Bible Strands
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses his disciples, explaining why he speaks in parables to the crowds. He identifies the result as the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy.
The words — ἀναπληροῦται (anaplēroutai), "is being filled up," is a present passive: the fulfillment is ongoing, not a one-time event.
The thread — Isaiah 6:9 supplies the source text; Ezekiel 12:2 repeats the pattern of eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear; 2 Corinthians 3:14 extends the image to a veil still unremoved at the reading of the old covenant.
Why it lands — The verse is a diagnosis, not a threat: the condition described is already in place, and the reader is placed inside it rather than outside it.
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
And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
Cross-references
- Isaiah 6:9 And He replied: “Go and tell this people, ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’
- 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.
- 2 Corinthians 3:14 But their minds were closed. For to this day the same veil remains at the reading of the old covenant. It has not been lifted, because only in Christ can it be removed.
- 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 28:25 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 so that, ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven.’”
- John 12:39 For this reason they were unable to believe. For again, Isaiah says:
- 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.”