Mark 4:12

King James Version 1611 (Original)

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.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Ἵνα βλέποντες βλέπωσιν, καὶ μὴ ἴδωσιν· καὶ ἀκούοντες ἀκούωσιν, καὶ μὴ συνιῶσιν· μήποτε ἐπιστρέψωσιν, καὶ ἀφεθῇ αὐτοῖς τὰ ἁμαρτήματα.

Transliteration

That blepontes blepōsin, and not idōsin; and akouontes akouōsin, and not syniōsin; mēpote epistrepsōsin, and aphethē to them the hamartēmata.

Grammar Details

• *blepontes*: present active participle, nominative, masculine, plural - seeing
• *blepōsin*: present active subjunctive, 3rd person plural - they may see
• *idōsin*: aorist active subjunctive, 3rd person plural - they may perceive
• *akouontes*: present active participle, nominative, masculine, plural - hearing
• *akouōsin*: present active subjunctive, 3rd person plural - they may hear
• *syniōsin*: present active subjunctive, 3rd person plural - they may understand
• *mēpote*: conjunction - lest/so that not
• *epistrepsōsin*: aorist active subjunctive, 3rd person plural - they might turn/return
• *aphethē*: aorist passive subjunctive, 3rd person singular - might be forgiven
• *hamartēmata*: nominative, neuter, plural - sins

Word Meanings

• *blepontes*: seeing/looking at
• *blepōsin*: they may see/look
• *idōsin*: they may perceive/understand
• *akouontes*: hearing/listening
• *akouōsin*: they may hear/listen
• *syniōsin*: they may understand/comprehend
• *mēpote*: lest/so that not/perhaps
• *epistrepsōsin*: they might turn/convert/return
• *aphethē*: might be forgiven/released
• *hamartēmata*: sins/offenses/transgressions

Referenced Verses

• Isa 6:9-9 : 9 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. 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.
• Jer 5:21 : 21 Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not:
• Isa 44:18 : 18 They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand.
• Deut 29:4 : 4 Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.
• Matt 13:14-15 : 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: 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.
• Luke 8:10 : 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.
• 2 Tim 2:25 : 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
• Heb 6:6 : 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.
• John 12:37-41 : 37 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: 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? 39 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, 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. 41 These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.
• Jer 31:18-20 : 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. 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. 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.
• Acts 28:25-27 : 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, 26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: 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 11:8-9 : 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. 9 And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: 10 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.
• Ezek 12:2 : 2 Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house.
• Acts 3:19 : 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;
• Ezek 18:27-32 : 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. 28 Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die. 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? 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. 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? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.