John 12:40

“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.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — John records this declaration in Jerusalem as Jesus explains why the crowd remains unable to believe despite His visible ministry.

The words — The text employs τετύφλωκεν (tetuphlōken), meaning “He has blinded,” and ἐπώρωσεν (epōrōsen), meaning “has hardened,” to describe a decisive divine action upon the people’s perception and will.

The thread — This quotation originates in Isaiah 6:10 and is echoed in Matthew 13:13 and Luke 8:10 to frame the purpose of parabolic teaching.

Why it lands — The passage requires the reader to acknowledge that spiritual unresponsiveness is a judicial act that blocks sight, understanding, and the turning that precedes divine healing.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

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 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.’”
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.
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.
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,
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.
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 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.