John 12:39-40 NLT,NIV,ESV

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - John 12:39-40

John 12:39-40. Therefore they could not believe,— That is, by the just judgment of God for their obstinate and wilful resistance to the truth, they were so hardened, that the doctrine and miracles of our Lord could make no impression on them, as Isaiah had foretold, Isa 6:9-10 where see the note, and also on Matthew 13:14. The meaning therefore is, not that the prophesy of Isaiah was the cause of their unbelief, but that their unbelief was the accomplishment of Isaiah's prophesy. The... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - John 12:39

39-40. Therefore they could not believe, because Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes, that they should not see, &c.—That this expresses a positive divine act, by which those who wilfully close their eyes and harden their hearts against the truth are judicially shut up in their unbelief and impenitence, is admitted by all candid critics [as OLSHAUSEN], though many of them think it necessary to contend that this is in no way inconsistent with the liberty of the human will, which of... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - John 12:19-50

II. JESUS’ PUBLIC MINISTRY 1:19-12:50The first part of the body of John’s Gospel records Jesus’ public ministry to the multitudes in Palestine, who were primarily Jewish. Some writers have called this section of the Gospel "the book of signs" because it features seven miracles that signify various things about Jesus."Signs are miraculous works performed or mentioned to illustrate spiritual principles." [Note: Tenney, "The Symphonic . . .," p. 119. See also idem, "Topics from the Gospel of... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - John 12:37-43

The explanation of Israel’s unbelief 12:37-43 read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - John 12:37-50

7. The unbelief of Israel 12:37-50This section of the Gospel contains the writer’s explanation of the significance of the events so far in Jesus’ ministry. John first explained the conflict between belief and unbelief, and then He recorded Jesus’ final appeal for decision. This is the final climax of the decision theme before Jesus’ passion. The key word in this section is "believe," which appears six times. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - John 12:39

John again affirmed that most of the Jews did not believe on Jesus because they could not. God had judicially hardened their hearts because they had refused to believe Him previously (cf. Exodus 9:12; cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:8-12). read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - John 12:40

Isaiah 6:10 is the prophecy that predicted this hardening (cf. Acts 28:26-27). Originally God had told Isaiah that the people to whom he ministered would not welcome his ministry because God would harden their hearts. Now John explained that this verse also revealed the reason for the Jews’ rejection of Jesus’ ministry. Prophecy not only described Israel’s unbelief (John 12:38), but it also explained it.The apostle Paul gave the definitive answer to the problem of God’s fairness that His... read more

John Darby

Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament - John 12:39

12:39 again, (d-11) See Isaiah 6:9-10 . read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - John 12:1-50

The Triumphal Entry. Close of the Public Ministry1-11. Supper at Bethany (see on Matthew 26:6 and Mark 14:3, which record the same incident). The event in Luke 7:36. is different. The supper was at the house of Simon the leper, a near relation, perhaps the father, of Lazarus and the sisters. St. John alone mentions the name of the woman who anointed Jesus, the quantity of the unguent (1 litre = 12 oz.), and the author of the mean speech, ’Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence,... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - John 12:39

(39) Therefore they could not believe, because.—The words refer to those which have gone before, not to those which follow, and then by an addition give the reason more fully. “It was on account of the divine will expressed in Isaiah’s prophecy.” “It was therefore, namely, because Isaiah said again.”The words, “they could not believe,” must be taken in their plain meaning as expressing impossibility. The Apostle is looking back upon the national rejection of Christ, and seeks a reason for it.... read more

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - John 12:39-40

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - John 12:39

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - John 12:19-50

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - John 12:37-43

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - John 12:37-50

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - John 12:39

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - John 12:40

Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament - John 12:39

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - John 12:1-50

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - John 12:39

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