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NASB | Isaiah 6:9 He said, "Go, and tell this people: 'Keep on listening, but do not perceive; Keep on looking, but do not understand.' |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Isaiah 6:9 And He said, "Go, and tell this people: 'Keep on listening, but do not understand; Keep on looking, but do not comprehend.' |
Bible Question:
Got this from a friend, looking for some assistance on the answer, especially the first part about why the translation differs in the NT... The Hebrew form of the text in NIV says: " 'Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.' Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed." But then the translation done from the Septuagint to English says: "You will be ever hearing, but never understanding; you will be ever seeing, but never perceiving.' This people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed eyes" In the Hebrew, it looks like God is commanding His people not to understand. I mean, they've been denying Him so long, it makes sense that, like Pharaoh in Exodus, they're out of opportunities. The second version looks more like a prophesy..."you will...never [understand]." Here's the issue: when this passage is quoted in the NT, different versions are used. John 12:40 makes it seem like God deafens people, and Luke 8:10 shows that He accomplishes this through parables. They quote the first form; however, Matthew 13:14-15 and Acts 28:27 quote the Septuagint version and make God seem more passive and less like He forced them into a lack of understanding. Why wouldn't the NT authors quote the same version? I realize that they didn't speak to one another to coordinate, but since the Bible can't be wrong, I don't know how to explain the differences. Looking at the first translation, why would God prevent people from understanding? I could see why He would deafen people if He knew they wouldn't listen completely and then go and start a cult or corrupt the message. However, how does this fit with 2 Peter 3:9? What's the purpose in living anymore if God is done with you and you have no chance at hearing or understanding? |
Bible Answer: John 12:40 - So the first fatal cause of unbelief is the activity of God's sovereign hardening of Israel prophesied in the Old Testament and designed by God to bring about salvation in the death of Christ and the building of His own church. You say, "Well, that's not fair for Israel. They're just a victim of God's sovereignty." No, because then he gives the other side of the coin. Here's the second cause of unbelief, not God's plan, but personal choice. Look at it in verse 42. "Nevertheless," isn't that an interesting word? Fantastic! "Nevertheless," what does that word mean? That means "Even in spite of the sovereignty of God..." Did you get that? Even though God had sovereignly blinded and hardened the nation Israel, nevertheless they were individuals. Here is free will on the part of man, choice, operating within the sovereignty of God. God's sovereignty over national Israel, yet individual choice. "Nevertheless, among the chief rulers also many...what?...believed on Him." You say, "Hey, terrific, a revival!" No. "But because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him lest they be put out of the synagogue for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God." - John MacArthur You might want to read the entire sermon in its entirety. He stresses that God's spirit does not always strive with men. In other words, there is a time of grace. If we neglect that time there comes a time when one cannot believe because of the hardness of ones heart. Blessings, Val |
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Questions and/or Subjects for Is 6:9 | Author | ||
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live4jc316 | ||
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Val | ||
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Val | ||
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Tamara Brewington | ||
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Tamara Brewington |