From the Blue Letter Bible

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Mar 4:12 — 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.

Phrase of Scripture		Correlating Passages

That seeing		"Rather, as [ ( )] frequently denotes, ""So that seeing they see, and do not perceive, and hearing they hear, and do not understand,"" etc. The expression appears to be proverbial; and relates to those who might see what they now overlook through inattention and folly. See the parallel texts. Deu 29:4; Isa 6:9,10; Isa 44:18; Jer 5:21; Mat 13:14,15; Luk 8:10; Jhn 12:37-41; Act 28:25-27; Rom 11:8-10"
be converted		Jer 31:18-20; Eze 18:27-32; Act 3:19; 2Ti 2:25; Hbr 6:6

Correlating Passages

That seeing

	Deu 29:4	Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.
	Isa 6:9	And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.
	Isa 6:10	Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.
	Isa 44:18	They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; [and] their hearts, that they cannot understand.
	Jer 5:21	Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not:
	Mat 13:14	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:
	Mat 13:15	For this people's heart is waxed gross, and [their] ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with [their] eyes, and hear with [their] ears, and should understand with [their] heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
	Luk 8:10	And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.
	Jhn 12:37	But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:
	Jhn 12:38	That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?
	Jhn 12:39	Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,
	Jhn 12:40	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.
	Jhn 12:41	These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.
	Act 28:25	And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,
	Act 28:26	Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:
	Act 28:27	For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with [their] eyes, and hear with [their] ears, and understand with [their] heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
	Rom 11:8	(According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.
	Rom 11:9	And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:
	Rom 11:10	Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.

be converted

	Jer 31:18	I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself [thus]; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed [to the yoke]: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou [art] the LORD my God.
	Jer 31:19	Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon [my] thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.
	Jer 31:20	[Is] Ephraim my dear son? [is he] a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the LORD.
	Eze 18:27	Again, when the wicked [man] turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.
	Eze 18:28	Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
	Eze 18:29	Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal?
	Eze 18:30	Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn [yourselves] from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.
	Eze 18:31	Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
	Eze 18:32	For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn [yourselves], and live ye.
	Act 3:19	Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
	2Ti 2:25	In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
	Hbr 6:6	If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put [him] to an open shame.

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Cite This Page: (explanation of citations)

Scott, Thomas. "Mark 4:12," The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Blue Letter Bible. 1836. 9 Jul 2004. .
<http://www.blueletterbible.org/tsk_b/Mar/4/12.html>.

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