John 12:40
What does John 12:40 mean?
A plain-English look at John 12:40 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 12:40 means
John quotes Isaiah’s charge: eyes blinded, heart hardened, lest seeing and understanding they turn and be healed. The language is stark, describing God’s judicial action in response to recalcitrance. The aim is not to deny God’s mercy but to show that grace, when resisted, can lead to a judgment that confirms people in their chosen path. Healing is available, but the door closes for those who will not turn. This verse unmasks unbelief as more than intellectual doubt; it is a spiritual condition only God can remedy, and one that, if persisted in, incurs severe consequences.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000He hath blinded their eyes, and he hardened their heart; Lest they should see with their eyes, and perceive with their heart, And should turn, And I should heal them.
KJV
King James Version · 1611He 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901He hath blinded their eyes, and he hardened their heart; Lest they should see with their eyes, and perceive with their heart, And should turn, And I should heal them.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949He has made their eyes blind, and their hearts hard; for fear that they might see with their eyes and get knowledge with their hearts, and be changed, and I might make them well.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart, that they might not see with the eyes, and understand with the heart, and turn back, and I might heal them;'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752He 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.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, that they may not see with their eyes, and understand with their heart and be converted, and I should heal them.
Context
This quotation completes John’s appeal to Isaiah to explain the unbelief in Jesus’ day. Immediately afterward, he will assert that Isaiah said these things because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about Him, identifying the Lord of Isaiah’s vision with Christ. John will then offer a nuanced picture: some rulers did believe but would not confess openly for fear of expulsion, loving human glory more than God’s.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Matthew 15:14
Let them alone: they are blind guides. And if the blind guide the blind, both shall fall into a pit.
- Psalms 135:10
Who smote many nations, And slew mighty kings,
- Acts 15:3
They therefore, being brought on their way by the church, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.
- Luke 8:10
And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to the rest in parables; that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.
- Joshua 11:20
For it was of Jehovah to harden their hearts, to come against Israel in battle, that he might utterly destroy them, that they might have no favor, but that he might destroy them, as Jehovah commanded Moses.
- Mark 6:52
for they understood not concerning the loaves, but their heart was hardened.
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