The fire set for Your enemies will consume them!

Isaiah 42:19

Who is blind but My servant, or deaf like the messenger I am sending? Who is blind like My covenant partner, or blind like the servant of the LORD?

Isaiah 42:20

Though seeing many things, you do not keep watch. Though your ears are open, you do not hear.”

Jeremiah 5:21

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

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.

Mark 8:17

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?

Mark 8:18

‘Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear?’ And do you not remember?

Acts 3:19

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

Acts 15:3

Sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, recounting the conversion of the Gentiles and bringing great joy to all the brothers.

James 5:19

My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back,

James 5:20

consider this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

Psalms 6:2

Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am frail; heal me, O LORD, for my bones are in agony.

Psalms 41:4

I said, “O LORD, be gracious to me; heal me, for I have sinned against You.”

Psalms 147:3

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Isaiah 53:5

But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

Isaiah 57:18

I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will guide him and restore comfort to him and his mourners,

Isaiah 57:19

bringing praise to their lips. Peace, peace to those far and near,” says the LORD, “and I will heal them.”

Jeremiah 3:22

“Return, O faithless children, and I will heal your faithlessness.” “Here we are. We come to You, for You are the LORD our God.

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.

Hosea 14:4

I will heal their apostasy; I will freely love them, for My anger has turned away from them.

Luke 4:18

“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed,