12:39
For this reason they were unable to believe. For again, Isaiah says: This verse introduces another quotation from the book of Isaiah. This quotation explains why many people could not believe in Jesus. The words For this reason and For again point ahead to the quotation from Isaiah in verse 40. Here are other ways to translate this verse:
Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said, (English Standard Version)
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For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere…. (New International Version)
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And there is another saying of Isaiah that explains why they could not believe (Revised English Bible)
they were unable to believe: These people were unable to believe. When the word believe is used without an object, it is usually a short way of saying “believes in Jesus.” So this clause includes the idea of believing the facts about who Jesus was and what he did. But it also includes the idea of trusting Jesus instead of trusting oneself or someone else. Both ideas are very closely related. If someone believes the facts about Jesus, it should result in trusting him. These people could do neither. Here are other ways to translate this idea:
The people could not have faith in Jesus (Contemporary English Version)
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they were not able to trust in Jesus
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they could not believe in him
For again, Isaiah says: This phrase introduces another quotation from the Old Testament book of Isaiah (Isaiah 6:10). That quotation explains why the people could not believe. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:
because, as Isaiah says elsewhere (New International Version)
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for as Isaiah also said (New Living Translation (2004))
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It was as Isaiah said in another place
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